How do you say 'chaps'

[soundedbetterinmyhead]

Not as in "tally ho chaps", but as in gaiters. I have to go and buy some for DS tomorrow and I always thought they were pronounced 'shaps' but was laughed at last time ! Help me not look like a fool please. How do you say it?

With a ch at the front, as in chips. Why on earth would you turn the ch into sh and come up with shaps??

As Behind says - like you'd say chaps meaning group of men.

I think Americans do pronounce them shaps but then again they do pronounce lots of equine things differently to us.

Have just reread my post. Did not mean to come across so sharp, was more genuinely bemused, sorry

Behind, I was pronouncing it like in 'chevrolet' - it's not that bonkers . I always thought that cowboys wore chaps pronounced 'shaps' so said it like that over here. And looked pretty silly. Lesson learned - thank you!

Fair point about the Chevrolet!! Them pesky Americans ;)

No worries - I had problems with the word 'numnah' for a long time

Never knew if 'nah' should rhyme with "pa" or have short 'a' (as in bat)

Used to mumble to cover up my ignorance ...

Mind you, just to add to confusion, know two people who pronounce it completely differently now ...

Lol

It's like chaff. Is it chaff or charf?

I say chaff, as in faff and 'numner' - but you don't want to listen to me!

arf at charf

I knew someone once (a riding instructor no less) who said 'charf' and thought I was funny for saying 'chaff' as in 'faff'.

Round here we say charf. But we also say barth and parth too. I would say that chaff is more northern like baff and paff.

I say chaff but also barth and parth. Am southern.

same here dopey but I'm northern (well, Midlander originally) ...

In pretty sure it is shaps but I have always said chaps because shaps sounds poncey .its chaff and 'numner' where I come from .