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Original poster

In my pronounciation of 'proven'

226 replies

CollyWombles · 16/12/2018 21:22

Help settle a discussion between DH and I please!

I pronounce it as 'Pro-ven'
DH says its 'Proo-ven'

I am Scottish, he is South African, whether that makes a difference!

OP posts:
meow1989 · 16/12/2018 23:42

Proo-Ben, like to have proved something

meow1989 · 16/12/2018 23:43

Not proo-Ben, clearly

Prop-ven

eachtigertires · 17/12/2018 00:08

Pro-ven - from Bristol originally. Canadian DP says proo-ven.

moredoll · 17/12/2018 00:10

Pro-ven

RoseReally · 17/12/2018 00:11

I day proo-ven too, but have noticed this on Radio 4 a lot recently, they definitely say pro-ven.

moredoll · 17/12/2018 00:11

From Scotland originally, but in London now.

moredoll · 17/12/2018 00:13

Yeah, as pp says it's the Scottish verdict, Not Proven. Definitely pronounced Pro-ven.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 17/12/2018 00:21

Pro-ven. Proo-ven sounds completely wrong to my ears. I’m in my sixties.

Buggeritimgettingup · 17/12/2018 00:21

Prooven from me (Yorkshire) and from south african dh.

AlliKaneErikson · 17/12/2018 00:25

Proo-ven (South Wales)

81Byerley · 17/12/2018 00:26

Pro-ven

SleepingStandingUp · 17/12/2018 00:29

Proo ven, West Midlands

Do you say pro ven as it pro athlete (proh) or with a very short o?

I'd say provident as pro bi dent not proo bi dent

ElainaElephant · 17/12/2018 00:32

Yeah, like pro athlete, to rhyme with blow.

Lovingbenidorm · 17/12/2018 00:33

In RP it’s ‘proo-ven’

DonaldDucksTowel · 17/12/2018 00:38

I’m so confused as to how people are saying pro-ven Confused

Never heard any other pronunciation than proo-ven, didn’t know there was an alternative

So your saying pro to rhyme with low? Low-ven?

Confused
LesserofTwoWeevils · 17/12/2018 00:51

Prooven unless you are oersonally Scottish.

And btw it's "between DH and me."

LesserofTwoWeevils · 17/12/2018 00:51

Aaargh personally

BackforGood · 17/12/2018 00:54

Like DonaldDucksTowel I've never heard anyone say anything other than proo- ven ('Prue-ven').... does 'pro' sound like 'pro' in 'professional', rhyimg with 'low' or 'go' ? Or am I misreading how it is written?

Only opened this thread to try to found out what other possibility there was.

JustABetterPlayer · 17/12/2018 01:10

Ffs

Pronunciation! Pronounciation IS NOT A WORD.

JustABetterPlayer · 17/12/2018 01:10

You’d be amazed how many teachers believe it is Confused

Racecardriver · 17/12/2018 01:19

Prooven but with a short oo sounds with emphasis on consonants. I’ve never heard proven. I’ve lived in Australia, London and east/middle of England.

ThePants999 · 17/12/2018 01:41

The traditional English pronunciation of proven is [proo-v'n], and the Scottish pronunciation is [proe-v'n], but because English people have become familiar with the Scottish legal term 'not proven' they too sometimes pronounce the word [proe-v'n].

Thanks Larasshadow - seems like the definitive answer to me!

BumDisease · 17/12/2018 01:58

"does 'pro' sound like 'pro' in 'professional', rhyimg with 'low' or 'go' ? Or am I misreading how it is written?"

Scottish, pro-ven, pro, low, and go all rhyme...

Never heard proo-ven, sounds wrong!

MadisonAvenue · 17/12/2018 02:04

Proo-ven. I’m in South Staffs.

humdrum21 · 17/12/2018 07:59

Pro-ven, Scottish, amazed people say proo-ven, news to me! Smile

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