# POLL: How do you pronounce the word "mushy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2022, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716 "2022-02-18T01:20:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/81 "2022-02-19T19:25:41Z")
If I understand option one correctly, it would be saying it as mooshy. And god no, I wouldn’t do that. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Did I miss something or do people really think that tushie rhymes with pushy rather than slushie or mushy? It’s not a perfect rhyme with either, but much closer to pushy than slushie. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/82 "2022-02-19T20:51:21Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > It’s not a perfect rhyme with either, but much closer to pushy than slushie. Yeah, I’ve never heard tushie rhymed with slushy. And if I did I probably wouldn’t know _what_ I was hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/83 "2022-02-19T21:03:28Z")
I recognize “mushy” and “mooshy” as two separate words. “Mushy” derives from “mush” (_noun_), which rhymes with “gush” or “lush” or the first syllable of “mushroom.” “Mooshy” derives from “moosh” (_verb_) and rhymes with “pushy” or “bushy.” At least, that’s how it works in my head. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/84 "2022-02-19T21:18:15Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > If I understand option one correctly, it would be saying it as mooshy. For me, “mooshy” would be something altogether different, with an /u:/ like in “moo” as opposed to the “oo” in “look.” ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/85 "2022-02-19T21:30:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > For me, “mooshy” would be something altogether different, with an /u:/ like in “moo” as opposed to the “oo” in “look.”… Agreement here. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/86 "2022-02-19T22:45:02Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Yeah, I’ve never heard tushie rhymed with slushy. And if I did I probably wouldn’t know _what_ I was hearing. Believe me, in the UK it is an exact rhyme in many, many accents. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/87 "2022-02-19T22:46:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > For me, “mooshy” would be something altogether different, with an /u:/ like in “moo” as opposed to the “oo” in “look.” An imperfect comparison as those vowel sounds can also be exactly the same in some accents. ---
**Author:** ![superwombat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superwombat/32/16616_2.png) [@superwombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superwombat)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/88 "2022-02-19T23:01:12Z")
My head canon has three levels, depending on texture: Muhshy - somewhat gloppy, able to hold a shape for a short period of time, acceptable to some for oatmeal, and maybe mushy peas Mooshy - quite liquid, some small particles could be described as “solids,” a tad too much water in the mix Moooshy - substance has perhaps a slimy texture, not appealing to consume or walk in ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/89 "2022-02-19T23:05:29Z")
♫ Moshi moshi, ano ne, ano ne, ono ne… ♫ ---
**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:** [February 19, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/90 "2022-02-19T23:11:40Z")
Absolutely. I hope that’s clear with this thread. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/91 "2022-02-20T05:48:13Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Believe me, in the UK it is an exact rhyme in many, many accents. Then this [video clip](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/69f47385-f8f9-4e82-8954-c8984990dd22) (3 seconds) must sound very odd to you. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/92 "2022-02-20T09:12:54Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Then this [video clip](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/69f47385-f8f9-4e82-8954-c8984990dd22) (3 seconds) must sound very odd to you. Not at all, “tushie” isn’t really a word used in UK english but that sounds like a perfectly normal way to pronounce it. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/93 "2022-02-20T15:23:29Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Not at all, “tushie” isn’t really a word used in UK english but that sounds like a perfectly normal way to pronounce it. But you disagreed that with me that this was the way to say it? I’m confused. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/94 "2022-02-20T15:35:04Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I’m confused. There are widespread U.K. accents/dialects in which _all_ of the words under consideration in this thread are pronounced with the same vowel sound. So of course a hypothetical tushie would rhyme with slushy. See @pulykamell’s post above. [POLL: How do you pronounce the word "mushy"? - #34 by pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/34) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/95 "2022-02-20T18:07:21Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > But you disagreed that with me that this was the way to say it? I’m confused. I don’t think I did disagree with you, but as it happens I would disagree if you claimed there was such a thing as “_the_” way to pronounce it. There isn’t any right or wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/96 "2022-02-20T18:12:08Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I like the way Nick Yemana said it. Only when stoned. Mooshi, mooshi. It’s almost like being in love. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/97 "2022-02-20T20:26:42Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I don’t think I did disagree with you, but as it happens I would disagree if you claimed there was such a thing as “ _the_ ” way to pronounce it. > There isn’t any right or wrong way. Anyone can pronounce anything the way they want to. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/98 "2022-02-20T20:53:40Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Anyone can pronounce anything the way they want to. sure, and people absolutely do and none of them are wrong, but you are the one who seemed to be suggesting that there is “the” way to say it. I’ve certainly made no such declaration of right and wrong. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/99 "2022-02-20T21:02:40Z")
No. If you read such affirmation into my words I did not mean it categorically. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716/100 "2022-02-20T21:40:13Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > No. If you read such affirmation into my words I did not mean it categorically. I made that assumption based on this sentence > [@carrps](#): > > But you disagreed that with me that this was the way to say it? I’m confused. Which seems to suggest there is a “way” to say it. But you’ve clarified that you don’t think that and neither do I, so I think we are in agreement here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-how-do-you-pronounce-the-word-mushy/959716.md?page=6)