Lilacs: How do you pronounce it?

[Kalhoun]

I’ve always said “Lie-Lacks”. I hear lots of people say “Lie-Locks.” Which is it?

[Zeldar]

I lean toward the first, but it comes out more like “Lye-lucks” with almost equal stress on each syllable.

[Missy2U]

Lie-Lacks.

[Kalhoun]

@Zeldar

I lean toward the first, but it comes out more like “Lye-lucks” with almost equal stress on each syllable.

Now see…I see a luck as being closer to a lock than a lack.

[Zeldar]

@Kalhoun

Now see…I see a luck as being closer to a lock than a lack.

I agree, but the lock/luck I say has less ah or uh and more of a schwa sound, sort of choked off and not emphasized. Maybe LYE-lux with a bit more on the first?

[Anastasaeon]

Lie-Locks.

[twickster]

@Anastasaeon

Lie-Locks.

Ditto.

[Phlosphr]

I’m quite sur ein my New England neck of the woods it’s Lie Lax.

[Ike_Witt]

I use ‘lie lacks’. I don’t know where the ‘O’ sound would come from.

I wish they grew here.

[Honeydew_1]

Lie Lacks for sure… why would anyone say Lie Locks? Is it a European vs American thing do you think?

[Kalhoun]

@adam yax

I use ‘lie lacks’. I don’t know where the ‘O’ sound would come from.

I wish they grew here.

Like “Calm” or “ah”.

[Zeldar]

[hijack]
Is it true that Green Grow The Lilacs gave rise to the Mexicans calling Anglos gringos? I forget where I heard that but it made sense at the time.
[/hijack]

[Kalhoun]

@Honeydew

Lie Lacks for sure… why would anyone say Lie Locks? Is it a European vs American thing do you think?

No, I hear full-blooded Americans do this all the time. It makes me wonder if I’m the one making the mistake, but it’s looking like it’s one of those regional things.

[Zeldar]

@Kalhoun

No, I hear full-blooded Americans do this all the time. It makes me wonder if I’m the one making the mistake, but it’s looking like it’s one of those regional things.

I vote for the regional thing. But I do hear the -lacks or -lax version in these parts, too. So my guess is it’s how important people feel it is to say both syllables clearly. I can’t say I remember anyone saying the -locks or -lucks version with any great stress, so I’m thinking it’s a lack of emphasis thing hereabouts.

[Phlosphr]

@Zeldar

[hijack]
Is it true that Green Grow The Lilacs gave rise to the Mexicans calling Anglos gringos? I forget where I heard that but it made sense at the time.
[/hijack]

From False Etymology:

A recurring false etymology for the derivation of gringo states that it originated during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. It has been claimed that Gringo comes from “green coat” and was used in reference to the American soldiers and the green color of their uniforms. Yet another story, from Mexico, holds that Mexicans with knowledge of the English language used to write “greens go home” on street walls referring to the color of the uniforms of the invading army; subsequently, it became a common habitual action for the rest of the population to yell “green go” whenever U.S. soldiers passed by. This is an example of an invented explanation, because gringo was used in Spanish long before the war and during the Mexican-American War. Additionally, the U.S. Army did not use green uniforms at the time, but blue ones. [5]

The “green go” etymology can also be heard in Panama, where it is said that during the time when the U.S. Army occupied the Canal Zone, people would chant it alongside “yankee go home!” when partaking in street protests.

Another legend maintains that one of two songs – either “Green Grow the Lilacs” or “Green Grow the Rushes, O” – was popular at the time and that Mexicans heard the invading U.S. troops singing “Green grow…” and contracted this into gringo.

Bolding mine. No, that is not a true etymology.

[Sofaspud]

@Kalhoun

I’ve always said “Lie-Lacks”. I hear lots of people say “Lie-Locks.” Which is it?

IMO, it should be pronounced “Crap-Flower” – emphasis on the first syllable. But then, I have a very sensitive, very odd sense of smell, and to me, crapflowers smell like dog shit on a hot day. The underlying smell, that is. I can smell the fragrance that everyone seems to like, too, but imagine smelling hot doggy doo at the same time and you’ll get the idea.

(I know it’s the flower itself and not the scent because synthetic lilac scents – perfumes, for example – don’t bother me at all.)

But for normal folks in my area (I live in the Lilac City), it’s “lie-lack”.

[Kalhoun]

@Sofaspud

IMO, it should be pronounced “Crap-Flower” – emphasis on the first syllable. But then, I have a very sensitive, very odd sense of smell, and to me, crapflowers smell like dog shit on a hot day. The underlying smell, that is. I can smell the fragrance that everyone seems to like, too, but imagine smelling hot doggy doo at the same time and you’ll get the idea.

(I know it’s the flower itself and not the scent because synthetic lilac scents – perfumes, for example – don’t bother me at all.)

But for normal folks in my area (I live in the Lilac City), it’s “lie-lack”.

I hate the smell of lilacs! I don’t like it in nature or in a synthetic. I love to look at 'em, but that’s it.

[Phlosphr]

@Kalhoun

I hate the smell of lilacs! I don’t like it in nature or in a synthetic. I love to look at 'em, but that’s it.

I heard only smokers hate the smell of Lilacs…

[sup]Kidding, Kidding…Just Kidding[/sup]
My wife hates the smell too!

[BobLibDem]

@adam yax

I wish they grew here.

I’m surprised that there are places where they won’t grow. They’re quite hardy and can take a lot of abuse.

It’s lie-locks by the way. Whatever you call it, the scent of heaven.

[Honey]

Lie-lock as well. I can’t wait for them to come out.