Help me with words I can’t pronounce

[Thisisthelaststraw]

Prompted by a few recent threads. I’ve realised there are loads of words I can’t pronouce. I can probably google or something but all together here seems better.

I’ve only in the last number of years figured out hyperbole is not hyper bowl and superfluous is not super-flu-us

Here are ones I still can’t pronounce..

Archetypal
Macabre
Gillet
Hegemony
Chipotle

There’s actually loads more I just can’t think of now.

Another vote for "be Hee mth" not "beer moth". And as a Spanish speaker it's not chip-oat-lay. That's the American pronunciation. It's chip-ott-lay. Don't get me started on Quinoa. No it's not Keen warr.

Don't get me started on Quinoa. No it's not Keen warr.

Oooh! How is it pronounced (properly)?

How does puh-can differ from purr-can? I think that depends on whether you have a rhotic accent or non-rhotic. In a non-rhotic accent, they will be very similiar. I, like most Americans, have a rhotic accent, which is why I use the "ah" to broaden/lengthen the "a" sound.

Here is a short video about the difference in pronunciation in the Southern US. It is actually one of the few examples in which pronunciation of a word can potentially have a social class connotation in the US.

I think accents play a big part in how people pronounce words.

I really struggle with vinyl

Want to say vin - ull but I know it's vine - ill

Or is it the other way round gaaaaah

Yes, please help on quinoa!

Chip-oat-lay
Macaaaab
Jee-lay
Arc-eh-type-al
Hedge-eh-mon-ee
Hyper-Bol-EE
Super-flue-us

@norrismcwhirtersfridgemagnet

Bee-uh-moth

Surely it’s hyPERbuhlee
Keenwuh keenwaa??

When was the last time anyone had to say hegemony?!

Well, Iklboo, It's hard to write it exactly but something like "Kin-or-a" with a posh "or" , no rrr sound and very short "a"

@HotpotLawyer

Quinoa is deffo Keen-wah

It’s definitely buh hee moth, or at a push be hee moth

DP says hegemony is Huh-geh-mony 😬😬😱

And the internet agrees!

How is Bethesda pronounced please?!

Glad it’s not just me who gets into pronunciation muddles, have had many heated discussions with friends. Guacamole is another one, people insisting ‘it’s not guacamole LAY it’s guacamole LEEE’ but it must end MOlay mustn’t it?

I’ll still say it’s pee-can, SenecaFalls, but I agree it does sound ridiculous 😂

Buh thes dah (thes rhyming with Les)

“When was the last time anyone had to say hegemony?!”
I can be pretty sure about this. I last said it in around May/June 1974.

Heg e munny - I had forgotten all about the existence of that word as last time I used it was in 1990 in A level history when writing all about Tudors! Clearly another interesting and worthy concept to learn about as it's been so useful in adult life.

BlackPrism but a Spanish speaker ^^ is saying it isn’t ‘keen-warr ‘.
If she means keen -wor, no. I always say ‘kin-wa’ half way between keen an kin.

Hyperbole is Hi PUR bow lee.

Chorizo
Pinochet

I've definitely looked like a dick every time I've ordered chipotle.

I say guacamolay too, WhyDidIEatThat.

I wouldn’t ‘correct’ people who say things differently due to their accent by the way. It might be ‘wrong’ locally, but if that’s how it’s said in the region you’re raised then say it that way - it’s important to keep regional accents going I think!