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China, South West Sweden

Whilst I was working in Sweden for a few months, my work colleagues took a great interest in where we went at the weekends, reviewing my family's excursions on a huge map in the office. One weekend I informed them that we went to Kinna, which I pronounced "SHEE-na". This caused much confusion and wonder. In the end they got me to show them on the map. "Oh, you mean Shee-NA!" they said, emphasising the second syllable. The important difference was that the second pronunciation was a small town in South West Sweden, whereas the first the People's Republic of China!

Sent by: Joe

Comments

Marcus, Kinna, Sweden 2010-12-17

I'm from Kinna and people have misunderstood me a few times when they've asked me what town in Sweden I'm from. They hear me say China and then look pretty confused. Now I just say that I'm from Gothenburg.

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David (Swede, married to Brit), Albania 2009-02-28

Actually the pronunciation difference is in the length of the vowel: Kinna (Swedish town) rhymes with *thinner*, whereas Kina (China) rhymes with *arena*.

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