# Is the US pronunciation of "solder" unique to the US ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 9, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997 "2014-09-09T19:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/21 "2014-09-09T20:09:46Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > How did you solder things in the [14th century](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=solder)? 😕 A friend suggested melting the metal in a separate container and then pouring it over the second piece of metal. Which would be a great way to cover a hunk of something cheap with a fancier more expensive metal but I’m not sure how effective it would be at, say, joining two ends of a pipe. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/22 "2014-09-09T20:15:46Z")
I worked closely with a bunch of Aussies in the later '80s, doing electronics development, and don’t recall a one of them using anything but the “sodder” pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/23 "2014-09-09T20:21:36Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I worked closely with a bunch of Aussies in the later '80s, doing electronics development, and don’t recall a one of them using anything but the “sodder” pronunciation. Now the question that springs to mind is 
were you working in the US or in OZ ? Cuz if you were in the US it is quite conceivable that they were “doing as the Romans do” 
 eg when I worked in the States I would never have said “AL-OO- MIN- EE-UM” 
 back over here I sometimes say “aluminum” and get funny looks. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/24 "2014-09-09T20:25:58Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I worked closely with a bunch of Aussies in the later '80s, doing electronics development, and don’t recall a one of them using anything but the “sodder” pronunciation. [Here’s an Australian guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Sb21qbpEQ) that says it a lot. I think there’s an “l” sound in there, but it’s very weak and to my ears pretty much sounds like “sodder”, or maybe “sauder”. It certainly doesn’t sound like “sold-er”. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/25 "2014-09-09T20:28:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > How did you solder things in the [14th century](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=solder)? 😕 Probably the same way they soldered things in the 18th and 19th centuries – you use a soldering iron made with a large bulk of iron to retain the heat near the tip, and use a eutectic mixture of metals (lead and tin, for instance) that melts at a low temperature, and use a flux to clean off the dross that keeps the solder from sticking. Soldering was the standard method used by tinsmiths and silversmiths for joining the parts of their metalwork together for quite a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/26 "2014-09-09T20:38:38Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Things I learned from the SDMB today: > > There is no such word as sauter (pronounced sotter), meaning to melt metal parts together. Of course not. One _sautĂ©s_ them. > [@Smapti](#): > > No more than you would mention using Wor-ces-tir-shire sauce on your sal-is-bury steak while dining in Lei-ces-ter before boarding a train to Glou-ces-tir via Lan-cas-ter-shire. Nice try, but it’s “Lancashire”. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/27 "2014-09-09T20:49:47Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > [Here’s an Australian guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Sb21qbpEQ) that says it a lot. I think there’s an “l” sound in there, but it’s very weak and to my ears pretty much sounds like “sodder”, or maybe “sauder”. It certainly doesn’t sound like “sold-er”. I beg to differ 
 it sounds exactly like "sold-er " to my ears 
 just with an Aussie accent ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/28 "2014-09-09T20:51:05Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > I am hoping that some Canadian, Oz, African etc members will chip in and reveal what their preferred pronunciation is, as well as anyone for whom English is a second language. Ireland: /soʊldər/ SOAL-der ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/29 "2014-09-09T21:13:58Z")
Western Canada. Never heard the l pronounced in my life. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/30 "2014-09-09T21:18:46Z")
Another Canadian here. In my first metal shop class (“Industrial Arts”) when I was 11 yo, I made the mistake of saying solder with the ‘l’-sound. Was I laughed at! (these traumas stay with me) ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/31 "2014-09-09T21:51:47Z")
Canadian Electronics Tech, and we have always said “sodder”. No L. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/32 "2014-09-09T21:52:14Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > How did you solder things in the [14th century](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=solder)? 😕 The same way you’d iron clothes in the 14th century. Only[the iron would be pointier](http://josephjenkins.com/store/hand-irons-and-solder-pots/). ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/33 "2014-09-09T22:01:41Z")
OK, we’ve established that the US and Canada both say “sodder”, and the evidence is strong that Aussies say “sold-er”. How about South Africa , or indeed any of the English speaking African countries ? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/34 "2014-09-09T22:12:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > At least in southern Ontario, it is “sodder,” as per the American pronounciation. > > Anyone who speaks English really should not express surprise that English pronunciation and spelling are not consistent. > > People in the UK pronounce garage as “garridge,” which I find funny and strange, but it’s not wrong, it’s just a regionalism. It’s also a class shibboleth in England. Middle and upper classes tend to say gar-ahge, as the Yanks, while working class oiks pronounce it garridge. There’s also something of a Norh-South split. As you say, there’s no consistency in these things, nor should there be. That’s half the fun of language. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/35 "2014-09-09T22:31:53Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > OK, we’ve established that the US and Canada both say “sodder”, and the evidence is strong that Aussies say “sold-er”. Concur with the other Canucks – I have never heard the “l” pronounced – it is always “sodder” (or “sauder”), as in the US. Canadian spelling tends to follow the British orthography, but pronunciation is more closely aligned with the US. Though there are notable differences in words like “about” and “sorry”. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/36 "2014-09-09T22:47:59Z")
Some here in South Georgia pronounce the L in solder, but also in salmon, walk, and talk. They are to be ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/37 "2014-09-09T22:49:26Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > I occasionally watch DIY/ home workshop videos on Youtube, and have always been intrigued by the way American artisans pronounce “solder” as “sodder”. Which part of Amercia pronounces it that way ? New England ? New Amsterdam ? New Spain ? New France ? New Mexico ? Or some other area dominated by deutch or dutch or Poles ? Oh my point was that USA is not some sort of extension of UK - Is it a holiday resort populated by England ? See > **[solder | Etymology of solder by etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/solder)** > > "fix in place or mend by soldering, unite by metallic cement," a re-Latinizing, attested
 See origin and meaning of solder. The only interesting thing about the the etemology of the word solder is the lost and found “l”. It had the l in latin, the l goes missing, but comes back in MODERN ENGLISH. solder (n.) early 14c., soudur, from Old French soldure, soudeure, from souder ---
**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:** [September 9, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/38 "2014-09-09T22:50:58Z")
> [@SmartAlecCat](#): > > It’s like aluminum. We say it/slur it quick and easy. How is it like aluminum? We pronounce all of the letters in ‘aluminum’ just as they are written. At least, I do
how do you pronounce it? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/39 "2014-09-09T22:54:33Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > It’s also a class shibboleth in England. Middle and upper classes tend to say gar-ahge, as the Yanks, while working class oiks pronounce it garridge. There’s also something of a Norh-South split. As you say, there’s no consistency in these things, nor should there be. That’s half the fun of language. Seems another Englishman made a similar observations some time ago
 [Quote=George Bernard Shaw] It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997/40 "2014-09-09T23:01:57Z")
Same with Beta US: Baa’ta testing UK Bee’ta testing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-pronunciation-of-solder-unique-to-the-us/697997.md?page=3)