# Parler is apparently pronounced /parlor/ now **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153 "2021-01-10T01:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 10, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/21 "2021-01-10T16:40:10Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > All the French I know I learned from Pepé Le Pew 😉 At least you knew enough to put that accent on the e. As we used to say in the military: “If you can order a beer, a burrito, and a bimbo in the local language, you’re fluent.” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/22 "2021-01-10T16:48:06Z")
Since there’s an English word pronounced parlay already (you know, “parlay”) it _ **never** _ occurred to me that they’d pronounce Parler as parlay too instead of Parlor until someone commented on it a couple weeks ago. I speak Spanish, not French, and I generally find French’s very loose connection between spelling and pronunciation baffling, and this only adds to it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/23 "2021-01-10T16:49:47Z")
Huh. I’ve always pronounced it like “parlor” in my head, and I took four years of French. I thought it was just a cutesy spelling that punned on the French _parler_ “to talk”. So pronounced as if it were English (since it was developed in America and, I assume, mostly an American audience uses it), but echoing the French meaning as well. So you have both the idea of sitting in a parlor with the idea of “to talk”/_parler_ behind it. It’s cute. You lose that bilingual double meaning if the word is pronounced “par-LAY” in English. (And it seems weird to me. Wouldn’t you want to call it _Parlez_ then, rather than using the infinitive?) So I think it’s kind of stupid that the company originally intended it to be pronounced that way. The other way, in my mind, is much more clever. (Regardless of what you think about the service or the people who are on it.) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/24 "2021-01-10T17:00:57Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > French’s very loose connection between spelling and pronunciation That’s not an accurate description; French has pretty clear and consistent rules for pronunciation based on spelling. They’re just different from English rules. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/25 "2021-01-10T17:01:07Z")
> [@Olfatbut](#): > > When did this happen and why? If conservatives hate French so much why did they name it that? > [@gnarator](#): > > they didn’t know the correct way to pronounce it > [@Olfatbut](#): > > it is generally easier for smart people to learn incorrectness than the other way around Given how much people are talking about the spelling and pronunciation in this thread, it might well have been a deliberate marketing ploy to make it ambiguous and grammatically/etymologically dubious. And perhaps there are likely to be more _liberal_ tears over grammar? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/26 "2021-01-10T17:03:37Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > it might well have been a deliberate marketing ploy to make it ambiguous and grammatically/etymologically dubious. Liberal tears over grammar? While in principle I have no problem ascribing impure motives to the far right, I think this theory is far-fetched. For one thing, I see no “liberal tears,” just curiosity and a little informal linguistic analysis. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/27 "2021-01-10T18:24:15Z")
Well, rhe capital of France is pronunciated “Pair REE”, but only the elitesty of Americans say anything other than “PAIR iss”. Do they get called names, too? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/28 "2021-01-10T20:50:02Z")
I’ve never heard the word spoken and never even knew it even existed til I read mentions of it on this board within the past week. I never thought it would be said differently from _parlor_, it just looked like it was in the same style as Twitter/Tumblr/ Flickr, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/29 "2021-01-10T20:56:46Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > They should have named it ‘Parlay’ and be done with it. [Parlay.com](http://Parlay.com) is already taken and judging from the design of the homepage has been around since the early Nineties. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/30 "2021-01-10T21:54:39Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > [Parlay.com](http://Parlay.com) is already taken This is probably the explanation. Some people trying to come up with a catchy name for a communication platform come up with “parlay”. Quick google, find it’s taken, would cost more than a token amount of money to buy it, so use a different spelling, and quirky is good anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/31 "2021-01-10T21:56:30Z")
Surprised they didn’t go with parlr. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/32 "2021-01-10T22:07:34Z")
Parler-Parlor-Parlour-Parkour… this appears to be a metaphor for their trajectory. One of my favorite moments from the whole series is the way Andy quietly squeaks “parkour” from inside the box. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0Kvw2BPKjz0/maxresdefault.jpg "Parkour PARKOUR - The Office US") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kvw2BPKjz0) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/33 "2021-01-11T00:50:08Z")
This is correct. One conjugation of regular French verbs has the -er ending for the infinitive, and the endings are all pronounced -ay. Remember “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” back in the 70s? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/34 "2021-01-11T00:53:55Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Remember “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” back in the 70s? No. I’m not old enough to remember the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/35 "2021-01-11T00:54:58Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t4LWIP7SAjY/maxresdefault.jpg "(Patti) LaBelle - Lady Marmalade (1975) HD 0815007") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4LWIP7SAjY) ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/36 "2021-01-11T00:58:31Z")
Apparently an existing app called “parlor” has shot to the top of the app store charts: > **[Confused users in search of Parler push the app 'Parlor' to top of app store...](https://mashable.com/article/confused-and-looking-for-parler-parlor-app-wins)** > > Parler's been banned, and Parlor is reaping the benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/37 "2021-01-11T00:58:48Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > No. I’m not old enough to remember the 70s. It was in Moulin Rouge!, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/38 "2021-01-11T01:03:28Z")
I was going to say – it hit #1 in the US (and many other places worldwide) back in 2001. I remember a time when I couldn’t get away from that song. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/39 "2021-01-11T01:08:07Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It was in Moulin Rouge!, too. 🙂 I don’t voluntarily watch musicals. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153/40 "2021-01-11T12:54:26Z")
OK, then just take our word for it. parler =\> par-lay, coucher =\> koo-shay, donner =\> don-nay, aimer =\> aym-ay, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parler-is-apparently-pronounced-parlor-now/930153.md?page=3)