# White people. How do you pronounce 50 Cent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 11, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588 "2011-05-11T23:48:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/41 "2011-05-12T00:45:16Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > [Here ya go.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWG8rCAz9WI) > > ETA: I pronounce it like 50 does in that interview. fi’tee. The interviewer seems to be saying ‘fiddy’. I don’t know this rapper, but I do hear black people say it the way he does: fi’tee. I’ve only heard white people pronounce it “fiddy,” and no, you don’t sound cool doing so, in fact, you sound really pretentious, or patronizing as Cavuto does in the clip. I guess I’m a bit of a pronunciation Nazi and would never say “fifty cent.” Cent is singular. More than one cent is plural, ergo fifty cents. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/42 "2011-05-12T00:57:20Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > I said “fifty”, though my American accent makes it sound like “fifdy” if you listen carefully. Yes, this, although I voted “Fifty” because I figured the OP was looking for the middle “f” drop, and I don’t do that. I also say “budder” for butter and “layder” for “see ya later”. My dialect switches “d” for “t” a lot. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/43 "2011-05-12T00:59:08Z")
> [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](#): > > You really need a third option: “Never said his name and likely never will need to.” _ **Like** _ ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/44 "2011-05-12T01:02:03Z")
I would feel pretty dopey saying Fitty or however you pronounce it. OTOH, I do think people ought to try to pronounce others’ names in the way they’re supposed to be pronounced–I mean I met a Tanya the other day who said it Tainya and it’s not like I insisted on pronouncing it Tahnya. So I get around it by not saying it at all. It doesn’t really come up on a daily basis for me. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/45 "2011-05-12T01:16:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > His name is (according to wikipedia) Curtis Jackson. His made up name is grammatically incorrect so I corrected it. Well, that’s just rude. I wouldn’t sing “Ain’t Misbehavin’” as “Am not misbehaving” - that’s not what it says. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lady)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/46 "2011-05-12T01:27:45Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > If it’s any consolation I internally would roll my eyes (dramatic recreation :rolleyes:) just as much at somebody saying ‘cent’ for ‘cents’ as I would for ‘fiddy’ instead of ‘fifty’. But what about a “fifty-cent piece?” (And I think I probably pronounced it a "fi-ty -cent piece). I’ve never used “fifty-cents piece.” Of course, they’re extinct now, so I guess it doesn’t really matter. (older Southern white woman) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/47 "2011-05-12T01:30:14Z")
> [@Laughing\_Lady](#): > > But what about a “fifty-cent piece?” (And I think I probably pronounced it a "fi-ty -cent piece). I’ve never used “fifty-cents piece.” Of course, they’re extinct now, so I guess it doesn’t really matter. > > (older Southern white woman) I just say ‘Kennedy Half Dollar’.😉 And actually I got one in change a couple of weeks ago. First one I’d seen in years probably. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/48 "2011-05-12T01:30:38Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > [Here ya go.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWG8rCAz9WI) > > ETA: I pronounce it like 50 does in that interview. fi’tee. The interviewer seems to be saying ‘fiddy’. Hurray. I’m white and I’m right! : pumps fist: ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/49 "2011-05-12T01:34:46Z")
You know, I understand how you feel, **Nzinga, Seated**. I’ve noticed that black people mispronounce “Paris Hilton” pretty often. They are okay with the Hilton part, but they always say “Purrus”. Why do you think that is? They must be pretty stupid to mispronounce her name so badly! ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/50 "2011-05-12T01:35:25Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Springtime, that is why I made the thread. I think the rapper pronounces it ‘fifty’. Just like I do. And most black folks I know. But I notice white people say ‘fiddy’ and I think they must think that’s how we sound! > > ETA: Yeah, spark, I think I drop the f a bit. But definitely not ‘fiddy’. Ah, when I said I was aware of the “fiddy” pronunciation that’s because it gets written about (in the papers and so on) I don’t think I’ve actually heard him say his name and of course the black folks round here don’t say fiddy. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/51 "2011-05-12T01:42:17Z")
Fifty. The same way I would say ‘fifty cents’ referring to coins. Without a lot of emphasis on the ‘t’. And as far as I remember that’s how 50 himself says it. I’m not a big fan but he has a couple songs I like. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/52 "2011-05-12T01:42:44Z")
And now I have heard him say his name it sounded like fifty (or a bit like fifdee) to me. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/53 "2011-05-12T01:45:47Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > I also have a pet peeve against people who think their special snowflake’s little lisp is so cute when he tries to pronounce his older sister’s name and gets it wrong that they start calling her by the lispy mistake instead of helping the kid learn how to speak. Why should their other special snowflake have her name, which she has had for years before the little brat came along, be changed just because he’s so darned cute? And for the years and years she gets saddled with this stupid nickname? > > Ok, I’ll go take my meds now… Now, now, kittenbwoo! ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/54 "2011-05-12T01:53:46Z")
Mr. Cent ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/55 "2011-05-12T01:53:56Z")
I think it sounds like fifty when he says it and that is how I say it. I figured when people are saying Fiddy they are overemphasizing an accent (or way of speaking. Whatever you call it) to be funny. Kind of like a northerner doing a southern accent, or someone not from Boston doing the Boston accent. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/56 "2011-05-12T01:55:23Z")
Out of curiosity, if a band was called “Don’t ask” but its members pronounced it “Don’t ax”, would you guys pronounce it like it’s spelled or how they pronounce it? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/57 "2011-05-12T01:58:20Z")
Polerius, I would pronounce it ‘Don’t Ax’ if that’s how they pronounced it. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/58 "2011-05-12T02:00:29Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Mr. Cent I like this better than “The Artist Formerly Known As Two-Bit”. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/59 "2011-05-12T02:03:19Z")
I never heard of the guy. I don’t have a way to say the name. I’ll never need to say the name. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588/60 "2011-05-12T02:08:48Z")
I’d probably say Don’t Ask. I think that might be because Ax for ask sounds so wrong to me. This is different, though. It doesn’t sound like 50 Cent is saying fiddy to me. I don’t know, I might have bad hearing and never knew it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-how-do-you-pronounce-50-cent/581588.md?page=4)