# To what extent is "cavalry" pronounced "calvary" in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 21, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928 "2013-02-21T00:51:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/61 "2017-06-28T16:11:04Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Calgary for Calvary, which must certainly puzzle young Albertan catechism and Sunday School students. I’ve heard that one quite often. Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/62 "2017-06-28T21:08:43Z")
Seth Myers [tries](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph7NfDKhFJY) to get to the bottom of this. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/63 "2017-06-28T21:12:42Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I’m surprised no one has mentioned Calgary for Calvary… I always get Calgary mixed up with Cagliari. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/64 "2017-06-29T17:10:01Z")
> [@Murph1111](#): > > One is pretty much a religious term, so schools wouldn’t dare mention it. Slight nitpick, but Calvary is a place name that has become somewhat synonymous with a religious event (the crucifixion of Jesus). The mention of the name should be no more problematic in a school than “The Wailing Wall” or “Mecca”. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/65 "2017-06-29T18:05:59Z")
I swear, next time I GM a Pathfinder/D&D campaign, I’m going to buy a little model of Christ on the cross, and any time new NPCs appear on the map and someone says “Here comes the Calvary”, I’m going to replace them with the crucifixion mini. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/66 "2017-06-29T19:33:06Z")
In college a roommate of mine love to flip through the cable channel guide and say “hey, that religious station is showing some military programming, Warship [worship] and the Joy of Cavalry!” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/67 "2017-06-29T20:52:18Z")
This week I was reading an obit in the local paper, and the deceased was described as having been in a “calvary” unit in the Korean War. I’m betting it was a goof by whoever in the family wrote the funeral notice, and the dingbat at the paper who’s supposed to catch such things wasn’t paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![igor\_frankensteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/839c29/32.png) [@igor\_frankensteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igor_frankensteen)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/68 "2017-06-29T23:51:26Z")
Sometimes I really do wish that dictionaries WERE word regulation systems, and that they were enforced. We have enough trouble in the world with people PURPOSELY screwing around with what words mean, without adding the non-stop virus-like spread of confusions like this. I have lived mostly in the DC area, but have traveled a fair amount. I’ve noticed people screwing up Calvary/cavalry pretty much everywhere, with all sorts of accents and pronunciations. No support for the notion that it’s regional. If anything, since it’s harder to say Calvary than it is to say cavalry, I suspect that Christianity and Catholicism in particular is to blame for the spread of the confusion. Not that Catholics purposely did anything, more that Catholics serious efforts to rule the world, and their inability to accomplish that, meant that the word Calvary is known everywhere, but it’s meaning didn’t make the cut. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/69 "2017-06-30T04:04:35Z")
> [@igor\_frankensteen](#): > > If anything, since it’s harder to say Calvary than it is to say cavalry, I suspect that Christianity and Catholicism in particular is to blame for the spread of the confusion. Not that Catholics purposely did anything, more that Catholics serious efforts to rule the world, and their inability to accomplish that, meant that the word Calvary is known everywhere, but it’s meaning didn’t make the cut. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/70 "2017-06-30T05:08:09Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’ve noticed it a few times and was wondering how widespread that pronunciation was. I noticed it in a museum in Cleveland and on a few tv shows including Pawn Stars. The main guy in Pawn Stars refers to the “7th Calvary”. What’s the SD? Is “calvary” the standard pronunciation in the US? In my experience, Calvary is used often in the US. I wouldn’t call it standard, but accepted. To be clear other “accepted” terms are… Axe for ask Prolly for probably Lieberry for library I call it sloppy/ lazy use of language. When I’m in a worse mood:rolleyes: I call it willfull ignorance. Not​ to go off topic but also notice that on/off mean the same thing these days. Sample: Hey Bob, that song you wrote sound familiar. Me: Yeah I based it OFF that Van Halen song. ( Nope it’s based ON not OFF):smack: ---
**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:** [June 30, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/71 "2017-06-30T05:16:03Z")
I never had a problem. My Mom used _Calvary_ vs. _cavalry_ and _dessert_ vs. _desert_ as spelling lessons in the language. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/72 "2017-07-02T04:51:29Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I’m surprised no one has mentioned Calgary for Calvary, which must certainly puzzle young Albertan catechism and Sunday School students. I’ve heard that one quite often. > > Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk Post 29… ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/74 "2020-04-02T13:35:31Z")
There’s a reason the military generally shortens it to jus “cav”. “Cavalry” is just a hard word to pronounce without conscious effort. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/75 "2020-04-03T01:29:44Z")
People know the difference. It strikes me that it can be simply deliberate ignorance. I was at a tiny Civil War Faire (get it?) replicating the battle of Gettysburg in a local regional park. I was listening to this Confederate cavalry officer describe his unit, uniform, tactics and all that stuff and, probably only me, noticed that he kept referring to the Calvary. I really, really wanted to aks him if he knew he was saying it wrong or if he was doing it on purpose. I can imagine that it was common among the \*southrun folk (my folks are from Miss’ippi) to prefer the Bible pronunciation. In which case it was a good attention to detail. Unless it was’nt. I didn’t want to pry. There were some pretty fierce looking guys there with some pretty tough revisionist Civil War merchandise. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/76 "2020-04-03T01:35:26Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I never had a problem. My Mom used _Calvary_ vs. _cavalry_ and _dessert_ vs. _desert_ as spelling lessons in the language. I force myself to pronounce _cavalry_ properly in my head as quasi-mnemonic device to get the spelling right when I’m typing. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2020, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/77 "2020-04-03T01:39:34Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever heard Calvary for cavalry. That’s just so weird. Sounds quite illiterate to my ear. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/78 "2020-04-03T01:52:11Z")
I’ve heard it just about as often as I’ve heard cummerbund mispronounced cumberbun, but not as often as I’ve heard plantain mispronounced plantane. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/79 "2020-04-03T01:54:59Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > but not as often as I’ve heard plantain mispronounced plantane. Yeah. Guilty. I know it’s pronounced “plantin,” but I’ve literally never heard another person around here pronounce it as such, so … when in Rome. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/80 "2020-04-03T04:40:31Z")
> [@solosam](#): > > I’ve never heard anyone say “Calvary.” I suspect it is right up their with “nucular” or “cashay” as words that have somehow proliferated the incorrect pronunciation to the point of excluding the correct one. It’s absolutely grating on the ears of someone who knows how it is supposed to be pronounced. Now, how many of you would think poorly of the speaker’s intelligence or education just because they mispronounced and mixed up two similar words? [raises hand] **ME** \*!\* _(Calvary,_ really? What’s next? You gonna axe me about borrowing you some cash money so you can go down by the convenient store to score some _melk?)_ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928/81 "2020-04-03T14:38:26Z")
I’ve heard the calvary/cavalry mispronunciation a lot. It’s ignorance, pure and simple. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-is-cavalry-pronounced-calvary-in-the-us/650928.md?page=5)