The word "Aunt"
Do you pronounce it as A-u-n-t or A-n-t?
2006-08-11 15:24:50 · 27 answers · asked by Billy 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Ant
Awnt sounds stupid
2006-08-11 15:26:16 · answer #1 · answered by phaldo 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Okay so a lot are having some problems with the pronunciation. Based also on what I have searched,many pronounce it (either in the US or Ireland) as ANT. Some claim that African-Americans pronounce it as AHNT, and others pronounce it like ONT (They claim maybe it's on the British side.). We also pronounce it as ANT. However, to put a stop to all the arguing or whatever, I sought the help of Wiktionary and here it is.
Etymology
From Middle English < Old French ante < Latin amita "father's sister".
Pronunciation
* (Australian, RP): änt, /É:nt/, /A:nt/
* (US): Änt, /ænt/, /{nt/ or as the Australian/UK pronunciation
Rhymes: -ÉËnt
Homophones
* (Australian, UK): aren't (in non-rhotic accents)
* (US): ant (for the first US pronunciation given above)
Well, I hope that settles it. I also found something worth reading if you're so conscious about pronouncing English words. This stanza is only part of the poem.
Ivy, privy, famous; clamour
And enamour rhyme with hammer.
River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.
Stranger does not rhyme with anger,
Neither does devour with clangour.
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,
Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,
And then singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge,
Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.
If you want to read the rest, go to http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa102599.htm
GOODLUCK!!!!
2006-08-12 06:13:21 · answer #2 · answered by klay 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Aunt when talking to my aunt, ant when talking about a creature... there really is no difference!
2006-08-11 22:29:35 · answer #3 · answered by Gninja 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Aunt, because that is the way a new zealander would say it. If you came from australia, you would say ant.
2006-08-11 22:31:02 · answer #4 · answered by Chris 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Aunt pronounced "Awwnt" ....cheers :)
2006-08-11 22:30:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anntoinette M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say ant but I from the south to. most of the time I just call them by name. I have one that is just three years older than I am.
2006-08-11 22:38:35 · answer #6 · answered by liza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. It's Ahnt. Almost the same as aren't. But I'm English. US pronunciation is like ant, but with a slightly stretched vowel sound. Barbarians.
2006-08-11 22:30:43 · answer #7 · answered by mlamb56 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ant
2006-08-11 23:05:39 · answer #8 · answered by Bella 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ant ... why, does it bother you , when ppl pronounce it ant not aunt?? some times though i say auntie
2006-08-11 22:28:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whichever you like. Depending on the accent you have, one way of pronouncing it will be more common than the other, as shown by other posters...
Grammatically, either (ee-thur or eye-thur) way is correct.
2006-08-11 22:35:35 · answer #10 · answered by maurora27 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i pronounce it ant - they only people i know that pronounce it a-u-n-t are the british
2006-08-11 22:28:21 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋