More and more I’m hearing these two words pronounced the same. I dread the Christmas season, when I hear the song “I Wonder as I Wander” . . . or is it “I Wander as I Wonder” I can’t tell any more.
How about a Winter Wanderland?
There,they’re,their,it’ll be all right (maybe):smack:
Spotter vs Sputter.
Wander has a wand in it. Wonder has a one in it.
I haven’t noticed these words converging. Is wander becoming more wondery, or is wonder more wandery? Or are they meeting in the middle?
Coming from DC Comics: Princess Diana puts away her swimsuit and tiara, and travels the globe anonymously righting wrongs. It’s Wander Woman!
Actually, now that I think of it, that’s not a bad idea for a revamp of the character.
Well, I think some people pronounce them the same way because they’re unaware they are two different words.
“Wander” is the one that rhymes with “yonder.” (“Wonder” rhymes with “thunder.”)
Let Wander Sykes play Wonder Woman and see what the fallout will be…
Neither one rhymes with “thunder” in my accent. Thunder is [θʌndɚ] while wonder is [wɔndɚ], slightly more open. Oddly, I do say wonderful as [wʌndɚfəl], as if it rhymed with “thunder-ful.”
Anyways, I’ve definitely heard people say wander the same way I say wonder, for pretty much all my life. I’ve actually heard people sing “I wonder as I wonder out under the sky.”
What I’ve seen on a travel forum I read is “wonder” taking the place of “wander”. As in, “I’m going to take a wonder around this neighborhood.” 99% of those wondering around are Brits and Aussies. Americans would probably screw it up too but they mostly avoid the problem by saying “walk” instead of “wander/wonder.”
Thank you, Captain Obvious! 
If it were “obvious” to everyone, I wouldn’t have started this thread.