How do you pronounce epitome?

[Arch0wl]

This thread makes the part of me that obsessed over pronunciation in theater classes die a little bit. (It wasn't a very good part of me, to be fair.)

If you want an intimidating word to pronounce, try "Eyjafjallajökull" -- the name of the Icelandic volcano that erupted throughout 2010.

[Rubin0]

I pronounce these words the only correct way they should be pronounced. The New York way. What is this thread?

[Arch0wl]

Someone from New York?

Fockin' FINALLY! SHMUCKS GOTTA WALK IN AND YAP THEIR MOUTH ALL DAY, KNOW WHATI MEAN?

TRY ASKIN 'EM WHEAH TO GET A FALAFEL IN THA CITY. IT'S RIDICULOS. THEAH PROOLBABLY FROM NEBREAHSKAH OA SOME NOWEHA SHIT LIKE DAT. I ASKED SOME SHITHEAD IN OMAHA (FOCKIN' OMAHA!) TO GIMME A PLACE WHEA I CAN GET A NICE BITE AND THE SHMOE DIDN'T KNOW JACK. THEY GOT NO CULTURE OVER THERE, I TELL YA!

[Rubin0]

I lol'ed.

[Reincarnate]

I made this thread because I hear these words pronounced incorrectly ridiculously often (and also to make fun of that 2011 thread). Such words are common enough to be used, and yet apparently easy to screw up.

[yelruf3]

When words are mispronounced is when you get frustrated? Weird, because you at least know the meaning behind their speech... unlike if they were to use the wrong words, or something.

[DossarLX ODI]

Originally Posted by yelruf3

When words are mispronounced is when you get frustrated? Weird, because you at least know the meaning behind their speech... unlike if they were to use the wrong words, or something.

This is what really gets my attention.

If someone says facade like "fuh-kayd" instead of "fuh-sawd", you probably know they're saying facade. And if you KNOW they're saying facade, it is extremely disrespectful to point it out when they're legitimately trying to talk. It's just like a person who has a bad habit of saying nuclear like "nuke-you-lur" may be aware they're saying it that way but can't seem to say it just like "new-clear".

Overall anyone that goes hissy fitty about wrong pronunciations (even if it's so minor that it's negligible) is most likely trying to give an "intelligent" impression as much as possible. If anything, you should feel smart for even KNOWING what they're saying, lmfao. IF you can't make out the words, that's probably a reasonable time to have concern.

Confusing vocabulary is a different thing though, but still shouldn't be fussed about much either. For example, anomalous and bizarre. I don't care if someone misuses them because I still know what they're saying and it doesn't take away from their point.

[ChrisReams]

Eh-pi-tome
Fa-cade?
Seeg
Eu-ros

lol

Edit: I live in Nashville, Tennessee. I probably butchered these words

[Reincarnate]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM

[Without A Contraceptive]

f*cking eh pi tomb wow youre so close but you just need a little work

[Without A Contraceptive]

Originally Posted by ichliebekase

Epitome = epp-ih-toam [like you I guess]

Facade = fah-kayd

Segue I have no idea at all, not going to attempt it XD

you cant be serious




right?
damn.

[dore]

har har har get it? cuz like... the words aren't pronounced... like how you would think about saying them if you read them like what they look like... but like... they're actually pronounced differently... and like... because this is text based... like... you're trying to get people... to like show how they would like pronounce it... figuring that... because like... the words are pronounced differently than what they look like... like... people will look like dumb

funny

[kommisar]

I say it é-pee-tôme but you're all gay so


sigur ross : see gÜr ruhss

[ichliebekase]

Everyone is brought up to pronounce words differently. My grandmom when saying water says "wooter", thus when she taught my dad to say water, he now says "wooter". My mom says "wahter" so I learned that one because she was the one to teach me how to speak.

[justaguy]

http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...ad.php?t=20177

[bluguerrilla]

epitome of hyperbole

[Without A Contraceptive]

hi
per
bowl

[Reincarnate]

when the superbowl just isnt enough

[AlexDest]

Originally Posted by Reincarnate

when the superbowl just isnt enough

su PUHHH bowel

[Reach]

Originally Posted by smartdude1212

Anybody who has taken a French class should recognize autochthonous (in the form of l'autochtone, perhaps, which means Aboriginal). That's how I know how to properly pronounce that one.

As for eleemosynary, it's el-uh-maw-sin-air-ee.

And tergiversant looks enough like tergiverser (again, French, although I feel as if I saw tergiverser in my Latin text somewhere) that I'd guess the English pronunciation would be ter-ji-verse-awnt but I'm probably wrong here.

It is from the latin tergiversari, meaning literally one who turns their back, though it's usually used metaphorically (as in a betrayer). With that said, it's incredibly uncommon and hard to say; you said it right though, so impressive.

Eleemosynary is pretty much impossible to say unless you've seen it before; any word buff probably had because it's one of those words that people like to use in spelling bees to fatality you.


With respect to the original post, 'Potemkin Village' is probably the best and most obnoxious synonym for facade. It's fun to use some times.


Here's something similar but fun: Words that are very common but also very commonly defined incorrectly.

Travesty
Impale
Plagiarize
Tirade
Ominous

Only 5% of people define travestry properly, and less than 15% define the others properly (This includes partial or vague definitions that are approximately correct, as well as synonyms).