# Words You’ve Never Heard Pronounced **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 1, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774 "2022-05-01T22:23:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/141 "2022-05-05T00:28:17Z")
Well, my wife gets really annoyed when some idiot tells her she is mispronouncing her own name. She was once standing behind someone explaining to a French speaking clerk that her name, pronounced Chumley, is spelled Chomondeley. Then there is Fetherstonhaugh, pronounced Fanshaw. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/142 "2022-05-05T01:13:45Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Chumley, is spelled Chomondeley Cholmondeley. You missed an el. ---
**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:** [May 5, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/143 "2022-05-05T01:23:57Z")
And Enroughty, pronounced “Darby.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/144 "2022-05-05T01:28:51Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@MrAtoz](#): > > > > Near the end of _The Pirates of Penzance_ , Gilbert rhymes “long-lived” with “contrived.” So he certainly thought it was pronounced with a long I sound. > > But he also rhymed ‘general’ with ‘mineral’. > > Serious verse sometimes stretches the way words are said to make a rhyme, or to fit the meter. Are you suggesting the rhyme was . . . _contrived?_ ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/145 "2022-05-05T04:24:49Z")
In my head actor [Ralph Fiennes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Fiennes?wprov=sfla1)’ first name rhymed with [Alf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALF_%28TV_series%29?wprov=sfla1). It took me a long time to realize that this other actor I’d hear talked about - “Ray Fiennes” - was the same dude. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/146 "2022-05-05T04:31:03Z")
And that his last name is “fines” and not “fee-yen-ess.” ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/147 "2022-05-05T04:35:57Z")
Somehow my head canon got his last name right. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/148 "2022-05-05T10:58:42Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > And that his last name is “fines” and not “fee-yen-ess.” There is that Israeli television host, Guy Pines (PEEN-ESS) (or is it pee-ness? I’m not even sure) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/149 "2022-05-05T11:26:46Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > In my head actor [Ralph Fiennes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Fiennes?wprov=sfla1)’ first name rhymed with [Alf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALF_%28TV_series%29?wprov=sfla1). It took me a long time to realize that this other actor I’d hear talked about - “Ray Fiennes” - was the same dude. As far as I understand it, Ralph IS pronounced as Ralf. The name pronounced as Rayf, and written as Raphe is a diminutive, like Charlie instead of Charles. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/150 "2022-05-05T12:39:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > As far as I understand it, Ralph IS pronounced as Ralf. The name pronounced as Rayf, and written as Raphe is a diminutive, like Charlie instead of Charles. I don’t think it’s a diminutive. I believe it’s an independent variation of the name Raðulfr. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/151 "2022-05-05T15:16:07Z")
Every American I know named “Ralph” pronounces it like _Ralf_. The only two people that immediately come to mind who pronounce(d) that spelling as _Rafe_ are the aforementioned Mr. Fiennes and the late English composer [Ralph Vaughan Williams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Vaughan_Williams?wprov=sfla1). The Wikipedia entry for the name [Ralph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph?wprov=sfla1) describes _Rafe_ as a “more rarely” used pronunciation (which certainly matches my observations as an American). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/152 "2022-05-05T16:43:10Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > The only two people that immediately come to mind who pronounce(d) that spelling as _Rafe_ are the aforementioned Mr. Fiennes and the late English composer [Ralph Vaughan Williams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Vaughan_Williams?wprov=sfla1). Also, Sir Ralph Richardson. > **[Dear, dear Larry and dear, dear Johnny have tea. Spitting Image sketch -...](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2t3sn1)** > > Dear, dear Larry and dear, dear Johnny have tea. Spitting Image sketch ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/153 "2022-05-05T16:49:21Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > “Avoirdupois” If you’re familiar with French, you’ll want to pronounce it somewhat like “ah-vwar-dyoo-pwah.” But in English, it’s really just “a-ver-duh-poiz.” Same as homage. I cannot force myself to say the h even though I know that’s the correct (or at least more correct) version. And valet in some meanings, like the male manservant, is pronounced vall-it - you do say the t. In British English we also say the t in fillet (filet, one l, is said like it’s French). FWIW yes, quay is key, not kay. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/154 "2022-05-05T16:59:00Z")
It has been pronounced “vittles” since Middle English. The spelling got latinized to be closer to the latin spelling. This has happened to a number of different words. [What is the Origin of ‘Vittles’ for Food? | CulinaryLore](https://culinarylore.com/food-history:vittles-origin/#:~:text=Vittles%20is%20an%20old%2Dtime,English%2C%20by%20way%20of%20French). It sounds like Queen Victoria may have pronounced it this way ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/155 "2022-05-05T18:10:38Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I heard that word pronounced cally-ope on a TV show a while back. I always thought it was KA-lie-uh-pee, so I got out the big dictionary. Cally-ope was the first pronunciation, with Ka-lie-uh-pee the second. [Vachel Lindsay](http://www.oceanparkhx.com/1900-1950/1913/1913-lindsay-the-kallyope.html) left no doubt which pronunciation he preferred, and even spelled the word “Kallyope” to emphasize his point. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/156 "2022-05-05T19:31:42Z")
Maybe these are all just _shibboleths_?? ---
**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:** [May 5, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/157 "2022-05-05T20:44:05Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > FWIW yes, quay is key, not kay. As is cay. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/158 "2022-05-05T23:08:57Z")
In Carmel, Indiana (CAR-mull, in these parts), the Carmel Symphony Orchestra plays at The Palladium. We joke about the “ballet” parking. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/159 "2022-05-06T02:13:55Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Are you suggesting the rhyme was . . . _contrived?_ The rime was contrivved. > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > And Enroughty, pronounced “Darby.” This one is a little different. This is not actually just two wildly divergent spelling vs. pronunciation of one name. According to the family history of the names (you can find it on-line somewhere, it’s that famous), “Enroughty” and “Darby” are really two separate unrelated names. The family acquired the two separate family names through separate histories, one of which happened to come down orally and one in writing, and they ran with ~~that~~ those. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Yes, the character’s name was pronounced Don Key-ho-tay, There’s an editorial cartoonist who calls himself [Donkey Hotey](https://www.google.com/search?q=donkey+hotey&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=623&ei=mIB0YsP8KNKfqtsPg4OciAE&iflsig=AJiK0e8AAAAAYnSOqO4eNWJuGll2SpQ-7mq57vj0kaen&ved=0ahUKEwjDqOb54sn3AhXSj2oFHYMBBxEQ4dUDCAY&uact=5&oq=donkey+hotey&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBggAEAoQGDIGCAAQChAYOgQIABADOggIABCABBCxAzoICAAQsQMQgwE6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOgYIABAFEB46BAgAEBhQAFj_EGDFGGgAcAB4AIABkgGIAfIKkgEEMC4xMpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1n&sclient=img). > **[WhoWhatWhy’s Best DonkeyHotey Cartoons of 2021 - WhoWhatWhy](https://whowhatwhy.org/cartoon/whowhatwhys-best-donkeyhotey-cartoons-of-2021/)** > > Each week, whether accompanying a sharp-edged op-ed or standing on their own, DonkeyHotey’s cartoons take dead aim at the evildoers who keep us up at night. [![](https://whowhatwhy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/image1-61.jpg) ](https://whowhatwhy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/image1-61.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774/160 "2022-05-06T02:20:56Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > There’s an editorial cartoonist who calls himself [Donkey Hotey](https://www.google.com/search?q=donkey+hotey&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=623&ei=mIB0YsP8KNKfqtsPg4OciAE&iflsig=AJiK0e8AAAAAYnSOqO4eNWJuGll2SpQ-7mq57vj0kaen&ved=0ahUKEwjDqOb54sn3AhXSj2oFHYMBBxEQ4dUDCAY&uact=5&oq=donkey+hotey&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBggAEAoQGDIGCAAQChAYOgQIABADOggIABCABBCxAzoICAAQsQMQgwE6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOgYIABAFEB46BAgAEBhQAFj_EGDFGGgAcAB4AIABkgGIAfIKkgEEMC4xMpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1n&sclient=img). > > [WhoWhatWhy’s Best DonkeyHotey Cartoons of 2021 - WhoWhatWhy](https://whowhatwhy.org/cartoon/whowhatwhys-best-donkeyhotey-cartoons-of-2021/) Also a donkey in Mr Rogers [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-ve-never-heard-pronounced/963774.md?page=9)