# H is for herbivore **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583 "2010-07-13T19:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/21 "2010-07-14T15:10:18Z")
I don’t know why, but this thread is pissing me off. I can’t believe there are pretentious twits out there that say the H! What are they? British? And if one more prick tries to say “an historic”, you’ll have to call the cops. It’s obvious that I’m joking, right? Right, Mods? ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/22 "2010-07-14T15:32:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What was the other response? Somebody who pronounces it herbee-vorree? Hoibivaw? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/23 "2010-07-14T23:11:06Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > You do know that Eddie Izzard is a stand up comic who then goes on to side with the Yanks in spelling thru, because through ‘is just trying to cheat at scrabble,’ don’t you? But “thru” is just a convenient hatchet job on signs that don’t have enough room for the full word. I don’t know anyone who thinks that’s the real word. English spelling is terrible, though. There’s another one right there. The overall impression I get from so many English performers is that there’s an undercurrent of resentment at American dominance in so many areas. This drives some to find ways to prove their superiority and harp on it. Jeremy Clarkson is particularly noticeable in this regard, and I lurve Top Gear. I have literally every episode. It’s not defendable from Americans, either, with the “bad teeth” or “surrendering French” stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/24 "2010-07-15T03:47:24Z")
Without the h. Not sure if it’s because I’m from the Bronx, or because I hang out with scientists. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/25 "2010-07-15T04:10:51Z")
I am shocked that Erbivore is not overwhelmingly the #1 poll choice, because that is the only correct way to say it ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/26 "2010-07-15T04:16:18Z")
I pronounce it with the “H,” but omit the “H” from “herb” . . . except for the guy’s name, which gets the “H.” Don’t ask me why. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/27 "2010-07-15T04:17:48Z")
\*\*Autolycus \*\*beat me to the obligatory Eddie Izzard reference… I pronounce the ‘h’ in herbivore, but not in herb. I pride myself on my contradictoriness. I know that’s not a word, but for the life of me I can’t think of the right one. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583/28 "2010-07-15T05:18:42Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > But “thru” is just a convenient hatchet job on signs that don’t have enough room for the full word. I don’t know anyone who thinks that’s the real word. > > English spelling is terrible, though. There’s another one right there. > > The overall impression I get from so many English performers is that there’s an undercurrent of resentment at American dominance in so many areas. This drives some to find ways to prove their superiority and harp on it. Jeremy Clarkson is particularly noticeable in this regard, and I lurve Top Gear. I have literally every episode. > > It’s not defendable from Americans, either, with the “bad teeth” or “surrendering French” stuff. I dunno, I don’t get that vibe from this routine, [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1hJQsvoY6VU/hqdefault.jpg "Languages - Eddie Izzard") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU) he riffs on English culture at least as much, but hey, mileage varies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-herbivore/546583.md?page=1)