To pronounce "nihilist" this way?

[PitilessYank]

I say it like this:

"Nee-hilist"

But in polling my friends, 9/10 say "neye-hilist."

Which sounds more correct?

I pronounce it T-R-U-M-P. Smash it up, rebuild something or other and then smash that up as well. (Misses point of thread).

I think that if I say egg-oh, well then, it is egg-oh

Um, no. That is not how language works. You can't just say things however you like and claim them as true!

Ahem.

Ee-go is Latin. In the classical Greek it scans a little more like egg-or (emphasis on the second syllable). It's spelt with an omega not an omicron.

Right. As you were.

(Also OP - sorry, but yep YABU).

How often are you using the word nihilist that this has even come up? I would say nye-il-ist but I Dont think I've ever actually said it out loud

Maybe nihilistic comes up more often?

Nile-ist. This.

And Egg-oh are waffles. Eee-go is fighting with your id.

My DM says, "Ee-kay-ah" for IKEA. I know it's right by I fucking hate it. And my DF says, "sangwich". I live 5000 miles away from them.

Ee-go is Latin. In the classical Greek it scans a little more like egg-or (emphasis on the second syllable). It's spelt with an omega not an omicron

And if we were all speaking either Latin or Greek that would be a useful distinction. However in English, its ee-go.

I know, user. It was in reference to the previous 'is ego Latin or Classical Greek' debate. The one we use is, emphatically, ee-go.

If I heard someone saying "nile-ist" I'd think they were talking about being in favour of the Nile. The word is nye-il-ist.

Nile has two syllables to me so it's essentially the same as nye-il-ist.

Detritus is another one.
I say det-rye-tus but I have heard people say det-ritt-us.

It is one of my favourite words!

It's definitely de-TRY-tus.

Me too MrsTerry 'Nile = Ny-ull'

Yes Company although it's probably two phonemes rather than two true syllables. Or something trying to sound intelligent and failing.

" Um, no. That is not how language works. You can't just say things however you like and claim them as true! "

Actually that is exactly how language works. The English language anyway.
Take for example the word 'snuk' - I am sure you know it as the past tense of 'sneak'. That is now in the dictionary, purely because people started saying it. There is no academy to tell us how words should be said, or what words should be said. And that is a good thing.
Nonetheless, you do not need to say 'um' when you are starting a sentence...:)

Oooh can I jump in on this thread?

My MIL pronounces 'logo' as log-oh and it makes my teeth itch.

I always say low-go.

Please tell me she's not right....?

Actually that is exactly how language works. The English language anyway

No it isn't. Not in the slightest. The english language does not at all work as "everyone say anything however you fancy irregardless of how the word is actually pronounced"

Nonetheless, you do not need to say 'um' when you are starting a sentence...

No, I do not need to. But if I want to, I can. Now that is how the English language works.

Brat, it's snuck, not snuk!

but who says so user? You?
You see as I often have to point out to people, (again) there is no academy of English that says so. That is its strength as a world language.

Yes, me and everyone who uses the English language. I could go around pronouncing every word I use a completely new way, my own way. But nobody would understand me, because once everyone is free to make up their own individual rules we no longer have a common language.

English is not static, it is fluid and it changes. But not on the individual level. We can't all make it up as we go along.

A senior boss once pronounce Versace to rhyme with face. He'd never heard it said before and just went 'oh right'.

More relevantly I'd definitely say nye-h-list with quite a soft H but my DM says nee- ell-ist and I've never thought to correct her. Assumed there were two different pronounciations.....

ifyou likepinacolada
Ee-go is Latin? Really? I read Latin and have never heard it pronounced like that. Quick Google check also seems to say it's an e as in egg not meek. Please can you link you elaborate/ link to sources? Thanks!

" me and everyone who uses the English language "

OK then

There is no sure way to know the correct pronunciation of Latin words as (obv) there are no recordings and it is now a dead language. So no-one can be certain whether eego or eggo would have been considered correct.

We can make educated guesses by reading poetry and deciding what interpretations read/rhyme best but even that is educated guess work. And given the huge spread of the Roman empire and so the number of nationalities that ended speaking Latin I would think there must have been huge regional variations.