Is it just me? I'm continually annoyed by the persistance of people to pronounce "Herb" as "'erb" like they are some kind of French snob.
"Herb" is an English word... not a French word... So where did this Frenchified pronunciation come from?
I'm thinking it came from the early days of TV with Julia Childs when she became famous for saying " 'ERbs and Spices!" in a snobbish immitated French accent.
As this was America's first exposure to fancy cooking, it's how the pronunciation became accepted.
Is anyone else annoyed by this?
Does anyone have any facts on how this pronunciation got started?
2006-09-02 22:10:34 · 14 answers · asked by Moose 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
"herb" comes from the Latin word "herba" which means grass. This means that the English word "herb" probably probably grew in the English language without French introduction. Beside, the British are famous for having frenchified spellings in their language (like 'colour' and 'aeroplane'), so it would stand to logic that if it had French origins, it would be pronounced "erb" in the UK. It most definately is not. Therefore, the "herb" we use in the English language is "herb" and not " 'erb" especially since the American language is rooted in British English and not the other way around. It has always been pronounced "herb" in the UK ever since the beginning of time.
2006-09-02 23:29:44 · update #1
HEY!!! THANK YOU!!! I agree that "herbs" is the technically correct pronunciation, and people who say "'erbs" are trying to sound intelligent. They don't even know what the correct way is because they have heard the other SO OFTEN. Don't know where "'erbs" came from officially, but I do know that "herbs" is correct.
2006-09-02 22:15:25 · answer #1 · answered by mom3kids&adog 2 · 9⤊ 14⤋
Herb Pronunciation
2016-10-01 11:06:58 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Herbs or 'erbs?
Is it just me? I'm continually annoyed by the persistance of people to pronounce "Herb" as "'erb" like they are some kind of French snob.
"Herb" is an English word... not a French word... So where did this Frenchified pronunciation come from?
I'm...
2015-08-06 14:50:30 · answer #3 · answered by Beatriz 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Americans and the British pronounce the word differently, that's all. Most Americans say "erbs" while the British ( and those taught the Queen's English ) say herbs.It depends on what you were taught and what you're used to hearing. It has nothing to do with snobbery or being correct. BOTH pronunciations are rightfully correct. Saying the British way is correct is snobbery. Americans do NOT say "flat" for apartment, but both are correct depending on where you grew up or where your English teacher grew up ( for those learning the language ). So yes - it's just you. As for me, I'm continually annoyed by people who get annoyed at the silliest little things.
2014-01-22 06:27:34 · answer #4 · answered by ? 1 · 7⤊ 1⤋
How To Pronounce Herb
2016-12-16 06:52:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am from New Zealand and this annoys me also, Herb is the British English pronunciation and 'erb is the US* and French pronunciation.
What mainly annoys me is when I do a spell and grammar check, it tells me to correct 'a herb' to 'an herb', even when I change the settings to British or Australian English.
2006-09-02 22:16:18 · answer #6 · answered by angle_of_deat_69 5 · 12⤊ 4⤋
Well, the dictionary says that both pronunciations are correct. It descends from the French word herbe and the Latin word herba so I guess it wouldn't be too pretentious to say 'erb.
2006-09-02 22:17:51 · answer #7 · answered by Ellen J 7 · 17⤊ 2⤋
It's Herbs for sure- never heard it are ERbs before. It IS just a pronunciation thing. Apparently it is pronounced "erbs" in most of North America. In Brooklyn it is pronounced "HOIB". Now in Canada, rest assured that it is safe to say "herb", but people hear both "'erb" and "herb".
The word 'herb' originated from from the Latin word, herba, meaning grass. This Medieval Latin word ' herba angelic' means "angelic herb". The first written records about herbs were back in 3,000 B.C. So in my books, Herbs will always be Herbs with a H - and if you trace it's history you will always fine the spelling with a H.
2006-09-03 00:47:54 · answer #8 · answered by VelvetRose 7 · 11⤊ 6⤋
For the love of God America, it's Herb! ... You even acknowledge the fact that a letter's been removed by adding an apostrophe at the start.
Give it up :p
2013-09-24 10:09:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
'H' is often silent in European pronounciation. But if you ask me, I am for "Herb". Maybe it has more "flow'.
2006-09-02 22:28:08 · answer #10 · answered by Mo-Mo 2 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Hmm... I say 'erb, but I'm not trying to be snobby or French or anything like that. It's just how I've alwasy heard it said. I don't know why. Dialectic thing I guess. Sorry it bothers you, but quite honestly, I'd find it extremely offputting if someone walked around talking about there "Hhhherb"-seasoned food. THAT sounds snobbish to me!
2006-09-02 22:18:15 · answer #11 · answered by Passing_shadow 2 · 13⤊ 9⤋