Sauna — How to say it

The only Finnish word included in English dictionaries — sauna — is, unfortunately, mispronounced by many Americans. To them it rhymes with “Donna.” I understand why. But I don’t like it. 

We Finns can insist on cultural precision.

Every day we eat international foods like spaghetti and tacos, which we once thought exotic. We’ve learned to pronounce “tortillas,” “quiche” and “sauerkraut,” though their spellings may confuse us. 

Since people say the word “sauerkraut” correctly, perhaps they can also learn “sauna” — the two words share the same beginning sound: “sow.” (Maybe that visual reference gets in their way.)

Or maybe I have to get used to the fact that a “sanna” (rhyming with Donna) is something quite different from a “sauna” (sounds like “sow-na”). The first could describe the hotel or gym variety where the heater only goes up to 150 degrees and users are prohibited from pouring water on the rocks to create steam.

OK. I’m done ranting.  

Nikki