Machu Picchu

[Glizdka]

How do you pronounce Machu Picchu?

I'm not sure if it's my non-native-speakerly ear unable to detect the stop /k/, or a common mispronunciation by Anglophones, but I often don't hear the /k/ sound in Picchu. What I usually hear is Machu Pichu.

Here's an example of what I hear as Machu Pichu, without the /k/ sound at all.
Here's an example where I think I can hear the stop /k/ sound in Machu Picchu.

I can't seem to find an example where there's a clear /k/ sound.

I know it's not an English word, but I'm interested in how Anglophones pronounce it.

 

[Amigos4]

It is pronounced maa·choo pee·choo in AmE.

 

[jutfrank]

In British English, it's generally (mis)pronounced as ma·choo pi·choo, with two short vowels and no /k/.

 

[emsr2d2]

Well, you learn something new every day. Having only ever heard it said with "peechoo" as the second word, I assumed that the "cch" was just one sound in the original Quechuan language. I've just done a bit of research online and discovered that, yes, we've all been pronouncing it wrong! From now on, I'm going to include "k" sound before "choo". It's not something I say very often so I wonder how long it'll be before someone queries my pronunciation.

 

[Glizdka]

I remember my guide said it's Quechuan for old mountain. He specifically said that the /k/ sound is important because saying machu pichu changes the meaning to old penis, and it sounds hilarious to the locals, though they've grown used to it because of how many tourists visit. What I heard them say, however, sounded more like /h/ or /x/ than /k/, similar to how Spanish pronounces j.

Is it safe to assume pretty much every Angophone omits the /k/, except for maybe a few people?

What about the second video I linked in the original post? Does he pronounce it with a stop /k/, or am I hearing things because I'm expecting to hear things?

 

[emsr2d2]

What about the second video I linked in the original post? Does he pronounce it with a stop /k/, or am I hearing things because I'm expecting to hear things?

I heard it.

 

[emsr2d2]

I remember my guide said it's Quechuan for old mountain. He specifically said that the /k/ sound is important because saying machu pichu changes the meaning to old penis, and it sounds hilarious to the locals, though they've grown used to it because of how many tourists visit.

I saw a video of an American woman saying that while I was researching the pronunciation. However, it looked like some influencer trying to get views so I didn't believe her! I just did a bit more research and it can indeed sound like "penis"!

 

[jutfrank]

Is it safe to assume pretty much every Angophone omits the /k/, except for maybe a few people?

I would say yes.

What about the second video I linked in the original post? Does he pronounce it with a stop /k/, or am I hearing things because I'm expecting to hear things?

Yes, he pronounces the /k/.