# Words you won't say because you're not sure how they're pronounced... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995 "2002-08-08T17:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/61 "2002-08-09T19:37:14Z")
I see these words in print—_bon mot_ and _blanc mange_—and I realize there’s no way they’re pronounced the way they look. Plus, it’s something I picture Alex Trebec pronouncing when he’s being prissy and showing off. I know French tend to leave off the final consonant sounds, so would they be BO MO and BLUH MAH? You can tell the natives from the tourists in Natchitoches (in Louisiana) which is pronounced \*Nackatish{/i}. ---
**Author:** ![Potter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Potter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potter)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/62 "2002-08-09T20:49:14Z")
In a first-year phonetics paper I came up against “Zephyr” which I’d never heard spoken aloud. I took the “y” to be an “ih” sound, as in “Zeh-fear”. I was wrong, as apparently it’s “Zeh-fuh”. My family has always wilfully mispronounced as much as they could thanks to the perverse, contrary nature of my (fluent in 8 languages) mother - _Choux_ pastry will always be “chooks” to me, as much as we’ll enjoy a nice “pait” (_pate_) with crackers. As for “Wooster” sauce, it becomes “Wooster-cester-shishter-shyster-shooster-shire” sauce. Mind you, she’s Welsh, and any country with place names such as “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgerychwyrndrobwllllandysiliogogogoch” is just taking the p\*ss. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/63 "2002-08-09T20:51:41Z")
Ironically… milieu. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/64 "2002-08-09T22:36:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Gif > > is it Giff or Jiff? 😃 > > ::: D&R :::: \*\* Guess it depends on whether or not you’re a choosy mother. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/65 "2002-08-09T22:37:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > \*\* > Oh, jeez. I think the “Placenames you won’t say” thread would dwarf this one. > > Just outside of Winston-Salem, NC, there’s a place called **Pfafftown**. That’s right, _paff-town_ > > Natives of the area around Greenville and Spartanburg, SC, will tell you that the correct pronunciation of **Greer** is _grrr_. \*\* In Marietta, Georgia, natives call their town “Mayretter” and in Pulaski County, Illinois, natives say “pull-ASK-eye.” Seems like we ALL have trouble with words derived from the French in particular, _non?_ ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/66 "2002-08-09T22:41:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LindyHopper \* > **No, no, no…“robot” is Slavic. I can’t remember whether it’s Czech, or Polish, or Russian, but the final “t” should definitely be pronounced.** That’s what I meant - I don’t find it odd to pronounce the t in turbot, because you pronounce the t also in robot. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/67 "2002-08-09T22:58:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sivalensis \* > \*\*What is Turandot, btw, cuz I thought that one was a silent t too, but then turbot showed me how great my sense of pronunciation is! \*\* Not sure what you mean by “what is Turandot”. It’s an opera, if that’s what you are asking. For pronunciation, go to [http://www.azopera.com/sounds/78.wav](http://www.azopera.com/sounds/78.wav). You will notice that the final t is pronounced. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/68 "2002-08-10T00:46:00Z")
That thing where you’re pointing or waggling your arms & hands: jest-churr or guest-cherr? Similarly, jest-tick-you-late or guest-ick-you-late? > [@](#): > > hors d’oeuvre: My French instincts tell me to pronounce this as “OR duh vre” where the r is soft and everything is slurred together. New Englanders prononuce this as “or DERve” where the r is not soft and the second word is far too harsh. Mostly a difference of accent, I’m sure, but I’d still get funny looks if I pronounced this the way it should be. Usually, I just say “appetizer.” Horse doovers 😛 ---
**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 10, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/69 "2002-08-10T01:10:18Z")
I was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Iowa. As a result my pronunciation is unaccented and perfect. Everyone else is wrong. You hear me? **WRONG!** ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/70 "2002-08-10T04:06:52Z")
Which reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend from Nebraska. When I asked him why, if Nebraska was north of us, he had a southern accent, he replied: “Ah don’ hev en ak-sint. Y’all heer fecked.” ---
**Author:** ![brandiwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@brandiwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brandiwine)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/71 "2002-08-10T06:10:55Z")
I used to fumble with this one: Vlad Tepes (Zep-ish) I have Leonard Nemoy to thank for my correction on that one. 😉 tyvm spock-daddy. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/72 "2002-08-10T13:49:23Z")
canape. Is it cana-pee or cahna-pay? I was serving some once. “That is a canopy!” an indignant guest admonished, pointing out the window to a tent on the lawn. “This is a cahnapay!” I smiled and went to the next guest. But I have no idea which pronunciation is right–I’ve heard them both. Now, I’ve always heard that or-DERVES is the correct pronunciation, but I tend to avoid the issue, and the canape one, by just calling them appetizers. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/73 "2002-08-10T13:59:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bren\_Cameron \* > \*\*canape. > > Is it cana-pee or cahna-pay? I was serving some once. “That is a canopy!” an indignant guest admonished, pointing out the window to a tent on the lawn. “This is a cahnapay!” > > I smiled and went to the next guest. But I have no idea which pronunciation is right–I’ve heard them both.\*\* [www.dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com) gives pronunciation. It says that canape is kn-p, -p. So now you know! (it’s cahna-pay). Oh - on preview I see that this message board cannot display the pronunciation characters that [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) uses, so go to [http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=canape](http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=canape) They also offer: can·a·pé ---
**Author:** ![mandielise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@mandielise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandielise)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/74 "2002-08-10T15:50:18Z")
The word I just can’t get - and I’m serious, I’ve never heard it said… is cunnilingus. How the hell do you say that? BTW, JuanitaTech wanted to know where the stress is on “objet d’art.” In all french words (that I can think of) the stress lies on the last syllable. So it’s “ob-JAY dAR” ---
**Author:** ![Sivalensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/75 "2002-08-10T18:10:36Z")
Yup I’ll have to agree…“ob-jay d’AR” I’ve always heard cunnilingus “ku-ni-LIN-gus” I’m not even going to begin to say how the french words are pronounced unless they have a voice post here! 🙂 The sounds are just impossible to transpose in english if you don’t know how the french pronounce them. I think it’s ka-na-PAY (but as I’ve never eaten one or ordered one, that’s mere speculation) and or-DERVE Until I was thoroughly corrected (with lots of laughter) by a friend of mine sometime in elementary school, I always said “ya-chit” for yacht ---
**Author:** ![Sivalensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/76 "2002-08-10T18:11:49Z")
or maybe it’s KU-ni-lin-gus yeah maybe that’s more it ---
**Author:** ![mandielise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@mandielise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandielise)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/77 "2002-08-10T18:40:19Z")
Well, French is really easy once you’ve learned how they pronounce letters, and which letters they don’t pronounce at the ends of words. Hors d’oeuvre in English isn’t pronounced the same way it is in French, though - probably because the French “oe” is a sound we don’t have. So in English we say “or derve”… but in French it’s closer to “ohr DUUVRE.” I’m noticing that I need to read more! I always hear these words a million times, so that by the time I read them, I can tell what they are from context. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/78 "2002-08-10T21:58:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarone \* > \*\* > > [www.dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com) gives pronunciation. It says that canape is kn-p, -p. So now you know! (it’s cahna-pay). > > \*\* I went and looked, and they give both! Long a sound or long e sound. Unless I’m misreading the symbols. So I guess that means either is correct? It’s actually kind of frustrating to know that there are two allowable pronunciations of a word you’re unsure of. Because then you have to decide on one. ---
**Author:** ![Lyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Lyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyra)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/79 "2002-08-11T02:30:18Z")
> [@](#): > > On word I refuse to pronounce the way I’m told it should be is Worcestershire. I happily put as many syllables as possible into it as I can, even going so far as to roll the “r” and making up extra sounds at the end. As far this goes, well, if I am in a restaurant , I just ask for the Lea & Perrins, it usually works. I **hate** saying that word. I don’t like to sound like the southern hick that I probably would be if yall heard me talk. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995/80 "2002-08-11T03:45:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > \*\* > Oh, jeez. I think the “Placenames you won’t say” thread would dwarf this one. > > Just outside of Winston-Salem, NC, there’s a place called **Pfafftown**. That’s right, _paff-town_ > > Natives of the area around Greenville and Spartanburg, SC, will tell you that the correct pronunciation of **Greer** is _grrr_. \*\* (slight hijack) OH yes!! I live not far from Grrr. Round here folks do their grocery shopping at Bi-Lo’s (it’s Bi-Lo, with no possesive ‘s’) and they walk their “dawgs”. It drives me nuts. And if I hear one more person say “down here in South Kak-a-lacky” I think I might scream. Or throw something. Or both. 😉 (/slight hijack) Back on topic…I find the word “pamphlet” quite perplexing. Is it Pamp-LET or Pamp-FLET? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-wont-say-because-youre-not-sure-how-theyre-pronounced/122995.md?page=5)