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Original poster

How many syllables in the word "world"?

167 replies

LaPerduta · 30/07/2023 10:21

Inspired by another thread, I'm interested in words which are pronounced differently in different accents by native English speakers in the UK and Ireland.

I only realised recently that some people pronounce "none" the same as "non", rather than "nun".

In Scotland some people pronounce "pattern" as "pattron". Iron is "eye-ron" rather than "eye-un".

There must be many more...

OP posts:
Oldnproud · 30/07/2023 16:22

Barold · 30/07/2023 11:19

Yeah it is the same as ‘on’. N-on.

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Same for me.
It's only in recent years that I've even discovered ( via sources like this thread) that this doesn't appear to be the standard pronunciation, and that even my own dad didn't say it the same way as I do! Which strongly suggests that my pronunciation comes from my mum who has lived her whole life in West Yorkshire, unlike my late dad.

MerryMarigold · 30/07/2023 16:26

Lye- bree is better than lye- berry.

I say Lye-buh-ree

My Dad drives my mum mad by saying 'Thee-ETTer' instead of 'THEE-uh-tuh'

DisforDarkChocolate · 30/07/2023 16:27

One

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
Snowtrails · 30/07/2023 16:27

Merapi · 30/07/2023 10:53

Library - lie-bree or lie-brer-ry?

Lie-bruh- rie

MerryMarigold · 30/07/2023 16:28

HowNice23 · 30/07/2023 15:52

I'm from daan saff so world has one syllable but pronounced weld or at least that's how I remember us singing Starry Night as kids "King of all the weld"🤣

The one that annoys me is vegetables said with four syllables like someone from Yorkshire might say it. Just makes me think of old men on allotments in flat caps holding their prize leek 🥒 it's clear to me you're meant to ignore the second e.

'Weld' or 'Wew-d' is most definitely Essex.

SwedishEdith · 30/07/2023 16:32

I pronounce none and non to sound exactly the same to me (and no, that's not "a mistake").
Neither sound like nun.
One sounds like non/none.
It doesn't sound like won. That sounds like wun (or nun with a w).

I say coin with two syllables.

Scaraben · 30/07/2023 16:35

Two. Wu-ruld
Closest I can give as an example is like the name Harold?
Scottish.

See also girl - Gi-Rul

Merapi · 30/07/2023 16:43

ThatDayIBecameFree · 30/07/2023 14:08

Oh god I had to turn Mr Tumble off when he was doing the Makaton sign for library.

You sign: lie-breeeee

No it's not a liebree!

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Glad it's not just me (although I was fortunate to bypass Mr Tumble in his entirety thank goodness).

Li - Bra - Ry

Original poster
LaPerduta · 30/07/2023 18:29

tabulahrasa · 30/07/2023 16:20

World does have 2 in some Scottish accents, it’s more like wurruld - there’s an extra vowel.

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Exactly. That's what I was referring to in the first place!

OP posts:
BlueThursday · 30/07/2023 18:41

Saying “space ghetto” in an American accent sounds like “spice girl” in a Scottish one

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 18:51

SwedishEdith · 30/07/2023 16:32

I pronounce none and non to sound exactly the same to me (and no, that's not "a mistake").
Neither sound like nun.
One sounds like non/none.
It doesn't sound like won. That sounds like wun (or nun with a w).

I say coin with two syllables.

But how can this be? They have entirely different meanings, none is zero and non is without or not containing so different origins surely? And how could gone ever rhyme with none? Gone non yes. Done none yes.

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 18:52

I'm south east but my mum is Scottish and I'm really struggling to see how anyone can say non and none the same.

AuntyMabelandPippin · 30/07/2023 19:07

Geordie here and I say non and none the same.

I live in the west of Scotland and I hear definitely said 'definetely' all the time. No wonder people spell it wrongly.

Oldnproud · 30/07/2023 19:13

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 18:51

But how can this be? They have entirely different meanings, none is zero and non is without or not containing so different origins surely? And how could gone ever rhyme with none? Gone non yes. Done none yes.

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How can this be ? How can gone not rhyme with none? How can gone possibly rhyme with done? Gone don, yes. Done nun, yes. 😆

SwedishEdith · 30/07/2023 20:28

Oldnproud · 30/07/2023 19:13

How can this be ? How can gone not rhyme with none? How can gone possibly rhyme with done? Gone don, yes. Done nun, yes. 😆

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Exactly!

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 20:45

So you say gun for gone?

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 20:46

That's the same relationship as non to none, gun to gone.

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 20:46

Done nun one and none all rhyme

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 20:47

As does gun and won.

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 20:48

Non like bon bon or like the sunshine shone.

Namechange828492 · 30/07/2023 20:49

Three!
Wuh- ruhl-uhd

We like to celebrate our Rs in the West 🤣

2Rebecca · 30/07/2023 20:51

1 syllable from me and my Scottish husband

SwedishEdith · 30/07/2023 20:52

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 20:45

So you say gun for gone?

Not me, no. Gun = won.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 30/07/2023 20:53

UrsulaBelle · 30/07/2023 13:57

Light bulb moment for me. I couldn’t understand why some people were writing none when they meant non and vice versa. As in none stop instead of nonstop as they’re pronounced differently to me. None same as nun.

Strangely, I do pronounce one the same as won though, not rhyming with nun. 🤷🏼‍♀️

But won and nun rhyme 🤯

2Rebecca · 30/07/2023 20:53

Done and nun rhyme, one and none rhyme but not with the other 2