# How do you pronounce either/neither?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 7, 2016, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835 "2016-10-07T13:05:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/21 "2016-10-07T17:20:50Z")
I’ve been known to pronounce it either way.
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/22 "2016-10-07T17:22:34Z")
It’s “EYE-gor.” 🙂
I mostly say “EEE-ther,” but every once a while I’ll say “EYE-ther.”
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### Author:  [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/23 "2016-10-07T17:24:08Z")
eyether - but I’m pretty sure that it was an affectation that stuck.
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> I’m thinking of calling the whole thing off.
But then you must part.
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### Author:  [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/24 "2016-10-07T20:21:11Z")
Either is correct; neither is wrong. You’re welcome. 😃
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/25 "2016-10-07T20:23:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> I’m thinking of calling the whole thing off.
I knew someone would beat me to it.
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### Author:  [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/26 "2016-10-07T20:57:59Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#):
>
> I grew up in the central Appalachians (how to pronounce that is one that gets locals heated up). In my adult life I was in the military and moved around a lot. I switch back and forth but mostly say EEE-ther but usually switch for the negative to n-EYE-ther.
That’s me! The last sentence, I mean. And the amount of switching seems inversely proportional. Off the top of my head, I’d say my usage is
Either – 70% EEE-ther | 30% EYE-ther
Neither – 70% NYE-ther | 30% NEE-ther
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### Author:  [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/27 "2016-10-07T21:00:05Z")
I have no strong preference - I use each about equally.
(I also use both “American” and “European” modes of knife-and-fork.
Raised in Midwest. Escaped at age 30.
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### Author:  [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/28 "2016-10-07T21:05:31Z")
I use both, inconsistently- England.
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/29 "2016-10-07T21:25:38Z")
Southeastern US. EE-ther/NEEther. I think I could probably count the number of times on one hand I’ve heard the other pronunciations used (outside of a TV or movie).
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/30 "2016-10-07T22:12:56Z")
On this, I go either way, depending on… I’m not really sure.
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### Author:  [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/31 "2016-10-07T22:17:59Z")
EEEther, nEEEther.
I get the sense that nEYEther tends to come from people who pronounce aunt ont instead of identically to ant.
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### Author:  [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2016, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/32 "2016-10-08T05:43:52Z")
British – family originally from north-west England. Always EYE-ther and NYE-ther. I _think_ that in Scotland, people more often say EE-ther / NEE-ther; but couldn’t totally swear to that.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2016, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/33 "2016-10-08T06:38:41Z")
> [@Totenfeier](#):
>
> Either is correct; neither is wrong. You’re welcome. 😃
Oh fuck. I just read that in my head as “eether is correct, nyther is wrong.” Now I’m totally schizophrenic. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2016, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/34 "2016-10-08T07:57:16Z")
EE-ther and NEE-ther. San Francisco Bay Area.
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/35 "2016-10-08T16:56:52Z")
Wow, a lot of interesting responses. I think, like some have said, I use EEE-ther most of the time but EYE-ther sometimes for emphasis. As in:
Son: I don’t know whether I want to do my homework before or after dinner.
Me: EYE-ther way, you’re getting it done!
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/36 "2016-10-08T21:36:32Z")
Either – 40% EEE-ther | 60% EYE-ther
Neither – 90% NYE-ther | 10% NEE-ther
As I’ve gotten older I think my EYE-ther percentage has climbed. The EYE sound goes better with ponderous and pedantic speaking. Something you all know I’m (too) good at.
You say “Hey, you wanna Bud or a Corona?” I say “Eee-ther.”
You say “Would you prefer the vichyssoise or the salade nicoise?” I say “EYE-ther would be lovely, thank you.”
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### Author:  [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/37 "2016-10-10T19:11:40Z")
It varies depending on the context, but I usually prefer “EEE-ther.”
I’m from Lawn Guyland, Noo Yawk (all my life).
[Abbott & Costello](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oc-aRkxPgc) used “EEE-ther.”
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/38 "2016-10-11T19:34:26Z")
I pronounce them correctly, of course. 😉
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/39 "2016-10-11T20:06:39Z")
I think I use nye-ther more often. I have no idea whether I use eether or eyether, except that I always say “eether-or proposition”.
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### Author:  [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-either-neither/767835/40 "2016-10-12T03:02:44Z")
> [@TBG](#):
>
> EEEther, nEEEther.
>
> I get the sense that nEYEther tends to come from people who pronounce aunt ont instead of identically to ant.
I pronounce Aunt as Are-nt and I pronounce Neither and Either both ways totally at random.
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