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Original poster

If your accent is RP English, how do you pronounce “Glasgow”?

388 replies

Wigeon · 31/07/2022 20:19

Settle an argument between DH and me:

YANBU: Glasgow in an RP English accent is pronounced “Glarsgow” with a long “arr” or “arh” in the middle. Like the “a” in “car” (in an RP accent).

YABU: Glasgow in an RP English accent is pronounced “Gl-ah-sgow”, with a short “ah”, like the “a” in “cat” (in an RP accent).

OP posts:
MushroomQueen · 31/07/2022 20:36

Those confused it's like bath - RP - barth- with an r sound - northerners correct me if I'm wrong usually will say bath - a as in apple

Original poster
Wigeon · 31/07/2022 20:34

Bindayagain · 31/07/2022 20:30

Surely regional accents have been heard among BBC newsreaders for a long time now.

Show quote history

I know I know, but people know what “BBC English” sounds like, even if actual BBC presenters do have a range of different accents.

OP posts:
VeryQuaintIrene · 31/07/2022 20:34

Glarsgow for this RP speaker as well, though I always feel a little silly saying it like that.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 31/07/2022 20:34

Oh I don't know now. Maybe I DO put a very soft r sound in. (still not like a pirate though!) it's a long a (ahhh at the dentist), not a short a like in cat. And then a short s sound, not sss like in glass. Maybe it is a soft z.

Glahz-go? glarz-go? Somewhere between the 2 I think.

I have an undetermined 'southern' accent. Would be surprised if anyone could tell where I'm from, from hearing it.

C0mfyChairP0se · 31/07/2022 20:34

I think "foreigners" learn American English mostly.

Igotjelly · 31/07/2022 20:34

DH is Glaswegian and it’s Glazga or Glazgy depending on how drunk he is 😂

Appalonia · 31/07/2022 20:33

English, so gla like cat. Never heard it pronounced Glar...!

MushroomQueen · 31/07/2022 20:31

Yanbu I have RP - glars as as in car - go

MajorCarolDanvers · 31/07/2022 20:31

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

I do but I'm Scottish.

C0mfyChairP0se · 31/07/2022 20:31

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

Yes surprised to read some people would say glaaawhhzgo

Like not all 'a' words get that long drawn out treatment! Not in the uk though. But glaaaazgo sounds bonkers

Live4weekend · 31/07/2022 20:30

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

That's the correct pronunciation.

gingercat02 · 31/07/2022 20:30

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

Yep. I was a uni there and I can assure you the Weegies would not allow the r!

Bindayagain · 31/07/2022 20:30

Wigeon · 31/07/2022 20:25

RP is the “standard” British accent, like you’d expect BBC newsreaders to have, and the “standard” pronunciation that foreigners are taught.

Show quote history

Surely regional accents have been heard among BBC newsreaders for a long time now.

Original poster
Wigeon · 31/07/2022 20:30

forlornlorna1 · 31/07/2022 20:28

I'm English but from a long line of Glaswegians and I say it glass go

But is that glass as in “glars” with a long “A” or (RP) or “glas” with a short “A” (northern accent)?!

OP posts:
motheroftheyear95 · 31/07/2022 20:30

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

Yep me too

Live4weekend · 31/07/2022 20:29

If they pronounce it Glarsgow in RP English then it's wrong.

They must hate Glesca though 🤣

OhmygodDont · 31/07/2022 20:29

I mean it’s never come up but I would expect glarsgo like varse.

Redkite11 · 31/07/2022 20:28

The RP accent has changed over time. In old black and white films, almost all vowels are an “e” sound (“cet” instead of “cat”). People say that I am posh and I would say the first one. However, the “arh” sound I think is more modern. I think the main character in “I Know Where I’m Going” travels via Glasgow to the highlands early on in the film. Perhaps look up on YouTube.

forlornlorna1 · 31/07/2022 20:28

I'm English but from a long line of Glaswegians and I say it glass go

Vapeyvapevape · 31/07/2022 20:28

I say Glarzgo

lancsgirl85 · 31/07/2022 20:28

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

Yes.

frasersmummy · 31/07/2022 20:28

Lol at glarsgow Is the queen's English

It's glaz-go

It just is!

BeyondMyWits · 31/07/2022 20:27

Glez-go according to the posh side of the family.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 31/07/2022 20:26

Neither really. No r sound at all - ahhh, like at the dentist, not arr like a pirate

Glahhhs-go

Slightly more emphasis on first syllable.

Twospaniels · 31/07/2022 20:26

I’m from the home counties.
i pronounce is Glars go

husband is from Scotland west coast and pronounces it Glas go