A BT engineer says ‘router’

[PotteringPondering]

Today a BT engineer came to install a new wi-fi router. 

When we discussed the job, he kept referring to the router (rhymes with shouter), rather than the router (rhymes with shooter). 

I started speculating what a router (rhymes with shouter) might do in my living room. Presumably, cause a rout – a disorderly retreat of defeated troops.

[TheShellBeach]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

This would do my head in.

[WhatNoUsername]

He's been watching too much American TV.

[Seeline]

Same word 'router' is also a tool used in woodworking and is pronounced rowter

[WhatNoUsername]

I'd also want to keep saying router (rhymes with shooter) every time he said router (rhymes with shouter). Unless he's American of course in which case that'd be rude 😀

[NewYearResolutions]

We say it to rhyme with shout in New Zealand too. It’s not just Americans.

[GrumpyPanda]

Pretty sure the IT industry developed the object in question as a rowter, and they didn't do so in the Île de France. So shoot me.

[Oneofthesurvivors]

Everybody I know pronounces it like that.

[DRS1970]

A router (rhymes with shouter) is a power tool for cutting and edging wood and other materials. I don't think you would want one of those, it would give shitty WiFi...

[NeverDropYourMooncup]

A woodworking router cuts a smooth, single path/channel in a surface.

A network router creates a smooth, single path for data to travel along. You can visualise that as cutting a channel.

A root is something that plants have spreading out into soil and stems, branches and leaves spread out, all from a single point, it's also the starting point where all data in a directory spreads out from in storage.


Whilst the network router can be linked logically to the modern Anglicised pronunciation of route, was it an English company that developed them? Would the American English pronunciation of both route and router not have originated from UK English? It certainly needs differentiating from a root directory when talking about network issues.


i feel that it is more likely that the 'rowter' and 'rowt' pronunciation is technically/linguistically more correct and, although I say route/root daily, I'm not going to correct anybody who is in all likelihood saying it correctly.

[Nesbi]

This reminds me of a conversation I had many years ago with an English guy who played American Football in the UK. I pointed out that it sounded odd that he kept using a very US- sounding pronunciation of “defence” (he would say DEEfence).

He agreed, but said that when you’re talking about American Football (even when everyone involved in the game is a Brit) for some reason it seems that the US pronunciation just has to be used. Very quirky (well, mildly interesting at least).

[Phoebefail]

Rowt 66

[Riapia]

No hope for Americans.
Dionne Warwick couldn’t pronounce her own name correctly.
😉😁😁😁

[CurlsnSunshinetime4tea]

Router rhymes with shouter here in Canada as well.

[Overtheatlantic]

Tomato tomato

[Porridgeislife]

Australians rhyme router with shouter as well.

This is because to root, rooter etc are slang for sex.

Different accents pronounce the same words differently, who knew?

[ErrolTheDragon]

'Router' should ideally be pronounced to match however you'd naturally pronounce 'route'. I'm pretty sure our IT guys worldwide do this so rowter in the US, rooter in the U.K.

No one has the slightest difficulty in understanding each other. Ditto other words such as schedule.

[upinaballoon]

If I spoke about the route from London to Bath I would be talking about the road, the way, and my route would sound like my root. Would Americans call it a rowt? I think they would. Yes, I have meandered from the technical routing. Interesting. I don't want to need a man in a van to come round for anything technical, but if one absolutely has to come I shall be listening carefully.

[ErrolTheDragon]

However...

I'm pretty sure Americans tend to plan rowts along roots.

[Fizzadora]

No one ever got their kicks on rowt 66

[asterel]

Afaik it’s always been pronounced rowter by computer scientists, it’s how I’ve always heard it pronounced since the 90s and how I pronounce it!

[ColleenDonaghy]

I would drive on "root" 66, but my router rhymes with shouter and always has.

[upinaballoon]

The mention of Root 66 makes me realise it's time to check the cricket score !

[Hardlyworking]

Maybe he was planning to use a router to cut some channels in your skirting board for the router cabling?