# "kitty-corner" or "catty-corner"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitty-corner-or-catty-corner/577178>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 4, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitty-corner-or-catty-corner/577178 "2011-04-04T19:04:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**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:** [April 6, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitty-corner-or-catty-corner/577178/41 "2011-04-06T19:21:51Z")

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> [@jasonh300](#):
>
> Okay, I probably pronounce it more like cadd-a-corner now that you mention that. I don’t really make the hard T sound in it. But I also tend to say Mondee, Tuesdee, etc.
> 
> How do you pronounce cauliflower?

I pronounce it CALL-ih-flower, but I know a lot of people from older generations or smaller neighboring towns that say CALL-ee-flower.

It doesn’t surprise me that you don’t do the same “changes” on all words. I say Tues-day, Wenz-day, etc., but I’ve always said caddy-corner.

BTW, I didn’t think it meant truly diagonal, just significantly off from straight. It’s not used often, just for not having your clothes on straight or having not put something in its proper place. For example A picture that is hung off of level is catercorner. One turned so it is diamond shaped is not. A line, on the other hand, is never catercorner.

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**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitty-corner-or-catty-corner/577178/42 "2011-04-06T19:56:38Z")

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> [@BigT](#):
>
> BTW, I didn’t think it meant truly diagonal, just significantly off from straight. It’s not used often, just for not having your clothes on straight or having not put something in its proper place. For example A picture that is hung off of level is catercorner. One turned so it is diamond shaped is not. A line, on the other hand, is never catercorner.

Sounds to me like you’re using it to mean catawhampus.

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**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:** [April 6, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitty-corner-or-catty-corner/577178/43 "2011-04-06T20:16:33Z")

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> [@OpalCat](#):
>
> Sounds to me like you’re using it to mean catawhampus.

Very possible, but I picked it up from my Grandpa, so it’s nothing I made up. He’s the one person in our family who still has the old pronunciations, although, as a kid, I thought he was making up words. It doesn’t help that he always said them in a voice that sounded different than the one we were used to.

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitty-corner-or-catty-corner/577178/44 "2011-04-06T21:23:07Z")

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I think I say something along the lines of ‘caddy corner’. But now I’ve said it in my head too many times and it all sounds funny.

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