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.

For ages I thought epitome (pronounced EPITOAM) and epitome were two different words until someone pointed out that I was just saying it wrongly. I still can't get it right unless I really think about it. A friend had a similar problem with albeit.

Also my husband's first language is not English but he uses it for work so he said he is fine with me correcting him. However, in almost 20 years I don't think a single correction has actually sunk in. He still says "naked" to rhyme with "baked" for example. In fact, if anything, we have all started adopting his mispronunciations.

I correct my partner sometimes but that's because he's northern so pronounces things WRONG

It's all in the delivery. I'm never condescending.

The thing is, the whole purpose of language is to communicate with other people. If you mispronounce something but get your meaning across, you have communicated effectively. If you interrupt someone mid-sentence to be a pedantic twat, you have not allowed them to communicate effectively.

I know it’s probably condescending but I hate it when my DH doesn’t pronounce words properly because I want my DC to speak properly and not pick up his way . E.g. he says ches-ion instead of chessington. I think it’s lazy speech

Totalyyesno, that sounds like Raymond Blanc. He's been in the UK since he was a young man but it has had no effect. I love to listen to him speak! He has a sidekick Adam whom he calls aDAM

Oh I don’t know about this one, I was a real bookworm but didn’t have much opportunity to use the words as a child/young adult. My DH did used to correct me and it did annoy me a bit at the time but I’m so glad he did - the amount of words I didn’t know is quite shocking in retrospect.

It depends how its done.

English isn’t my first language (which you can tell by my written English), I have a Nottinghamshire accent but still say some words oddly, or I may use the incorrect word etc. My partner does sometimes correct me, but he isn’t rude when he does. My five year old also sometimes corrects me, he is rude when he does!

People mispronouncing words irritates the hell out of me.
I'd have to REALLY bite my tongue to not mention it if someone I was in a relationship with said words incorrectly.

My dp corrects me I obviously take this as the challenge it is and mispronounce, use bad grammar etc.as much as I can. I also deliberately type messages with spellings the same as my verbal mispronounciations and bad grammar drives him insane.

I'm another one who thinks it's fine if you are genuinely pronouncing things wrong....far better to get it right for next time. I pronounced 'hermes' wrongly for ages until someone told me how it should be said I felt a prat for not knowing and wishing someone had told be before....

** me, not be

I LOVE a mispronounced word thread.

My ex used to think bechamel (as in the sauce) was pronounced be-camel. He thought it was a sauce made of camel product. This was about 15 years ago, we’re still friends and still find it hilarious.

OP we’re going to have to know what the word was.

@WanderingMilly really want to know how you pronounced hermes?!

Is it Hermes fashion brand or Hermes delivery company/ god?

What is the word OP?

Re-reading this has reminded me of my SIL who loves to correct people. She corrected me once for saying 'That'll learn you' which I knew wasn't correct but is a common expression (right?!), going on and on about how wrong/weird it was.

In the next breath saying 'oh I'll get wrong for doing that' - ie being told off, which I know now is regional/dialect but I'd never heard it before. I was quite interested in where it came from but she just wanted to point out how I was incorrect and she was right... sigh.

We all make mistakes - I find the English language fascinating and frustrating!

Well he must understand what you said if he can correct it! Tell him that!

@InescapableDeath

What is the word OP?

Re-reading this has reminded me of my SIL who loves to correct people. She corrected me once for saying 'That'll learn you' which I knew wasn't correct but is a common expression (right?!), going on and on about how wrong/weird it was.

In the next breath saying 'oh I'll get wrong for doing that' - ie being told off, which I know now is regional/dialect but I'd never heard it before. I was quite interested in where it came from but she just wanted to point out how I was incorrect and she was right... sigh.

We all make mistakes - I find the English language fascinating and frustrating!

I've never ever heard anyone say "That'll learn you", even from people who's first language isn't English

The best response is 'I think you should fork off with yourself and stop telling me how to speak'.

I’ll admit I’ve corrected my ex’s pronunciation (but usually in private and in a nice way & he didn’t mind it and would ask me to correct him). I’ve also had my pronunciation corrected and it doesn’t bother me but maybe if it was very regular or in front of other people, I’d find that upsetting. Just be open & honest with your partner. Everyone is different and we need to state our needs.

Sorry not read everything but one of my friends does this. Sometimes it amuses me; often it’s irritating. I think the urge to correct others is a personality trait. I wonder if it stems from unconscious worry about getting things wrong,

I rarely do it, especially in front of others, but am grateful for people who have corrected me in the past. It is better than continuing to pronounce words wrong.

Not a pronouncation issue but I have noticed my friend saying "I'm not adverse to a glass of wine" recently. I'm correcting her if I hear it again.

I correct my DH, but rarely anyone else.

If the ‘mispronunciation’ was dialect or accent, or slang, I don’t think that counts

If it was Pacific or one of the other famous ones I’d tell him.

For years I thought minutiae was pronounced mynewtie. Thankfully, I found out before I ever actually said it!!!

When I read 'misled', I always read it as 'missuled'. I have a few seconds of 'wtf does what mean?' every time! Just throwing my little quirk into the thread

Lol, sometimes I read enveloped and wonder how someone can envelope another person.