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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:
saraclara · 31/07/2022 22:46

Another Glazgo here. Short a.

I don't talk like the Queen though.

Belephant · 31/07/2022 22:45

Clymene · 31/07/2022 22:35

It would sound really pretentious if I pronounced it anything other than glaaahrs-go.

In the same way I don't say Par-ee when I'm talking about Paris.

Why would I put on an accent that isn't mine? Just a bit cringy isn't it?

Northern English person here who'd pronounce Glasgow with a short A, but I agree with your comment.

I have family in Bath - I would never pronounce it they same way they do, (with a long A) because that would just be very odd and pretentious. In fact, my brother does sometimes pronounce it the southern way despite his northern accent, and I can tell you he sounds a right tit when he does.

StarCourt · 31/07/2022 22:44

Glaz go

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 31/07/2022 22:43

Wigeon · 31/07/2022 22:40

Kudos for finding a clip of HM saying it! Does she therefore vote IANBU do you reckon?! 😁

Show quote history

Oh okay I DO say it the same way the Queen does, and OP is NOT BU.

Sorted! 😆

Meatshake · 31/07/2022 22:42

Glahss-go would be RP

Glarz-gho would be generic home home county

Gl'rz -gah would be more estuary

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 31/07/2022 22:41

PuppyMonkey · 31/07/2022 22:37

Okay, I suspect though that you’re not saying car like the Queen would!

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Well I don’t have the Queen’s accent, and I’m not perfect RP either, but am roughly RP.

fatcatcatflap · 31/07/2022 22:40

I mean to quote a PP there...

Original poster
Wigeon · 31/07/2022 22:40

WhoopItUp · 31/07/2022 22:24

The Queen says Glarsgow (long ah sound)

Kudos for finding a clip of HM saying it! Does she therefore vote IANBU do you reckon?! 😁

OP posts:
fatcatcatflap · 31/07/2022 22:40

but then the Queen says "orf" instead of "off" ...

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 31/07/2022 22:39

Womencanlift · 31/07/2022 22:35

The ‘a’ in Glasgow and the ‘a’ in cars is a completely different sound. Even different accents aside I cannot fathom any accent where they would sound similar

Show quote history

m.youtube.com/watch?v=z-OSp3bkaqw

Original poster
Wigeon · 31/07/2022 22:39

Womencanlift · 31/07/2022 22:35

The ‘a’ in Glasgow and the ‘a’ in cars is a completely different sound. Even different accents aside I cannot fathom any accent where they would sound similar

Show quote history

Glasgow and cars-go sound the same in my accent, just with a “gl” instead of a “c” at the start…

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 31/07/2022 22:37

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 31/07/2022 22:31

😁

Glasgow rhymes with “cars go” in my accent. Does that clear it up?

Show quote history

Okay, I suspect though that you’re not saying car like the Queen would!

Womencanlift · 31/07/2022 22:35

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 31/07/2022 22:31

😁

Glasgow rhymes with “cars go” in my accent. Does that clear it up?

Show quote history

The ‘a’ in Glasgow and the ‘a’ in cars is a completely different sound. Even different accents aside I cannot fathom any accent where they would sound similar

Clymene · 31/07/2022 22:35

It would sound really pretentious if I pronounced it anything other than glaaahrs-go.

In the same way I don't say Par-ee when I'm talking about Paris.

Why would I put on an accent that isn't mine? Just a bit cringy isn't it?

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 31/07/2022 22:35

I'll stick to Glasgow as in long A in glass or giraffe or laugh

Ah but someone who says “Glas-goh” would also say “gl-ass” to rhyme with ass not arse, “jeer-aff” and “laff” also with the short “a”.

54isanopendoor · 31/07/2022 22:34

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

I'm fairly RP.
I would say: 'Glaaars-go'..
I appreciate that would make most Glasweigans get an itchy hand

CharlieAndTooManyCharacters · 31/07/2022 22:34

Stylishkidintheriot · 31/07/2022 22:28

its glaz-go.

im from Glasgow, therefore it should be pronounced how the locals say it is

It’s definitely glaz-go.

unless you’re one of those really posh Glaswegians who pronounces it with an s. 🤣

FilePhoto · 31/07/2022 22:34

DappledThings · 31/07/2022 22:26

a long “a” in bath (ie barth), path (parth) and of course castle (carstle).
Still with the confusing use of r.

Like me you say these words as cahstle, pahth and bahth. If you use ah instead of ar to demonstrate this it makes sense in rhotic and non-rhotic accents and stops threads being derailed by r confusion.

I say 'ah' and 'ar' differently!

scissorsandsellotape · 31/07/2022 22:33

WhoopItUp · 31/07/2022 22:24

The Queen says Glarsgow (long ah sound)

I love that you have found this clip
😍😂

FilePhoto · 31/07/2022 22:32

DoNaeWrong · 31/07/2022 22:29

I'm also a bit confused about the Eton comments... Anyone I know with an older school RP accent would say a long A too (my parents).

I've just asked DH (private education) again, long A.

And those examples are more traditional Queens English than standard RP (not pure, but in that region).

I'm calling BS on the Eton comments

Yea sorry. I confused myself and wrote the comment the wrong way round.

Long 'a' like in Car.

Dahliasrule · 31/07/2022 22:32

Bucking the trend here. I have a very RP way of speaking but say Glasgow with the short ‘a’. DH , who is very North London in speech, has the ‘ar’ pronounciation!

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 31/07/2022 22:31

PuppyMonkey · 31/07/2022 22:30

I’m not Glaswegian, I’m from Nottingham - I was just trying to say RP pronunciation with the first syllable rhyming with “car” is daft - it rhymes with “as” in my accent. But I think I’m so confused now about how you pronounce it, I’m ooot. Grin

Show quote history

😁

Glasgow rhymes with “cars go” in my accent. Does that clear it up?

PuppyMonkey · 31/07/2022 22:30

manlyago · 31/07/2022 22:17

@PuppyMonkey maybe crossed wires?

Glahhhzgo is incorrect imho don’t care whether you think your accent is Received Pronunciation or not. Same principle as Glastonbury. It sounds wrong Glaaaahhhstonbury.

That’s the way I pronounce it and I’m Scottish and lived in Glasgow for a long time. Thinking about it, I say it both ways with a shorter “a” too but definitely no “r”. I think I find it easier to go from the l to the s with a slightly longer a, if that’s makes sense?! Are you Glaswegian?

I’m not Glaswegian, I’m from Nottingham - I was just trying to say RP pronunciation with the first syllable rhyming with “car” is daft - it rhymes with “as” in my accent. But I think I’m so confused now about how you pronounce it, I’m ooot. Grin

MrsReeves · 31/07/2022 22:30

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

🙋🏻‍♀️

DoNaeWrong · 31/07/2022 22:29

I'm also a bit confused about the Eton comments... Anyone I know with an older school RP accent would say a long A too (my parents).

I've just asked DH (private education) again, long A.

And those examples are more traditional Queens English than standard RP (not pure, but in that region).

I'm calling BS on the Eton comments