# How do you pronounce: Input **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117 "2010-05-20T12:39:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/1 "2010-05-20T12:39:39Z")
Yet another “how do you pronounce” thread. This time the word is **input**. Do you pronounce the n as an N [ɪnpʊt] or as an M [ɪmpʊt]? I’ll tell you why I ask after I get a few answers. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/2 "2010-05-20T12:42:24Z")
“input”. ---
**Author:** ![Negative\_Lite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Negative\_Lite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Negative_Lite)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/3 "2010-05-20T12:48:35Z")
Probably most people pronounce it with an n in careful, formal speech and with an m in hurried, casual speech. If you ask people to self-report, they’ll probably tell you how they pronounce it in careful speech, when they spend the majority of the time speaking informally and pronouncing the word as such. Pronouncing an n as an m when said before a p is known as “assimilation” by linguists. I answered m because I only pronounce it with an n in very formal speech. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/4 "2010-05-20T13:19:47Z")
The question made no sense to me at first. Input doesn’t have an M, so why would I pronounce it that way? Then I said it out loud and I can see how it would sound like an M, but that’s not what I’m saying. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/5 "2010-05-20T13:25:41Z")
Ditto Negative Lite, or even something vague like “ingput” or “ih…put”. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/6 "2010-05-20T13:36:23Z")
I am now thinking of “input” versus “impute”. I don’t feel any tendency to make the ‘n’ in “input” sound like an ‘m’… maybe this is a change that doesn’t tend to happen anymore? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/7 "2010-05-20T13:38:04Z")
> [@Negative\_Lite](#): > > Probably most people pronounce it with an n in careful, formal speech and with an m in hurried, casual speech. I think you’re right. I voted for M, but I think I pronounce it both ways, depending. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/8 "2010-05-20T13:44:20Z")
But there is no M in it. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/9 "2010-05-20T13:49:45Z")
“In-put” when pronouncing the word carefully, or in isolation. “Im-put” at ordinary conversational speed. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/10 "2010-05-20T13:52:30Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > But there is no M in it. So? There’s no I in team, either. I think it’s a lazy thing. There’s a P in input, which requires the lips to be closed. It’s so much easier to start with them closed than to have them open, move the tongue to the top of the pallette, them move it away, then close the lips, then open them again, then move the tongue to the top of the pallette again, then snap it away. Gawd, I’m tired just having to type all of that! I’n takin’ a liddle nap mow. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/11 "2010-05-20T13:54:21Z")
In both casual and precise speech, I pronounce it somewhere between an n and an m. When I pronounce a word such as “improving”, on the other hand, it’s a firm “m” which is “darker” sounding and further back in the mouth. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/12 "2010-05-20T14:11:06Z")
> [@Negative\_Lite](#): > > … Shhh! I’ll specify only what should be taken as given in all of these: vote for the one you use most commonly. And feel free to elaborate. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/13 "2010-05-20T14:23:56Z")
I’ve got a cold, so right now I’m saying imput, but mostly I say input. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/14 "2010-05-20T14:32:13Z")
Input. I can’t imagine why anyone would use m. Do you say imdeed, or imternal? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/15 "2010-05-20T14:38:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Input. I can’t imagine why anyone would use m. > > Do you say imdeed, or imternal? Explained in post #10. So no, why would I? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/16 "2010-05-20T14:43:23Z")
**Negative Lite** ’s got it, for me. I \*think \*“iNput”, and if I say it while trying to notice what I say, it’s iNput, but when I distract myself long enough to use it naturally, iMput it is. > [@Leaffan](#): > > Do you say imdeed, or imternal? No, but those "n"s are followed by open mouthed consonants, so the “n” naturally flows, in my dialect. It takes more effort to make the “m” than the “n” if my lips are open for the next sound. I’m trying to think of another word in which “n” is followed by a bilabial consonant, and I’m coming up empty.. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/17 "2010-05-20T14:49:31Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > \*\*I’m trying to think of another word in which “n” is followed by a bilabial consonant, and I’m coming up empty.. Anticipatory assimilation can (and commonly does) take place across work boundaries, especially in stock phrases and idioms. “In person” and “in place of” – _spoken at conversational speed_ – are examples. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/18 "2010-05-20T14:54:41Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’m trying to think of another word in which “n” is followed by a bilabial consonant, and I’m coming up empty.. Inborn Inbred inbreds Inbreeding inbuilt Inpatient ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/19 "2010-05-20T14:55:49Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Inborn > Inbred > inbreds > Inbreeding > inbuilt > Inpatient Thanks! Of those, for some odd reason, the only one I think I "m"ize is inpatient. Dialects are fun! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117/20 "2010-05-20T15:27:59Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Inborn > Inbred > inbreds > Inbreeding > inbuilt > Inpatient Thanks. Everyone else feel free to explain if you pronounce any of these differently. Input was just the first word that popped into my head. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-input/540117.md?page=2)