Boyfriend corrects my pronunciation

[Onetoomanytimes]

This has happened quite a few times over the course of our two year relationship, most recently this evening. I wouldn’t say I’m below average intelligence, equally not the sharpest tool by any means

Each time he had corrected me I’ve brushed it off and thought ‘oh well at least I know for future’. Tonight it hit a nerve for some reason. I mispronounced a word during dinner, a fairly commonly used word, fair enough I said it wrong. However he understood what I had said, so it didn’t affect the conversation in any way, but he repeated the word back to me correctly afterwards which made me lose my train of thought for the conversation, which inwardly pissed me off. I didn’t say anything as we were out and I wanted to enjoy my meal but I was noticeably quieter afterwards.

It doesn’t happen often, maybe once every couple of months or so. It is quite possible that I’m being over sensitive about it, as I’m sure he doesn’t mean it maliciously and just wants me to not sound like an idiot.

I kind of wish I could think of something quick-witted to say back to him when he does this but I tend to feel too defensive.

Haven't we got loads of threads about how murderous people feel about their partners perpetually mispronouncing words?

This, I guess, is just the converse.

Exactly.

Maybe you should fess up about just how bad you are, OP -- are you a Pacific-er, or one of the 'hospickle' sub-brigade? Or is it more arcane things like chimera or segue?

if the person doesn't know how to pronounce say "segue" then you saying it correctly in a sentence will just confuse them and they won't understand what you are saying?

so subtly hinting at a later time would probably have no result

We need to know the word op!!

My granny used to say "chick" for chic.

What's the word? I would correct it automatically and would like to be corrected if I said it wrong. I don't see the issue?

I know it's an actual word but I hate when people say supposably when they mean supposedly

Thanks to this thread I've just learned the correct pronunciation of hyperbole. I don't think I've ever used it but always read it in my mind as hyperbowl and it is hyperbohlee

if the person doesn't know how to pronounce say "segue" then you saying it correctly in a sentence will just confuse them and they won't understand what you are saying?

Not to mention the difficulty in actually conjuring up a credible sentence into which you could casually drop the word 'segue'.

The correction could be seen to get in the way of the purpose of the conversation. I'm sure you wouldn't want interrupt someone midstream to correct them. Then if you are expected to respond to further the conversation, is it the moment to say "by the way it's "sheek" not "chick". Or would that seem a bit unneccesary at that time. It's all depends on the context.

But op is fed up of the pattern.

@PatronSaint Yes, how would you segue into that?

I keep coming up with uses of segue in a written sentence but I couldn't use it in normal speech. Maybe with the kids as a joke.

I’m confused as to how people are pronouncing segue if not the correct way!

I correct DH’s. I thought I was helping. Turns out I’m just a wanker so I won’t be doing that anymore!

@PatronSaint

if the person doesn't know how to pronounce say "segue" then you saying it correctly in a sentence will just confuse them and they won't understand what you are saying?

Not to mention the difficulty in actually conjuring up a credible sentence into which you could casually drop the word 'segue'.

Well this has just segued into an entirely different conversation.

When reading the word segue in a book, I always pronounce it seeg, then think of Segways and correct myself. I don't think I'd make the mistake when just saying the word, rather than reading it, though.

You have to tell us the word!

I also feel an impulse to correct pronunciation. I all but implode when I hear people say, very clearly, "you should of been more pacific then"

For a long time segue was two different words to me. Like chaos as a child: I'd heard it but didn't relate it to the word on the page for a while.

Similarly Dun Laoghaire was a speck on the map that I never connected with the "Dunleary" ferry!

Fgs another word I didn't know how to pronounce - segue!

To be honest it is annoying and weird when people mispronounce quite common words when English is supposed to be their first language. Obviously rarer ones, people mispronounce all the time which is normal. If your boyfriend is having to correct you that often (hopefully he's doing it kindly) and they're quite common words he's probably trying to spare you embarrassment when you're with others. He shouldn't be correcting you in front of others though (apart from occasionally) as that's quite humiliating. Either way, if it's upsetting you, bring it up with him and if he respects you he should stop doing it if you ask him to.

MizMoonshine:
I'm the arsehole who always corrects pronunciation. Can't help it. It's like an internal firework goes off and I have to correct it.

Me too.
I once went out with someone who said could of, runnin', cyclin' etc. Urgh!

Another time I had a friend turned admirer who would correct me a lot. He's be critical of what I ate too. You might as well eat soap that that shite.. type comments

He corrected me on my pronunciation regularly, even on words in my mother tongue, a language he didn't speak.

My colleague mispronounces a lot of words. I do correct her mostly as she would make a tit of herself she did it in a meeting.

I think it depends how and when it's done.

I wouldn't correct for accent.

I do sometimes correct for complete mispronunciations, like the segue example. I'm happy for people to correct me. People get them wrong when they learned through reading the word, rather than hearing it. Theres no shame in learning through reading.

I would do this without even thinking about it tbh. I wouldn't say it with any malice in my tone, only you can tell whether he sounded like he was mocking you. I think it's quite likely you are being over sensitive.

I have tried to correct my DP a few times but it didn't go down well. I wasn't in any way doing it to be condescending, but wanted him to know the correct pronunciation if he was to say it in front of others (I'd know he'd feel stupid if someone else picked him up on it, so would rather he hear it from me).

I've now learned to stop doing it as it really, really winds him up no matter how I mention it.

I just have to grit my teeth every time he says someone's being "unpatient"...

Not quite pronunciation, but my husband regularly mixes up were and was. For a while I corrected him, just because it made him sound stupid (he isnt) and I know he would hate others, particularly people at work, to think that about him. However, on one occasion, he told me it annoyed him, so I've never done it again. Insteas i just cringe a little inside when he says it in front of of others and the kids, who are now following in his grammatically incorrect footsteps! So yeah, like other posters, for me it depends on what you were (was) mispronouncing and whether he is just trying to help you out.