Explain "marshmellow" please

[kiwiblue]

Wise pedants, please explain why English people say "marshmellow"? Was it a brand name? I was born in the UK but grew up in NZ. In NZ people say "marshmallow" as it is spelt. I've noticed my children say marshmellow and I'm wondering about this!!

I'm English and I say marshmallow. I think it's just a section of the population who say marshmellow. Probably the ones who roast them when they should be toasting them.

I say marshmellow but I don’t know why but I just looked on TikTok and even Americans pronounce it marshmellow

I guess it's because mellow is a word people know so it comes more naturally than mallow.

I am a Brit but grew up in the US. I believe it's an Americanism that's travelled.

Ironically, I am pretty sure marshmallows are actually American so maybe you should be saying marshmellow!

I'm not sure as NZ has a lot more Americanisms and American culture than the UK so I'd be surprised if it travelled here but not there.

At school we were taught it came from a plant, named after a sweet smelling flower - marsh mellow.

This might have been a just so story though and I CBA to google

It’s marshmallow. Originally made with marshmallow root, but now more typically with gelatine and egg.

Marshmellow is much more relaxed

The plant is mallow. I wonder if your post autocorrected. Like people do because mellow is more common than mallow

From Google

The correct spelling for the soft, confectionery food is marshmallow. The word "marshmallow" comes from the plant, Althaea officinalis, or the marsh-mallow plant, which was historically used to make a medicinal candy. The spelling "marshmellow" is a common misspelling.

I cannot explain this. I've only heard it in the south east of England. They must have seen it written but still say marshmellow.
The same people often say 'reach" instead of 'retch'.

Are they the same people who say haitch? My son is also saying this, I need you to explain this as well 😂

Is it because of Marshmello? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshmello

According to the Cambridge dictionary, marshmellow is the US pronunciation.

Are you sure it’s not just a pronunciation thing? Are people saying the same thing but it sounds different?

No. I have family members who pronounce it 'mellow ' and I'm totally familiar with their speech patterns.

I say marshmallow. I do get mildly annoyed when I hear "mellow".

I’m English and say ‘marshmallow’. I’ve heard ‘marshmellow’ a lot too. I’ve always thought it was probably a misconception based on the word ‘mellow’ being familiar, and then the brain reading what it expects to see.

Londoner. I've only ever known marshmallow.

My (English) dh said mellow, drives me nuts as he can't explain why, despite knowing the spelling. In Scotland I never hear anyone say marshmellow.

I say marshmallow now but I think as a kid I remember us all saying marshmallow....no idea why.

I grew up in America and we pronounce it “mellow” so I expect it’s an Americanism that’s been picked up from US films & TV.

Not sure we should consider TikTok any kind of authority though ( not saying you are!)

Agree, a bit like people saying ‘ expresso’

I am English. I say marshmallow.
My 15 year old keeps saying marshmellow. It drives me mildly round the twist. And my autocorrect does not like it.

It seems to have only been the last 3-4 years that this particular bastardisation has occurred. I am blaming tiktok. Which may be completely unreasonable, but I do not care and am blaming it anyway!