# Warren Buffett Pronunciation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330 "2021-07-26T13:33:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/1 "2021-07-26T13:33:24Z")
I don’t understand phonetic notation so please no Greek characters with mysterious accents and umlauts. Also I’m from the UK so no references to ‘a typical South Dakota pronunciation’ or whatever. I’ve been curious for a while about this but couldn’t find a definitive answer after spending many seconds on the internet. Does financier Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway pronounce his name: BUFF (as in to buff or polish) FAY (as in actress FAY Wray) BUFF FET (as it keeping healthy, keep FIT if FIT was spelt with an E) Or is it something really odd like BOOF (as in booth) FEET (as in twelve inches)? TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/2 "2021-07-26T13:38:21Z")
Pretty sure it’s BUFF-fet, like Jimmy Buffett, to whom Warren is related (cousins, I think?) ETA: oops, I guess there’s no relation after all: > **[Warren Buffett and Jimmy Buffett took a DNA test to see if they're related](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/08/warren-buffett-and-jimmy-buffett-took-a-23andme-dna-test.html)** > > Warren Buffett offered "Cousin Jimmy" some business advice after they both took a DNA test from 23andMe. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/3 "2021-07-26T13:38:37Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > BUFF FET (as it keeping healthy, keep FIT if FIT was spelt with an E) This. Actually met him once. He’s very personable. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/4 "2021-07-26T13:40:04Z")
Pretentiousness git that he is I’m sure it’s Boo-fay. I’m kidding of course. Pretty sure it’s buff-it. At least I’ve heard him introduced as such. But he’s so unassuming if someone mispronounced his name he’d probably not make a fuss about it. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/5 "2021-07-26T13:43:12Z")
His name rhymes with ‘buffet’. > **[Definition of BUFFET](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buffet)** > > a blow especially with the hand; something that strikes with telling force… See the full definition Play the audio on Entry 1 of 4 or Entry 2 of 4. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/6 "2021-07-26T13:48:31Z")
Ah. As in ‘buffeted by the wind’ (without the ed at the end. Asked and answered. Thank you for clearing that up. I am sometimes tempted to use a Buffett quote that (to paraphrase) putting your money in a simple tracker fund will out perform the experts but potential humiliation at mispronouncing his name left me holding back. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/7 "2021-07-26T14:02:11Z")
Now that has been sorted, I think I’ve only ever heard Berkshire Hathaway pronounced as Berk-Shear or Shyer, rather than Bark-Shear, as in the English county. [I have heard an American refer to Glue-kester-Shyer for Gloucestershire, which I found rather joyous for some reason] ---
**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:** [July 26, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/8 "2021-07-26T14:05:27Z")
I’ve always heard it ‘Berk-shr’. Like in ‘Worcestershire’ or ‘Derbyshire’. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/9 "2021-07-26T14:14:30Z")
I was born in Berkshire in the UK so will pronounce it BARK SHYER regardless. Don’t know about in the US but in the UK a BERK is a (very mild) insult so… Got to be BARK. TCMF-2L ---
**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:** [July 26, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/10 "2021-07-26T14:15:00Z")
Yeah. BERK-sure for me. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/11 "2021-07-26T14:58:13Z")
The city of Reading in the UK is in the county of Berkshire (BARK-sher). The city of Reading in Pennsylvania is in Berks (BURKS) County. And “Berkshire Hathaway” is (BURK-sher). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/12 "2021-07-26T16:23:17Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The city of Reading in Pennsylvania is in Berks (BURKS) County. How is Reading ( PA ) pronounced (‘reding’, or ‘reeding’?) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/13 "2021-07-26T16:59:58Z")
Like Otis. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/14 "2021-07-26T17:03:09Z")
It is “Buff Fet.” I believe Sheldon on _The Big Bang Theory_ once pronounced it “Buff Fay,” but that was just a joke to show how clueless he was. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/15 "2021-07-27T05:08:38Z")
The double-tt at the end of Buffett would preclude it being pronounced Buf-FAY. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve always heard it ‘Berk-shr’. Like in ‘Worcestershire’ or ‘Derbyshire’. The spelling “Berkshire” of course is just an Americanized reduction of the original British “Berkcestershire”. (ETA: Pronounced like “Buster”.) ---
**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:** [July 27, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/16 "2021-07-27T15:24:29Z")
Are there any names or words where a **double** t is not pronounced? ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/17 "2021-07-27T15:28:13Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > How is Reading ( PA ) pronounced (‘reding’, or ‘reeding’?) It is pronounced “REDing”. (My father grew up there) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/18 "2021-07-27T16:09:07Z")
Ironically, Reading is the home of the British Dyslexia Association. Okay, technically it’s Bracknell but that’s close enough for the joke. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/19 "2021-07-27T19:03:51Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > How is Reading ( PA ) pronounced (‘reding’, or ‘reeding’?) > [@Gyrate](#): > > Like Otis. As is Reading, MA. (Not to be confused with Otis, MA, which is in Berkshire County.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330/20 "2021-07-27T20:58:45Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Are there any names or words where a **double** t is not pronounced? If you will allow any dialect, and the double t may be placed anywhere within the word, then sure - quite a few English dialects (notably, Cockney) replace t or double t with a glottal stop - ‘bottle’ becomes bɒ.ʔəw - there’s an audio example on this page: [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bottle#Pronunciation](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bottle#Pronunciation) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-buffett-pronunciation/947330.md?page=2)