# February **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2001, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125 "2001-02-04T21:15:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/1 "2001-02-04T21:15:51Z")
How come no one pronounces the first r? Tradition? Error? My son just says “the english language is funny.” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/2 "2001-02-04T21:20:59Z")
Your son is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/3 "2001-02-04T21:40:45Z")
It depends where you are, I suppose. In the UK most people I know pronounce the “r”. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/4 "2001-02-04T21:41:07Z")
I pronounce the first r. From [Merriam Webster](http://www.merriamwebster.com) > [@](#): > > Dissimilation may occur when a word contains two identical or closely related sounds, resulting in the change or loss of one of them. This happens regularly in February, which is more often pronounced 'fe-b(y)&-"wer-E\ than 'fe-br&-"wer-E, though all of these variants are in frequent use and widely accepted. The \y\ heard from many speakers is not an intrusion but rather a common pronunciation of the vowel u after a consonant, as in January and annual. It would appear that I am not alone, but in a minority. ---
**Author:** ![GuitarStrummer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/838e76/32.png) [@GuitarStrummer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuitarStrummer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/5 "2001-02-04T21:56:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mattk \* > \*\*It depends where you are, I suppose. In the UK most people I know pronounce the “r”. \*\* **mattk** , I’m in the UK - Newcastle, in fact - and after saying “February, February” out loud, over and over again (seriously scaring my flat-mate, I reckon) I’ve decided I don’t pronounce the first ‘r’. Then again, I never made any claims to normality. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/6 "2001-02-04T21:59:18Z")
Um. Maybe it’s just something regional, then. I’m a soft southern lad by birth. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/7 "2001-02-04T22:06:00Z")
New Yorker here. I’ve always pronounced the first ‘r’ as well. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Plankton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Dave\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/8 "2001-02-04T22:06:20Z")
You know what? I’m near Newcastle and I pronounce it ‘Febrooee’ ---
**Author:** ![GuitarStrummer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/838e76/32.png) [@GuitarStrummer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuitarStrummer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/9 "2001-02-04T22:28:02Z")
“Feb-Yew-Ree”. That’s how I say it, and how I thought most people said it. On the other hand, maybe everyone **hears** the word the way they expect to? It’s such a common word, and so quick to say, that I had to stop and think about how I pronounce it. I doubt I’d notice if someone said it differently. Then again, maybe I’m just a bit slow. Cheers ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/10 "2001-02-04T22:48:49Z")
I say “Febree.” I was raised in Europe. Since it’s my birthday month, that makes me a de facto expert. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/11 "2001-02-05T01:50:43Z")
Wow. I’m beginning to feel like a weirdo (heh. Yeah, I know “beginning to…?”) I say: FEB-yew-air-ee. I’m in the US, in Wisconsin. This is how I’ve always heard it pronounced. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/12 "2001-02-05T01:56:41Z")
I was brung up to pronounce the first “r”, and it bothers me when announcers on TV DON’T. Mrs. Cal pronounces both "r"s , as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/13 "2001-02-05T02:30:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lunatic13 \* > \*\*Wow. I’m beginning to feel like a weirdo (heh. Yeah, I know “beginning to…?”) I say: FEB-yew-air-ee. I’m in the US, in Wisconsin. This is how I’ve always heard it pronounced. \*\* You’re not weird. I pronounce it the same way. Then again, I’m from Wisconsin too. Maybe it’s just Wisconsinites that are weird. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/14 "2001-02-05T03:55:22Z")
I say “Feb-yew-ar-ee” too. I’m from Virginia. My mom is the only person I know who pronounces the first R, and I think it’s overcompensation in her case. She grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Queens, and went to great lengths to get rid of the accent. Her parents certainly do _not_ pronounce the R. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/15 "2001-02-05T08:11:53Z")
I pronounce it ‘Feb-roo-air-ee’. A lot of people say ‘yoo’ instead of ‘roo’ but I’ve never heard anyone omit the ‘air’ syllable. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/16 "2001-02-05T08:37:50Z")
I say “Feb-yew-ar-ee” too. I’m from Québec, so it’s certainly not limited to Wisconsin or Virginia. It’s also the only way I can remember hearing it pronounced (though it’s possible I just never noticed other pronounciations). ---
**Author:** ![felix\_penfold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@felix\_penfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/felix_penfold)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/17 "2001-02-05T16:56:08Z")
In conversation, I refer to February only as “Black History Month”. Much easier to pronounce. ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/18 "2001-02-05T17:08:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by felix penfold \* > \*\*In conversation, I refer to February only as “Black History Month”. Much easier to pronounce. \*\* It’s also Pet Dental Health Month. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/19 "2001-02-05T17:21:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*I was brung up to pronounce the first “r”, and it bothers me when announcers on TV DON’T. Mrs. Cal pronounces both "r"s , as well. \*\* Brung?!? Ackkkkkkkk! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125/20 "2001-02-05T17:22:10Z")
I pronounce it **Feb** -uh- **wary**. But I’ve always been somewhat unsure how it is supposed to be pronounced, so I usually say it real fast so it sounds like this: _ƒë¶µª®¥_. Everybody seems to know what I’m talking about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february/53125.md?page=2)