Some people say the h some don't.
2006-12-07 01:31:09 · 27 answers · asked by Michelle 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Erb, for plant stuff.
Herb, when it's the guy from WKRP in Cincinnati.
2006-12-07 01:33:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
This requires an analysis of the history of the English language. Early on, a lot of words (particularly those of French origin) were pronounced with a silent "h". This was true at the time of Shakespeare which, roughly speaking, is when the language was exported to America. From then on the two varieties of English on both sides of the Atlantic developed and changed independently. In Britain, the aspirated (pronounced) "h" became widely accepted over the years so that we now pronounce the "h" in HERB (for example) but some groups, like Cockneys, still have a silent "h". In contrast, on the other side of the Atlantic, the "h" remained silent. We still have a memory of this in the (now rare, but still occasionally heard) use of "an" instead of "a" before words spelt with "h" as the first letter - "an hotel", "an historic" etc. I also remember, but have failed to verify, my father telling me that the Cockney pronunciation of words with a silent "h" ('e rode an 'orse etc) was a copy of the earlier "posh" pronunciation but that "posh" pronunciation had moved on and introduced an aspirated "h". You could argue that the American pronunciation of "'erb" rather than "Herb" is the correct one as it is the original. I still choose to pronounce it "Herb" though!
2016-03-28 21:53:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The noun Herb, synonym of plant, has a silent H The proper noun Herb, A first name, The H is voiced as in the word horse.
2006-12-07 01:57:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Silent H
2006-12-07 01:38:01 · answer #4 · answered by stephanie p 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "proper" way to pronounce it is with the "h" being silent. However, I believe society has accepted pronouncing the "h" if you want. So however you want to say it, say it. Like tomato and tamato :)
2006-12-07 01:35:48 · answer #5 · answered by Julez81 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The H is silent.
If someone's name is Herb, then you pronounce it
2006-12-07 01:33:19 · answer #6 · answered by blondie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Herb
-urb
or in British
-hurb
2006-12-07 01:41:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Herb with a H(British pronunciation)without an H(is the American pronunciation of the word).
2006-12-07 02:44:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Over here in the UK, it is considered right to pronounce the H, though it is often omitted in various regional accents - for example, a Cockney from London would say
" 'Arry 'ad a bunch of 'erbs in 'is 'and"
instead of "Harry had a bunch of herbs in his hand."
Nothing wrong with your way of saying it, though.
2006-12-07 01:57:33 · answer #9 · answered by andrew f 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
In ENGLISH you pronounce the H.
In American you don't.
In French you don't.
One of the few cases where the Americans permitted French habits (or 'abits!) to stick around! After all, they got rid of all the 'u' from words of French origin, and they switched the r and e around to make theatre into theater, centre into center, etc.!
2006-12-07 17:46:01 · answer #10 · answered by _ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It can go either way.
Some use the H silently as in Honor
Some pronounce it as in Hotel
It's entirely up to you.
2006-12-07 01:40:18 · answer #11 · answered by Clarkie 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋