# Why isn't comb pronounced like bomb? And other English Language Blunders... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 5, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098 "2003-08-05T13:20:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/21 "2003-08-06T21:55:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny Bravo \* > \*\*Galleger (sp?) had a rather funny bit all about the inconsistencies of English pronunciation. \*\* Maybe it was Gallagher, I woulda sworn it was Carlin. It went something like this: Off; O F F. Cough; C O F F? No! C O U G H. Tough; T O U G H. Buff; B O U G H? No! B U F F. After about 2 minutes of inconsistencies, somehow it ended up looping back around to to the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/22 "2003-08-06T22:48:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by universe.zip \* > \*\*As someone wiser than me once said: ghoti. \*\* I was coming to post that. How does _ghoti_=fish? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/23 "2003-08-06T23:22:13Z")
Yesterday, I saw yet another florist with a sign advertising “bokays,” and contemplated the word _bouquet_ for a few seconds. In American English, _bouquet_ is pronounced “bo-kay,” just like _croquet_ is pronounced “cro-kay.” However, _briquet_, as in charcoal, is pronounced “bri-keht.” Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![hayleyavon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eb9ed0/32.png) [@hayleyavon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hayleyavon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/24 "2003-08-06T23:22:42Z")
Hmmm this post and all of its replies really intrigue me 🙂 I love English…but there are still those senseless things about it that confuse me. Once in an English class, a friend of mine asked why there are so many different rules and things we should know about the English language…My teacher responded with “There just are. Learn them. Thats all I can tell you.” 🙂 Also…Is it masseusi or masseuses? Porpoisi or porpoises? _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/25 "2003-08-07T03:24:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wolfian \* > \*\*I was coming to post that. How does _ghoti_=fish? \*\* Well, the “gh” is pronounced “f” like in “tough.” I don’t remember what the “o” is. The “ti” is pronounced “sh” like in “tuition” (tuishon) ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/26 "2003-08-07T04:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny Bravo \* > \*\*Well, the “gh” is pronounced “f” like in “tough.” > > I don’t remember what the “o” is. > > The “ti” is pronounced “sh” like in “tuition” (tuishon) \*\* ‘o’ is pronounced like “o” in women (wimen). ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/27 "2003-08-07T04:18:07Z")
**WARNING** Do not try to make logical sense out of English spelling or pronunciation. **This way lies madness!!** ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/28 "2003-08-07T04:53:43Z")
This is why I love English. It’s like Xtreme Linguistics. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/29 "2003-08-07T05:21:37Z")
What I want to know is, why don’t Americans spell “our” “or”? ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/30 "2003-08-07T06:39:17Z")
I like these linguistic things in English… F\_X ---
**Author:** ![StanDup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@StanDup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StanDup)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/31 "2003-08-07T06:42:42Z")
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests? ::Ducks and Runs:: ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098/32 "2003-08-07T06:49:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rysto \* > \*\*What I want to know is, why don’t Americans spell “our” “or”? \*\* Because it’s not pronounced anything like that? I mean, I’ve heard it pronounced “ow-er” (rhymes with “shower”), and I’ve heard it pronounced “are,” but I’ve never heard it pronounced “or.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-comb-pronounced-like-bomb-and-other-english-language-blunders/193098.md?page=1)