I’ve noticed a creeping tendency in the media here in the U.S. towards the [posh?] British pronunciation of “weekEND”. You can call 'em #1 or #2, if you like.
To all respondents: please identify the region where you grew up. If your pronunciation of the word has changed, please elaborate on that.
To all non-Americans: your participation is welcome, but please identify your nationality. Thanks!
FWIW, the American Heritage Dictionary lists only [#1] as an acceptable pronunciation.
WEEKend [#1]. East-coaster for life (first down South, now up North.)
I’ll have to keep my ears open for the British #2 pronunciation of which you speak. All I can think of right now is John Entwistle singing the song Success Story by the Who. He sings “I’m home for the weekend - I’m gonna make the most of my time”, and it’s a very exaggerated #1.
Don’t think I’ve ever heard the British pronunciation in America. Boston/NH area. None of my friends here say it either, and that’s NY, OR, midwest, and a variety of other places.
I don’t think I’ve heard it in person either, but lately I’ve been hearing it on TV a bit, and I’d never heard (or noticed) it before – OTTOMH I think there’s a white woman presenter on a celebrity-gossip show [“Entertainment Tonight”? one of those…] who does it, plus, IIRC, Terry Moran on “Nightline”. And this morning, one of the local program hosts (Brian Lehrer, very much an American) on the public radio station WNYC said it.
I’m gonna have to start taking notes of when & where these crop up.
Number 2! I am English and I say it the second way.
After all it is the end part that is important rather than the ‘week’ bit for those waiting for the week to end!
Expat American from Nevada. I always used to say #1, but now I am about 50/50. Nearly all my friends say #2… these are people from UK, Ireland and South Africa mostly.
Oh, thank god, it’s not me. I have no idea if we stress week or end (or most other words threads get started about…). Maybe it’s a new england thing, who knows.
