It's pronounced that way because it's an Ancient Greek word. It would have originally been pronounced more like 'nee-kay', but for some reason the way Greek vowels were pronounced in English changed in the 14th century.Does one say the name Mike as Mikey?
Or Hike as Hikey?
Like as Likey?
etc etc. You get the point. It makes logical sense for them to not have an 'ee' sound at the end of Nike, if one was just reading the word and going from there. However, Nike is a US company so the way they pronounce it is correct.
Does one say the name Mike as Mikey?
Or Hike as Hikey?
Like as Likey?
etc etc. You get the point. It makes logical sense for them to not have an 'ee' sound at the end of Nike, if one was just reading the word and going from there. However, Nike is a US company so the way they pronounce it is correct.
Also, I live in the UK and have never heard sap-iens too.
The two that I'm amused by is the British pluralization of 'math' and singularization of 'sports'.
I studied Mathematics at University. The department was called "Maths and Stats".
Would you call it "Math and Stat"?
In the UK, we pronounced Iraq "E-rak" – until 9/11 where we had US TV networks and correspondents on our screens at a daily rate (which was rare back then). At which point, you slowly saw UK newscasters and journalists start using "I-rak" instead.
I think you asked a question about specific usage. A department name probably wouldn't use the shortened form.
There's this thing called "conversational English".
Let's make it simpler: what's the contraction of "Statistics" in American English?
???
I mean I speak Spanish and, maybe it's just the people I've heard, but none of the British people I've heard pronouncing taco sounds anything like the Spanish pronunciation.How else would you pronounce it? The Latin American and Castilian pronunciations aren't that far from tack-o. The American "tahco" pronunciation isn't a great approximation of either.
I mean I speak Spanish and, maybe it's just the people I've heard, but none of the British people I've heard pronouncing taco sounds anything like the Spanish pronunciation.
Or maybe my ears are just busted or something IDK.
The same reason why brits drop the sounds of letters in half of the words they speak, probably
The same reason why brits drop the sounds of letters in half of the words they speak, probably
Tha'll get a clip rahnd lug'oil if tha' carries on like thisThe same reason why brits drop the sounds of letters in half of the words they speak, probably
Depending on where you're from in the North, this can lead to some amusing situations. My father in law has a pretty broad Manchester / Oldham accent, and he drops H's all over the shop. 'appy, 'eart, 'ouse. You get the idea. I pronounce all of those with very clear H's, even though I grew up maybe 40 minutes drive from him.
Or when Americans say "I could care less." Which implies they they do care somewhat. It should be "I couldn't care less."
I hear this occasionally in Canada too and I think it's more that people just don't know the phrase. Like the thread yesterday about ears burning.
I've only ever heard it pronounced this way by Americans.They do something similar with the word "pasta." A lot of Brits pronounce it like the word "past" with an "uh" on the end. I don't think I'll ever get used to hearing it that way.
They do something similar with the word "pasta." A lot of Brits pronounce it like the word "past" with an "uh" on the end. I don't think I'll ever get used to hearing it that way.
We'll pronounce the "h" in herbs when you guys start pronouncing the "r"s at the ends of words. :P
what words are you chatting about ladWe'll pronounce the "h" in herbs when you guys start pronouncing the "r"s at the ends of words. :P
It's always "eh" or "ah". Tickles me to death.
JAG-yew-eh (Jaguar, controversial, I know), bah (bar), bee-eh (beer), or anything that ends in r. The r specifically is a hard (hahd) thing for Brits to enunciate. It's part of the accent, which is a good thing to me. It'd suck if we all sounded the same. Still tickles me, though.
This has to be a regional thing, because I pronounce it as rover. Range Rover.
the first time i met an Aussie i did a double take when he said Al oo mini Um. i was like wutAluminum and Aluminium. I always do a double take whenever some Brit pronounces it like the latter when I'm listening to NPR or BBC. Especially since they make it sound more like Alumenium than with the i.
Depends on dialect innit.JAG-yew-eh (Jaguar, controversial, I know), bah (bar), bee-eh (beer), or anything that ends in r. The r specifically is a hard (hahd) thing for Brits to enunciate. It's part of the accent, which is a good thing to me. It'd suck if we all sounded the same. Still tickles me, though.
UK: Sap-iens like tree sap.
US: Sape-iens like vape.
Homo vapiens.
What are some pronunciation surprises you've come across Era?
ITT Americans forget what language they speak :P
And it's not sape-ien because the Latin root is sapere which is pronounced with a sap like the English sapien.
Also what's with aluminium? The second "i" is right there!
For sure, much like here. Dialect, region, culture, upbringing. Language is a beautiful thing.
Does one say the name Mike as Mikey?
Or Hike as Hikey?
Like as Likey?
etc etc. You get the point. It makes logical sense for them to not have an 'ee' sound at the end of Nike, if one was just reading the word and going from there. However, Nike is a US company so the way they pronounce it is correct.
Also, I live in the UK and have never heard sap-iens too.
Ma'am ("marrrm") sounds different to mum, but close-ish to some American accent's "mom".Ma'am sounding like Mom/mum.
I watched some british shoes and was confused why they kept calling multiple women mum