I get a kick of how many madrilenos pronounce the name of their city.I just love the sound of the z in castellano. Madriz, the z sounds like "th" in English. Can you say Keith, Beth, Roth.I wonder how this all started and why it stuck.

I'll let the madrileños explain the origin of "Madriz". But I'd say it's pronounced more like Madridth with the second D being pronounced softly. And yes, I like this pronunciation too - makes it special, somehow.

Saludos, MadridMan

I think it was because king Juan Carlos the something had a lisp, so that's why they say "th". They all had to speak like the king. Please correct me if I'm wrong!!

That story about the King is a myth. And it doesn't really make sense, given that the "s" sound exists in Castilian Spanish...

In my experience, Madrid is pronounced:

Madrith--th as in "thing"
Madrith--th as in "that"
Madrit

depending on the speaker's dialect. I'd say the second is the most common, at least in my neighborhood and circle.

Ah, I did always wonder about that!! ;~)

Hi!

The way some people say Madrid is influenced by their idiolects. I mean, if you're originally from the south or live around people from these places; you'll notice it; however, if you're from other provinces - for instance, me - you'll hear "d" or even "t". I do say MadriD.

I'm from Madrid and I pronounce it with the d

The thing is that not many words in spanish end with a "d", so we are not used to pronounce that sound. When people is lazy pronouncing the name, or in low-cultured areas, the "d" transforms into a "z" or even dissapears.

But you don't have to be low-cultured to pronounce it that way, it depends on your way of speaking. In any case the sound is very soft hehehe.

And why the name ends with a "d"? Because it comes from the arab name Majerit. Did you know that?

Majerit was a small andalusian (spanish-arab) village (we even have an arab wall). It was only after the capitality changed from Toledo to Madrid that the place got important. Then inmigration started, and the higher boom in population was in the XIXth century (when Madrid reached 1 million inhabitants). Now it's a big city... but keeps intact the magic we all love

Fernando

And I've heard the same pronunciation in other words that end in d like mitad,voluntad.usted,etc. Anyways,thanks to all for your kind responses. Viva Madrid, Madriz,Madridth,Madrith,Madrit and Majerit!

I think part of the confusion comes from the fact there are some basic phonetical differences in how the letter "d" is pronounced in both English and Spanish.

In English, the "d" is pronounced by placing the tongue on the palate of the mouth, just behind the teeth. It's almost, though not exactly like the Spanish "r" in words like "caro". That's in part why we English speakers can have such a tough time with saying the Spanish "r" because we are putting our tongues somewhere else! I still can't get it right. It's a sound that is a little like the way Americans say "t" in words like "water" and "letter". I sometimes do this test with my students and write the imaginary word "lerer" on the board. They say "letter" as if they were from Michigan. It's interesting.

The Spanish "d" is interdental, meaning the tongue actually comes between the teeth a little, almost the way the English "th" is pronounced in words like "the" or "though" but maybe a little softer. So when Fernando says he pronounces "Madrid" with a "d", he's telling the truth, but it's not the same "d" as an English "d". That's why we sometimes hear that "th" sound when people say Madrid. You do hear the more exaggerated Spanish lispy "z" at the end, but it's not really the way it should be said.

In any event, a soft-sounding "d" at the end of any word is common in many languages, even English. We don't pronounce the "d" in "day" the way we do in "hard". In the latter, you say it, but it's softer. For the Spanish it can be even more difficult because they are not used to finishing words with strong consonant sounds. That's why the car make Ford is often more like "For". As in "un For Fiesta".

¡Ay Madrid, "Madrith", "Madrit", "Madrí", "Madriz", me mata!

Si,Murdy. A mi "Madri" me mata tambien. Me mata de tanta "marcha".