Richard Pennycuick asked:

>Although it sounds much the same, I've wondered whether Beethoven divided
>into syllables is Beet-hoven or Beeth-oven, in which case the h would be
>silent.  Anyone know for sure?

Beet-hoven without any doubt.  van Beethoven is a Dutch name, not a German
one, and I don't think you get the th in Dutch as you do in old-fashioned
German (as in 'Reichsrath'='Reichsrat').  Also, in German the name is
definitely pronounced 'Beet-hoven'.

Felix Delbruck
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