# Share your favorite mispronunciations that you have heard **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273 "2012-10-19T20:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/161 "2012-10-30T15:36:29Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > I had a Latin teacher - Oxford educated, I believe, and a bit of commie - who sometimes talked of cah-PIT-alism, and the Russian leader Sta-LEEN. Russian names tend to get hopelessly mangled in English (although I’ve never heard “Sta-LEEN”). For example, Roman Abaramovich (Chelsea football boss) is usually called Roman [as in empire] uh-BRAM-uh-vitch, when in fact it should be more like “ro-MAHN ab-ram-OH-vitch”. And let’s not forget Eye-van the Terrible… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/162 "2012-10-30T15:47:39Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > On the contrary, Americans, in my experience (certainly in many US TV ads) almost always say “an herb”, which always sounded very odd to my British ears. By contrast, I am quite comfortable with “an historic”, although I would probably be more likely to say “a historic” myself. People tend to use “an” when an initial **H** is silent or very weakly stressed. That is not really a national difference, just the application of the standard English rule for nouns that begin with vowel sounds. What does differ from place to place, and even individual to individual, is how strongly the initial H is pronounced in particular words. Perhaps it varies over time too. I believe “an hotel” used to be common, but I doubt that it is any more. I say “an herb.” Or more specifically, “an erb,” because I never pronounce the H in “herb.” That one I believe is regional in the US. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/163 "2012-10-30T15:50:07Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > My father-in-law is a Renaissance man of sorts- highly intelligent, cultured, equally adept at things mechanical and artistic. He’s just good at EVERYTHING. > > Which is why it’s so funny when, in the course of numerous conversations and book-readings about dinosaurs with my two pre-school-aged boys, he pronounces “diplodocus” with the emphasis on the third syllable. Dip-low-DOUGH-kus. That is how I would say it too. I have heard dih-PLOD-uhcus, but I think it is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/164 "2012-10-30T16:06:47Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > That is how I would say it too. I have heard dih-PLOD-uhcus, but I think it is wrong. Yes, it comes from _diplo-_ (double) plus _dokos_ (beam). Diplo-docus. No plodding involved. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/165 "2012-10-30T17:28:05Z")
I don’t know if it counts as a mispronunciation, because I don’t that I’ve ever hear any two people pronounce it the same. The word: diacetyl. It’s a sort of buttery-flavored compound that can be found in beer, among other things. I pronounce it “die a-SEE-tull”, my brewing professor pronounced it “die ASS-uh-teel” (Anyone from UC-Davis will know instantly who I’m talking about),and the brewmaster I worked with pronounces it “die ASS-eet-ill” ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/166 "2012-10-30T17:34:29Z")
Well, the first four dictionaries here say it’s dih-PLOD-uh-cus. You can check the rest if you like. [Definitions of diplodocus - OneLook Dictionary Search](http://www.onelook.com/?w=diplodocus&ls=a) I used to watch Good Eats to see which word Alton would butcher next. He mispronounced arthropod, plantain, oligosaccharide, astaxanthin, and turbot. When did using dictionaries to find pronunciations stop? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/167 "2012-10-30T17:47:20Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Well, the first four dictionaries here say it’s dih-PLOD-uh-cus. You can check the rest if you like. > > [DIPLODOCUS meaning: Long-necked dinosaur from Jurassic period - OneLook](http://www.onelook.com/?w=diplodocus&ls=a) My dictionary gives both pronunciations. Admittedly the “di-PLOD-a-cus” one comes first, but I reserve the right to use the second one because the first sounds silly. When I was growing up and learning about dinosaurs they were always dip-luh-DOH-cus-es, ad so they shall remain. 😛 ---
**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:** [October 30, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/168 "2012-10-30T19:31:36Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > I don’t know if it counts as a mispronunciation, because I don’t that I’ve ever hear any two people pronounce it the same. > > The word: diacetyl. It’s a sort of buttery-flavored compound that can be found in beer, among other things. I pronounce it “die a-SEE-tull”, my brewing professor pronounced it “die ASS-uh-teel” (Anyone from UC-Davis will know instantly who I’m talking about),and the brewmaster I worked with pronounces it “die ASS-eet-ill” And I’ve always prounced it like “die-ASS-uh-till.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/169 "2012-10-30T19:50:23Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > Centimeter pronounced as son-ti-me-ter is a snooty nursing school thing. Many early nursing traditions have connections to French. I’ve seen some nurses who use “et” (French for “and”) when writing orders, for example. I regard this sort of nonsense as a ridiculous affectation. That explains a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/170 "2012-10-30T19:57:15Z")
This thread was an Avocados number of laughs! ---
**Author:** ![Clarisse\_McClellan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Clarisse\_McClellan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarisse_McClellan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/171 "2012-10-30T20:44:01Z")
Had a second great teacher who pronounced ‘island’ with a short ‘i’ and pronounced the ‘s’. Had an aunt who always pronounced guitar ‘gettair’. I have heard one or two other people pronounce it this way as well. We had a neighbor when I was growing up who said ‘die-rear’ for diarrhea. Our family still works that pronunciation into conversation as often as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/172 "2012-10-30T20:46:20Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > The day that I can convince people that **llama** is NOT pronounced as **L** ama, it will be a happy day. In Spanish the double **ll** is completely different sounding - it is the sound of the English **Y** as in “ **Y** es.” Some folks say, “Yeah well in English it is pronounced as an L…” Wrong. Do you say the word “quesadilla” as if it had only one L? Nope, I can bet you don’t. Please Dopers, say Llama like this: \. That is the correct way to say it. If we’re going to play the Language Never Evolves game then we should be pronouncing llama the way the pre-Hispanics did shouldn’t we? ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/173 "2012-10-30T21:06:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And I’ve always prounced it like “die-ASS-uh-till.” Oh, sorry, that’s the wrong one! 😃 ---
**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:** [October 30, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/174 "2012-10-30T21:34:03Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Oh, sorry, that’s the wrong one! 😃 Actually, it’s close to the [third pronunciation here](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diacetyl?s=t). I think “die-ASS-ih-tuhl” is closer to how I say it. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/175 "2012-10-31T03:21:14Z")
More people say “Old Timers” than “Alzheimers”, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/176 "2012-10-31T07:01:46Z")
I loved the episode of How I Met Your Mother when Whatsisname referred to an architect as a Sham a Leon (Chameleon). ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/177 "2012-10-31T07:15:21Z")
I pronounce (debacle) de-BAH-kul as de-buh-kul and YOU CAN’T STOP ME MWAHAHAHAHA. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/178 "2012-10-31T09:23:47Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > My father-in-law is a Renaissance man of sorts- highly intelligent, cultured, equally adept at things mechanical and artistic. He’s just good at EVERYTHING. > > Which is why it’s so funny when, in the course of numerous conversations and book-readings about dinosaurs with my two pre-school-aged boys, he pronounces “diplodocus” with the emphasis on the third syllable. Dip-low-DOUGH-kus. Joining the chorus of people who’s always heard it like that. I would have noticed the other pronunciation, since it would have had the stress in a different place than the Spanish pronunciation and I’ve been careful to take note of those since I learned that in American Florida is FLOreedah instead of floREEdah. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/179 "2012-10-31T11:04:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Actually, it’s close to the [third pronunciation here](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diacetyl?s=t). I think “die-ASS-ih-tuhl” is closer to how I say it. I’d pronounce it “die-ASS-ih-tile”. I think there’s a big UK/US split in chemical pronunciations, though. We in Britain say methyl and ethyl as “MEE-thile” and “EE-thile”, but to Americans they are pronounced like a couple of old ladies, Methel and Ethel. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273/180 "2012-10-31T12:27:41Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > in American Florida is FLOreedah instead of floREEdah. Actually, even in careful pronunciation, it’s more like “FLOrihduh”, with the “ih” sounding like the “i” in “in”, and the “uh” like the “u” in “function”. Except in quick pronunciation both are almost or are a schwa. But definitely not an EE like in Easter or an AH like in what you say for a tongue depressor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-favorite-mispronunciations-that-you-have-heard/638273.md?page=10)