Pronouncing theatre...

[Werehalfwaythere]

Ok ok, I realise this has probably been debated many times before but -

AIBU to massively cringe when I hear people say "thee-et-er" instead of "theer-ta"?

Live in the south east and it just seems ridiculous that people who otherwise speak in a normal south eastern accent say it like that. To me, it sounds like a hyacinth bucket moment! My boss was telling me about her upcoming trip and I couldn't focus at all beyond the cringe!

Totally agree, winds me right up

It is a word with three syllables though...

AIBU to massively cringe when I hear people say "thee-et-er" instead of "theer-ta"?

Theer ta

YABU

Is it not more like 'thee uh ter'
I've never heard anyone pronounce it remotely like theerta

On Friday there I saw 'Christine' from Two Doors Down perform in the panto at The King's 'THEERTUR'

I know what you mean - ‘thee ETT a’ with a big flourish on the middle syllable. Normally said by (irritating) thesps, IME.

My mum pronounces it thee etta, it’s really weird the way she says it, I’ve never heard anyone pronounce it the way my mum does.

Don't get why its annoying. It isn't a poncy, showy pronunciation. It doesn't even have any particular class connotation. It's just how some people say it. Including me

I’m therr-ta unless I’m alone in the house with my dogs being dramatic listening to and dancing and reenacting musicals then I’m at the thee ETT a darling!

Lol 😂

Ahm dead classy, so ahmur, so it's 'thee-tur' for me.

'theer-ta'? 😐

The way you pronounce it isn’t correct though is it? I don’t think I have ever heard it pronounced Theer-ta. There isn’t an R before the second T.

I would pronounce it thee-ya-tah. The R is silent usually isn’t it? Also SE.

Totally agree. Fi Glover pronounces it 'thee AT er' and it kills me

Exactly! I am in Brighton. Have never heard anyone add an r saying it your way OP.

I’m guessing OP has a non-rhotic accent and doesn’t actually say the R- she’s just added it to demonstrate the vowel sound.

Also from the south east and never heard anyone call it theerta! And I’m from Crawley where we have a weird Sussex/London hybrid accent. I don’t live there now though.

Well, you’d double cringe hearing me pronounce it.

I’m from Yorkshire and say “thee-uh-er". The “uh” being a glottle stop.

I am Scottish so it's a THEE-YAY-TUR(D) from me, Brucie.

Theer-a-tuh. Same as queer-a-tuh. But the middle A is very subtle! And no rhotic R sound.

I know someone who says theeETTah and it's awful. They also says serviette....

Exactly. Maybe "theer-ta" wasn't easy for some to see what I meant.

"Th-ear-tah" is perhaps more what I meant and how I pronounce it (and how it should be pronounced imo!)

I’m guessing OP has a non-rhotic accent and doesn’t actually say the R- she’s just added it to demonstrate the vowel sound.

Yup. I just came on to ask if those of you saying 'Huh? There's no 'r' before the second 't' in theatre are maybe Scottish, Irish or American!

The OP presumably means the 'theer' bit to rhyme with 'here' (which does not have an actual 'r' sound in it in most English people's accents).

That's how I say it too, OP. Dh and his family all say 'thee ETT a' though.

Th-ear-tah" is perhaps more what I meant and how I pronounce it (and how it should be pronounced imo!)

That won't help the rhotic speakers, as you've still got an 'r' in there!

I'd be cringing the full day if I heard someone say "thee-ya-tah" 😂

I’m glad you find non southern accents funny.

So I am SE.

I say thee-a-tuh when talking about going to the theatre.

however near me is a theatre. And when I say ‘oh is that at the xx theatre?’ I’d say Theer-ta. How weird is that.

theeuhtuh, emphasis on first syllable.

TheeEtta, emphasis on second syllable and thought by some to be posher.