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Pedants' corner
Original poster

How do you pronounce turmeric?

217 replies

inshitsville · 10/04/2023 22:59

TER-muh-rik?

CHOOM-rik?

OP posts:
saraclara · 10/04/2023 23:28

TER-muh-ric

I don't know whether I'm right or wrong, but it really annoys me when people on TV call it too-muh-ric

Marynotsocontrary · 10/04/2023 23:28

-er / -ir / -ur are homophones.

Are they? They sound different to me.

WhatHoJeeves · 10/04/2023 23:30

Ter-muh-rick.

It's spelled tur, so why would that be pronounced choo in English?

JarByTheDoor · 10/04/2023 23:31

Like I say purple.

To me, hearing someone say choomeric/tyoomeric/toomeric is like hearing them pronounce purple as pupal.

Presumably it's an alternative pronunciation, but to me it feels like it doesn't track with the spelling, so it hits a bit strange.

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 10/04/2023 23:32

'Turr murr ick'

DH pronounces it 'chew merrick'

Tratjymp · 10/04/2023 23:32

It's the way I roll my RRs.

Kvetching · 10/04/2023 23:33

it’s Ter-muh-ric.

People that say choomeric are all kinds of wrong.

notangelinajolie · 10/04/2023 23:34

Silent T
Chew mur rick

watcherintherye · 10/04/2023 23:39

If the spelling was tumeric, then I could understand pronouncing it tumour-ic (like most people I know seem to). However, the spelling is turmeric, with 2 ‘r’s, and therefore should be pronounced tur-muhr-ic.

Pestispeeved · 10/04/2023 23:40

Based on the early spellings of the word, it is believed to have originated from the French word terre mérite
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-to-pronounce-turmeric_n_584eba41e4b0bd9c3dfd8091

Did some poncy chef decide that it needed a Spanish accent, maybe to make it an acceptable addition to Paella?

StaunchMomma · 10/04/2023 23:43

Ter-mer-ick.

StaunchMomma · 10/04/2023 23:45

dementedpixie · 10/04/2023 23:04

Why would Tur be pronounced Ter?

Because FUR!!

evilharpy · 10/04/2023 23:48

I can't understand calling it choomerick, how did that ever even start?

DramaAlpaca · 10/04/2023 23:50

I pronounce it the correct English way - TER-muh-rick Wink

Silentmama · 10/04/2023 23:50

dementedpixie · 10/04/2023 23:23

I'm scottish and they are not homophones to me

Show quote history

for me - fur and her and stir all have the same end sound.

Ter - mer - ick

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 10/04/2023 23:51

John bloody Torode. Think Marcus Wareing might also be guilty of the same pronunciation crime.

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 10/04/2023 23:52

dementedpixie · 10/04/2023 23:04

Why would Tur be pronounced Ter?

Think beyond your own accent.

OnaBegonia · 10/04/2023 23:52

Tur/Ter what??
So would you say Tertle for Turtle? or Turry for Terry??
Tur mer ick

jaqueandjill · 10/04/2023 23:56

I'm trying to work out in what accent ir/ur/er aren't homophones

Fir tree / fur coat / Fernando

tobee · 11/04/2023 00:01

Beebopdrop · 10/04/2023 23:21

Been watching MasterChef op?

DP says listen to what John terode says and do the opposite.

Tur-muh-rick

John Torode says Kooftahs

(For koftes)

ODFOx · 11/04/2023 00:11

DM (80) says tyoomeric. I did too, growing up. I think I changed the pronunciation at about the same time I stopped saying the G in bolognese out loud (late 70s).

DM also still says Nestles rather than Nestle.

NurseCranesRolodex · 11/04/2023 00:11

inshitsville · 10/04/2023 22:59

TER-muh-rik?

CHOOM-rik?

Tu-r-me-ric
A starting T & short vowels

Clymene · 11/04/2023 00:13

I think I flip flip, uncertainly. Sometimes Tur, sometimes Choo.

It's not a word I say out loud often.

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