How do YOU pronounce "Worcestershire," as in "worcestershire sauce"?

Question

I don't mean, what's the correct pronunciation (but include that too, if you know it), I'm just curious about YOU pronounce it. And I am referring to the condiment, not the county in England, if there's a difference in pronunciation.

When I say it, it comes out sounding something like this: Wrrchrstrrshurr. Obviously, that's not correct, but that's how I say it nonetheless. Luckily, I'm a vegetarian, so I rarely find myself with the need to say it aloud.

Ok, Lilith, but is that how YOU pronounce it?

Answer 1

In Mexico, they call it "salsa ingles", literally "English Sauce". I think it would be easier if we just called it that.

On another note, since many are probably now wondering, "English sauce" is very popular in Mexico. Most people put it on pizza, among other things.

Answer 2

How Do U Pronounce Worcestershire

Answer 3

when i was growing up (in merthyr tydfil in the 1950s and 1960s) worcestershire sauce was nearly as commonplace as tomato ketchup (and a lot better known than either mayonnaise or peanut butter).

we always called the sauce: [wooster sauce ('oo' as in 'book')] and since i knew the name long before i first saw it written down i still call it that.

older people in the marches (an ill-defined wide band of country both sides of the wales / england border) regularly call the sauce 'wooster' - like i do - but the pronunciation 'wooster-sher' is commoner among younger folk (who use less of it than we do).

i call the town 'wooster' (one of the most relaxing places on earth - though not as pretty as gloucester), and the county 'wooster-sher'. english placename spelling is a laugh a minute ('cirencester' - still pronounced 'sister' by a large minority of the locals).

but nobody ever used to tease me when i lived in ystradgynlais.

Answer 4

i grew up in merthyr tydfil in the 1950's and 60's.

i was not allowed to use any ready made sauces, such as worcester, as my mother thought that it was too "common".

i still find the sauce disgusting. i can hear my mother,

"sauce bottles on the table!. it looks like a common lodging house."

it is, however, pronounced

"wuss ter sh uh" ( u as in bun )

the locals - and i know one very well, say

whirr stir shurr, the roll their "r's a bit round there!

the first time he said "girl", i thought he said "gorilla". which put a bit of a strain on our relationship, until i realised what he meant.

he was telling me about an ex-girlfriend!!

when i moved to a village in derbyshire (pronounced darbyshire) the next town was called uttoxeter. i really struggled with that one.

i called it ut-toe-x-e-ter, to the great amusement of the locals.

(it is pronounced you- tox-iter)

so even we brits get it wrong sometimes.

all towns ending with "cester"or "sometimes, "ester", denotes that there was a roman fort there once, as in
gloucester, chester, cirencester, and these often retain traces of the roman occupation.

there are wonderful roman mosaic pavements in cirencester, for example, as well as chedworth, the remains of a roman villa,

so all the "cester" towns are very ancient, and well worth a visit.

come over and see us some time!

Answer 5

wu (u as in "put") stur (ur as in "fur") shur (ur as in "fur"). The town in England is correctly pronounced wu-stur. It is NOT pronounced wore-chest-ur by the people who live there.

This old Southern gentleman was having a steak in a nice restaurant. The waiter brings him a bottle of black sauce. The old gentleman picks up the bottle and asks "Wus dis hyer saws?"

Answer 6

In the town after which the sauce is named, it's pronounced "Woostersher".

Answer 7

I pronounce it Wooster! It has a silent 'shire'!

That's how everyone in South-East England says it - those that I've met, anyway!
: )

BTW - I like Garwy's post very much!! I especially like the link ...! Very amusing! (Especially the bit about signing her name ...!)
; D

Answer 8

Woostuhshir Sauce.....the town is pronounced Wooster, Mass.

the "oo" sounding like "wood".

I'm not EVEN gonna try spellcheck! lol.

Answer 9

you spelled phonetically but that's how you say it....here this will help you

(woostr-shîr) or (woostr -shr) this is correct and the way I pronounce it as well...woo woo...haha!

....and it is a piquant sauce of soy, vinegar, and spices made in Worcester (Woo-stir), England.

...and as far as Worcester MA and their pronounciation (of course leaving off the R) Woo-sta!!!

Answer 10

I pronounce every syllable slowly clearly and thoughtfully, the same way you are supposed to chew your food but don't:

wor-SESS-ter-SHIRE tschusss SHEERsire schesster sauce.

Never had a problem with it until now.