You know how some words just trip you up? For ages, that name Bvlgari was one of them for me. I’d see it, I’d want to say it, and my brain would just go… nope. It’s like, do I say the ‘B’ and the ‘V’? Is it Italian? French? Who knows!
I remember this one time, I was trying to chat with someone about a necklace I saw, a really nice one, and I wanted to mention the brand. Total freeze-up. I think I mumbled something like “that fancy Italian jewelry, you know, the one that starts with a B” and felt like a right idiot. That was kind of the last straw for me. I thought, “Right, I’m figuring this out.”
So, Here’s How I Went About It
It wasn’t like I launched a full-scale investigation, but I did finally sit down and look it up. Turns out, it is Italian, which makes sense. The name actually comes from the founder, Sotirio Bulgari. And that’s the first clue.
The tricky bit, the part that always got me, was that ‘Bv’ at the start. What I found out, and what really helped, was this:
- You basically say “bul-gah-ree”.
- Now, for that initial ‘B’. The info I dug up said it should be a soft ‘b’, almost like a ‘v’. That was the key for me. Not a hard “Buh” sound, but softer.
- So, think “BUHL” (like ‘bull’ but a bit quicker).
- Then “GAH” – put a bit of stress on this syllable.
- And finish with “REE”.
I actually practiced it a few times. Out loud. Felt a bit daft, saying “bul-gah-ree, bul-gah-ree” to myself in the kitchen. My cat definitely gave me a funny look. But it’s like anything, you say it a few times and it starts to stick.
The moment it clicked was when I focused on that soft ‘b’ becoming almost a ‘v’ sound, but not quite. It’s not “Voolgari” with a strong V, but the ‘B’ is so light it’s heading in that direction. So, it’s more like BUHL-gah-ree, with the emphasis on the “GAH”.
It’s funny, the things we get hung up on. I once confidently ordered “brus-chet-ta” with a hard ‘ch’ sound at an Italian restaurant. The waiter, bless him, didn’t even blink, just brought me the “bru-sketta”. You live and learn, eh? I guess with these fancy brand names, you just want to get them right, makes you feel a bit more in the know, even if you’re just admiring from afar most of the time.
Anyway, that’s my little journey with Bvlgari. Now I can say it without that moment of panic. Feels good to have that one sorted!
