How do you pronounce that most whimsical of words?
Cara-mel
When thinking about it or talking about it, I pronounce it “car-mel”. However, for some reason when reading the word I pronounce it (mentally) “care-a-mel”.
Kair Uh Mell.
There’s an A in there, it should be pronounced.
Usually, with two syllables, although I will sometimes say the “a.”
I voted your second choice even though this is more accurate.
This is how I pronounce it: all syllables are pronounced.
I use kar-mel for caramel apples, but care-a-mel when referring to the candy itself.
Why limit yourself to just one pronunciation?
Cahr-uh-mull. Emphasis on first syllable.
That’s what I came here to say.
Kar-a-mel
Despite the way the poll is going, I’d say 80% of the people in the West, if not the entire US, use the two-syllable version. I don’t care-a-mel, I will pronounce the three-syllable way up until they have me against the wall.
Hmm, am I really the only one who says “care-uh-mull?” It’s definitely 3 syllables, and I definitely say “mull” on the last syllable and not “mell.” Same pronunciation for both apples and chews.
Kare-mel, two sylablles, usually. Other times any of the variations. I think if someone says it first I just say it the way they did.
Barely more than one syllable, “kahrml”.
Yeah, I’m somewhat surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone pronounce “caramel corn” as anything but “car-mull corn.” Like I said above, I will occasionally use the three syllable pronunciation, but almost always when I’m using “caramel” as a noun, as in the candies (as Tamerlane, but it’s not that consistant.) And a word like “caramelize” is always three syllables as I’ve heard it, although dictionary.com lists the four-syllable pronunciation first.
Let’s not get into “sherbet.”
Sherbt.
Kah-ruh-mul. (Possibly this what you meant to indicate by Care-a-mel, but it is far from clear. If the “care-” bit there is to be pronounced like the word care, I have never heard anyone say anything like that.) Many Americans do seem to say kar-mel, but the prophet Elijah did not live on toffee.
Eh? Three posts earlier, me too! (What am I, chocolate fudge?)
Doggone, though! These kinds of threads make me so hungry!
Two syllables for corn/apples.
Three syllables when by itself/other nonstandard phrases.