Pronunciation of werewolf

[PotteringPondering]

When I was growing up everybody pronounced it WEER-WOLF.

Now everybody seems to pronounce it WHERE-WOLF. I'm assuming it's an American thing. But even films with British accents seem to say 'WHERE-WOLF, no doubt for the American market.

I find this odd, particularly given the pronunciation of mere, here, sphere, sincere, adhere, revere etc.

I guess there's also premiere and derriere, but they both come from French words where a grave accent helps the 'air' sound (première, derrière).

The best evidence for the defence is there and where. But I suspect shenanigans going on with the h in both cases, which creates the AIR sound.

If I see an American werewolf round here I'm going to give it a sincere kick in the derrière.

I’ve only ever heard where-wolf too. Must be just you OP!

I've only ever heard were-wolf too

Owls go t-wit t-woo! No hoos!

(starts new pronunciation war)

Okay @SoupDragon, I'm really not too sure what owls say to be honest 🤔 😂

(But I do say Dr Hoo)

Well, this is all very weird (which I expect I now have to pronounce WARED).

This joke only works with the more common (correct!) pronunciation.

🤣🤣 maybe that's how owls know if they are from different areas? Some go Twit-ta-hoo others go T-wit t-woo

What's making me giggle is the thought of grown women now sat in their houses making owl noises, trying to figure out how an owl sounds 🤣🤣 I am one of those women.

I've always pronounced it "wear" wolf (as in "wear and tear").

I'm not sure I've discussed werewolves much outside of American Werewolf in London. I'm not old enough to remember its release but I remember watching it a couple of times as a babysitting teen.

Did you think we were all doing it for the American market?

Having googled (I really need to get a life) it's tawny owls that have the classic "twit twoo" call. I think the female goes twit and the male, twoo. So, basically the females are constantly calling the males twits.

I find this odd, particularly given the pronunciation of mere, here, sphere, sincere, adhere, revere etc.

How about 'there' and 'where' and 'ere'? Expecting consistency in English spelling/pronunciation is futile.

Anyway, I'm 51and grew up saying 'where' wolf, but over the years I seem to have switched to 'weer' wolf as in my experience it seems the more popular pronunciation. Opposite to you, OP!

We could learn a lot from tawny Owls I feel ...🤣

T-whit t-hoo??? It's t-whit t-woo! Otherwise the joke wouldn't make sense. Why don't tawny owls look for a mate when it's raining? Because it's too wet to woo!

I pronounce sloth to rhyme with moth but not with cloth, which in my (Dublin) accent does not have the same O sound as moth.

Cloth = clawth

I’m American and I‘ve never heard anyone say “woof” for “wolf.” Where in America are you thinking of?

YY to that sounded H in Hiberno English @MouseSculptureMadeOfOldHairbrushFluff.

I’ve only ever heard it pronounced one way

where wolf

Not RTFT, but I don't say were and where in the same way.

I'm sitting here making whhhh owl noises to myself and wondering whether all owls have Scottish heritage.

I’m now doing where whale who twit-tu-woo.

(I’ve had a glass of wine).

Or should I say whine?

Late 60s and lived in various places in England and only ever heard Where- wolf.
Never been entirely sure about sloth (like moth) or sloath.

Sloth has to be Slowth otherwise "slowly slowly said the sloth" doesn't work.

Thanks @SoupDragon. Saved me a google😁
I obviously need a life too!!