# How do you pronounce pecan? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 21, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895 "2010-12-21T01:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/1 "2010-12-21T01:06:37Z")
How do you pronounce the nut from which pralines and pies and butter pecan ice cream is made? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/2 "2010-12-21T01:09:02Z")
Pee-can. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/3 "2010-12-21T01:09:03Z")
Pe-KHAAAN!!! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/4 "2010-12-21T01:10:29Z")
I learned PEE-can, emphasis on the 1st syllable. I did have relatives who’d refer to the pie as a “p-KAHN pie” though. Don’t know why, they aren’t french or anything. How 'bout the rest of y’all? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/5 "2010-12-21T01:10:29Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Pe-KHAAAN!!! Do you drink high tea with your pinky up in the air, too? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/6 "2010-12-21T01:13:25Z")
Not that I say it often, but when I do, I say it as though I am referring to a tin full of green legumes. \>\_\> ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/7 "2010-12-21T01:17:38Z")
I will never forget the words of a waitress in Boone, North Carolina in 1975 who told me that “A ‘PEE-can’ is what you keep under the bed at night when you’re a little kid! Kindly do not refer to our pie that way.” So this northerner has used a southern-ish pronunciation ever since that day. ---
**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:** [December 21, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/8 "2010-12-21T03:31:13Z")
Just the nut: pee-CAN. Although when in a pie, it’s PEE-can. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/9 "2010-12-21T03:38:25Z")
Beijing ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/10 "2010-12-21T03:43:23Z")
Where’s the option for PEE-khan? That’s how I say it. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/11 "2010-12-21T03:46:35Z")
I pronounce it p’KAHN, because it sounds more sophisti-ma-cated that way. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/12 "2010-12-21T03:50:44Z")
Often it’s more like b’khan than p’khan, 'round these parts. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/13 "2010-12-21T03:54:20Z")
A pee can is something you use when you’re on the road and can’t stop for, or find a restroom! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/14 "2010-12-21T04:09:05Z")
Depends on the words around it for me. Butter pih-KAHN PEE-kahn pie. Anyone who says pih-CAN or “PEE can” is unforgivably rubey. ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/15 "2010-12-21T04:18:44Z")
Hey, I’m French Canadian. My mom’s favourite pie is tarte aux: pacannes! Joyeux Noel! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/16 "2010-12-21T05:25:29Z")
Its spelt “Yacht”! ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/17 "2010-12-21T05:34:08Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > A pee can is something you use when you’re on the road and can’t stop for, or find a restroom! 😃 Bingo! ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/18 "2010-12-21T15:25:02Z")
I’m over 50 and have never once heard anyone say PEE-can. In fact I’d say the most common version I’ve heard isn’t even listed: pee-CAN. I’m assuming p’CAN is not the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/19 "2010-12-21T15:29:46Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Pe-KHAAAN!!! I should have known better than to hope I could be the first to make this joke. Seriously, 'round these parts it’s pih-KHAN. ---
**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:** [December 21, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895/20 "2010-12-21T15:34:39Z")
I selected PEE-can but I suspect I actually pronounce it PEE-kin. New Zealander. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-pecan/564895.md?page=2)