# Key-Cay. Ok what's the hoo-hay? (Is there a difference?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 27, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969 "2026-07-27T19:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/1 "2026-07-27T19:30:58Z")
Or is it just regional spelling, language difference? Yeah..I’m dumb. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/2 "2026-07-27T19:40:45Z")
Huh hay? I have zero idea what you’re asking. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/3 "2026-07-27T19:46:53Z")
Wikipedia says it’s a different spelling of the same thing. [Cay - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cay) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/4 "2026-07-27T19:58:12Z")
Ah hah! Now I (maybe) get it. Don’t confuse that with a “quay” which is a man-made wharf properly pronounced pronounced “key”, despite wiki’s silly ideas: > **[Wharf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wharf)** > > A wharf (pl. wharves or wharfs), quay (/kiː/ KEE, or /k(w)eɪ/ K(W)AY), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbor or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more berths (mooring locations), and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships. Wharves are often considered to be a series of docks at which boats are stationed. A marginal wharf is con A wharf... ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/5 "2026-07-27T20:04:48Z")
Thanks. Now I know. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/6 "2026-07-27T20:15:45Z")
Melanie Safka is rolling in her grave. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/7 "2026-07-27T20:22:49Z")
Then WTF is a “quay”?! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/8 "2026-07-27T20:37:10Z")
Second cousin to a quack. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/9 "2026-07-27T20:41:51Z")
The dessert was originally named, _Quay Lime Pie_, until the inventors got sick and tired of correcting everyone pronouncing it “Kway.” ETA: Sorry, wrong thread. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/10 "2026-07-28T00:41:46Z")
So key and cay are small islands pronounced like “key”. And “quay” is a wharf pronounced like “key”. So what’s the the key lesson here? For one syllable words it doesn’t matter how it’s spelled. It’s always pronounced “key”. So when you see “The red duck ate muck near the quay on the cay”, say “Key key key key key key key key key key key” and you’ll be doing it right. 🤪 🤪 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/11 "2026-07-28T01:19:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Don’t confuse that with a “quay” which is a man-made wharf properly pronounced pronounced “key”, despite wiki’s silly ideas: > [@](#): > > The good ship Ragamuffin is a-waiting on the quay > To carry old Mac with a shovel on his back to the shores of Botany Bay ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/12 "2026-07-28T01:34:43Z")
So, a key and/or a key can have a key, but a key doesn’t necessarily have to be on a key and/or a key, ‘kay? Que? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/13 "2026-07-28T02:17:51Z")
Como? 🤪 🙃 Yeah, something about like that. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/14 "2026-07-28T02:19:33Z")
Yay! ---
**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:** [July 28, 2026, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/15 "2026-07-28T02:48:03Z")
I remember getting into a bit of an argument with a teacher about that word in kindergarten. I for some reason was fascinated by the pronunciation guide in the classroom dictionary. She insisted it had to be pronounced “quay,” and I remember thinking it weird that she didn’t understand the pronunciation guide saying it was pronounced (kē), but had to read the homophone list to find out I was right. Though, unfortunately, @LSLGuy, even that dictionary had (kwā) as a secondary pronunciation. I also remember that buoy can sound like boo-ee or boy. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/16 "2026-07-28T02:52:11Z")
A Boo-ee knife? That’s not a knife. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/17 "2026-07-28T02:54:46Z")
You were very precocious to have dictionary abilities in kindergarten. I liked the dictionary early. With my difficulty speaking I was always looking at key to pronunciation. If I had trouble I bounced down to the homophones. Your teacher being a kindergarten teacher was teaching to the age level not your personal intelligence. Which I think is kinda the way it is in early grades. She probably never thought you were looking at the key to pronunciation of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/18 "2026-07-28T02:58:40Z")
The first Bowie knife was made right down the road from me. In Washington, Ark. I assure it’s a helluva knife. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/19 "2026-07-28T03:01:29Z")
Now, wait just a consarn minute — how did you get “Yay!” past Discourse? ---
**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:** [July 28, 2026, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969/20 "2026-07-28T03:10:28Z")
Yeah, I was a kid. I didn’t realize this just wasn’t just stuff everyone knew. There was a small guide on every page, and a huge guide at the front of the dictionary. (And, to be clear, this was a kid’s dictionary, I’m sure.) Also I might have been a first grader. I had the same teacher and classroom for both years. Montessori is very “go at your own pace.” I just couldn’t resist talking about quay. It’s one of my earliest memories. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969.md?page=2)