The word nuclear is written with "c" but, its abbreviation is written with "k" (Nuke).
2006-07-04 19:28:34 · 9 answers · asked by soroushy2k 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The substitution of a K for a hard C where the latter would, following ordinary English spelling & pronunciation conventions be read as a soft C (s-sound) is not at all unusual.
There really is no other option. The e has to be added to the end of the word to preserve the long u of 'nuclear', but -ce would be pronounced "s".
Compare:
Coca Cola > "Coke"
microphone /Micheal> "mike"/"Mike"
bicycle > "bike"
(also Isaac > "Ike")
cucumber > "cuke"
(These words likewise add a final e to preserve their long vowels [o,i, u] and substitute a K for C to preserve the 'hard' sound.)
2006-07-05 14:26:04 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question! I've never really thought about it before. The only thing I can come up with is the person who first coined this slang term for nuclear missile (or more recently, cooking something in the microwave) wanted to ensure it was pronounced "nuke" (phonetically what is known as a "hard c") as opposed to "noose" ("soft c").
2006-07-05 11:26:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yet another lay-scientist term. That and the sound made by nuclear cannot be confused by another sound when spelled "nuke," while "nuce" could open up to sounding like "noose."
Edit: Curious, someone used the same example as me... lol
2006-07-05 02:32:39 · answer #3 · answered by nihilum99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it is a hard c sound but it would not be evident in the word Nuce. It would then be sounded out as noose, not nuke.
so they use NUKE to make it short and sweet
2006-07-05 02:33:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nuke is just a slang for nuclear.
2006-07-05 02:32:03 · answer #5 · answered by oh zhe ning 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sound in nuclear is a "k" sound. If you spelled it "nuce" people would be prone to pronounce it with an "s" sound as in noose.
2006-07-05 02:31:38 · answer #6 · answered by cranura 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's more to do with how it's pronounced... "nuke" is pronounced as "newk" while "nuce" would be "news"
2006-07-05 02:35:08 · answer #7 · answered by Camillus A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
for pronounciation reasons. it produces the same sound. to use a 'k' in the short form.
2006-07-09 18:42:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think the letter k is just more powerful to signify the potential of a weapon
2006-07-05 02:31:53 · answer #9 · answered by STEVE0 THE CLOWN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋