h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

According to wikipedia W is pronounced [v] like in "vacation" (e.g. was [vas]) and V is pronounced [f] in words of Germanic origin (e.g. Vater [ˈfaːtɐ]) and [v] in other words (e.g. Vase [ˈvaːzǝ]). Alas I don't understand German though my surname comes from there. I do know that Wagner is pronounced Vagner though since the W is pronounced as above. One can only assume (I guess) that the reverse is also true and that words beginning with a V sometimes are pronounced with a W as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language

I'm afraid it's very simple. As you say, a v is prounounced like an f in German. So a German reading "Vick" would say "fick". Which means "f*ck".

Imagine supermarket shelves with rows of jars all reading "F*ck VapoRub". And telling friends to "rub F*ck on your chest".