Bear-leen

Interesting tidbit: The correct German pronunciation of "Berlin" is not "Burr-lin." Since Berlin comes from the German word for "little bear," the correct way to say the name is seen in the title of this post. The German word for bear is Bär (pronounced roughly like we say "bear"), and the "lin" comes from an older form of the diminutive "lein" (think of "Fräulein," the German word that nearly every American knows, but isn't actually used much any more). I say correct German pronunciation, because you're free to keep pronouncing it Burr-lin as an American. Just know that when you visit Berlin, don't be surprised to see lots and lots of stuffed bears, bears on monuments, bears on tote-bags, bears on t-shirts, and bears on key-chains, as demonstrated below.

 

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