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Original poster

Bouquet. How do you pronounce it?

130 replies

ApolloandDaphne · 16/03/2023 20:35

I just heard a Funky Pigeon advert and they pronounced it bo-quet ( to rhyme with so) but I would pronounce it boo-quet. I am Scottish so am willing to accept I pronounce it oddly!

OP posts:
VivienneDelacroix · 16/03/2023 21:55

KirstenBlest · 16/03/2023 21:48

@VivienneDelacroix , I don't say to and too the same way, or tu and tout.

Interesting - to clarify I meant the words tu (you) and tout (all) in French. Not the English "towt".
But yes, obviously not all English speakers.

MotherOfCatBoy · 16/03/2023 22:05

Bookay
like boo-tique (boutique)
same vowel sound

to be bow Kay in French it would have to be spelled beau-quet

mind you vowel sounds always go wonky in different languages

the French place name Beaulieu (meaning literally beautiful place) in French would sound like Bow-Lee-Er but in English it’s said Bew-Lee!

xprincessxjanetx · 16/03/2023 22:09

Like Hyacinth

BOO-kay

KirstenBlest · 16/03/2023 22:09

Yes, I meant you and all.
I think it depends whether or not the English speakers can speak more than one language.

I think that some people grew up hearing chaise longue said as shays lonzh and written as chaise lounge, bouquet said as bo-kay, masseuse said as mass-oos, jardinière said as jar-din-ear, etc, chest of drawers said and written as chester draws etc

FloraGreysteel · 16/03/2023 22:10

Boo-kay!

KirstenBlest · 16/03/2023 22:11

Beaulieu (meaning literally beautiful place) in French would sound like Bow-Lee-Er
Er, no. more like Bowl-yuh

KirstenBlest · 16/03/2023 22:12

belvoir on the other hand... Grin

BridieConvert · 16/03/2023 22:12

I'm sitting here saying it both ways and can't actually work out which one I actually use!
I think I must go between both pronunciations... not a word I say very often admittedly.

mathanxiety · 16/03/2023 22:28

Boo- kay

LubaLuca · 16/03/2023 22:38

Bouquet = Boo-kay
Boutique = Boo-teek

Bluelightbaby · 16/03/2023 22:43

bow-Kay

PinkSyCo · 16/03/2023 22:46

Bow kay.

PriamFarrl · 16/03/2023 22:53

shockthemonkey · 16/03/2023 21:55

All parts of France would pronounce it Boo Kay. There would be a slightly more twangy quality to the vowels in the south, but it wouldn’t take it any closer to Bo Kay. Bo Kay is simply wrong if you’re trying to keep to the French pronunciation. Boo Kay it is.

Dont get me started on lingerie. Somehow in the US we get Lon Jeray instead of Lan Jeree. Chaise Longue is another strange one. Shays Lounge? Wtf?

Show quote history

And Notre Dame as no-tra daim.

fairtrauchled · 16/03/2023 23:09

Boo-kay

GettingThereCharleyBear · 16/03/2023 23:12

bow kay

newnamethanks · 16/03/2023 23:18

Bucket obviously. Or bunch.

QueSyrahSyrah · 16/03/2023 23:19

Yorkshire: Bow-Kay

OurCrazyHouseIsFullOfLove · 16/03/2023 23:20

Bow kay

QueSyrahSyrah · 16/03/2023 23:22

@PriamFarrl We watched a documentary recently featuring Notre Dame college and I was a fair way through it before I associated what they were saying with the written name as I'd say it Blush

Pipsqueakpopsqueak · 16/03/2023 23:32

Bo Kay

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/03/2023 23:37

bucket

HighInfidelity · 17/03/2023 00:42

Boo-kay. North West England here.

I have a friend who calls the underwear shop Bo Avenue. I’m sure that’s supposed to be Boo as well isn’t it?

neilyoungismyhero · 17/03/2023 00:51

Boo k

CallieQ · 17/03/2023 00:53

Bucket Grin

WishingMyLifeAway · 17/03/2023 01:14

Definitely Bow - Kay to rhyme with okay. Never heard it pronounced boo-Kay!! I'm in SE from London originally.

And what's all this about boo-fey. Now you are having me on. It's definitely Buffay. Boo-fey sounds like you are trying to be be posh but failing.

It doesn't matter how the French pronounce it. We aren't speaking French when we use them. These words are generally leftovers from Norman times and we have developed our own pronunciations.

Similarly the town Beaulieu is promoted Bew-ley which I don't think is how the French would pronounce that either.