I was watching GMTV this morning and got irritated when Fiona Philips kept saying that it's the "last day of FebYooAry". Is there a right way and a wrong way? I've always believed you should say it exactly how it's spelt FebRuAry. Have I just been naive all this time?
2007-02-27 22:49:46 · 23 answers · asked by Fragile Rock 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The correct pronunciation is FEB-ROO-ARY, but it's often said FEB-URY because it's easier!!!
2007-02-27 22:53:28 · answer #1 · answered by Nickynackynoo 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've also heard February pronounced both ways. There doesn't seem to be a right or wrong way.
The dictionary shows why.
February
Main Entry: Feb·ru·ary
Pronunciation: 'fe-b(y)&-"wer-E, 'fe-br&-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ar·ies or -ar·ys
Etymology: Middle English Februarie, from Old English Februarius, from Latin, from Februa, plural, feast of purification
: the second month of the Gregorian calendar
usage Dissimilation may occur when a word contains two identical or closely related sounds, resulting in the change or loss of one of them. This happens regularly in February, which is more often pronounced \'fe-b(y)&-"wer-E\ than \'fe-br&-"wer-E\, though all of these variants are in frequent use and widely accepted. The \y\ heard from many speakers is not an intrusion but rather a common pronunciation of the vowel u after a consonant, as in January and annual.
2007-02-28 07:33:53 · answer #2 · answered by birdwatcher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be pronounced how it is spelt FEB-BROO-AIRY
I can't believe people that think just because they say it FEB-YOU-AIRY they think they are correct or that both ways are right.....no! There are a lot of words in English that get misused because it is easier to do so, but this doesn't make them correct.
Admittedly with February, the correct pronunciation doesn't really sound that different to the 'easier' one, but it is a matter of principle :o)
The French do not allow their language to 'deteriorate' through common usage or mis-usage, and neither should English speakers.
2007-02-28 07:04:57 · answer #3 · answered by PKblue 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I say feb-you-ary like Fiona. I think it's just one of those words that have different pronounciation. Maybe some think it's a silent R and some don't, but I've definitely heard both versions, so I assume they're both fine, after all it's only a month name.
2007-02-28 06:54:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree, it ought to be pronounced FebROOary. However here is a second poser. I have heard it pronounced FebrooARY, with the stress on the ary last syllable, and also Febroory, with no stresses at all. Now which of THOSE is the more correct????
2007-02-28 07:27:54 · answer #5 · answered by catfish 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right, but even *I* say "Febyooary", and I hate myself for it.
Still, that's how language evolves. I doubt there's a single word today that's pronounced the same way as centuries ago.
I'm just glad I won't be around when "serstificate" becomes normal!
2007-03-01 19:44:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow...
I never heard anyone say Feb RU ary
I always leave the first R silent
Feb Yoo Airy
2007-02-28 06:58:29 · answer #7 · answered by Julie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the US the two "accepted" pronounciations are feb-yoo-ary (which I use) and feb-roo-ary. When I was a teen I saw the anchor of one of the network news shows who showed the dictionary page with both pronounciations shown, and said something like "thanks for the correction letters, but we're right whichever way we say it". :)
2007-02-28 07:01:03 · answer #8 · answered by dBalcer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fe-brew-ary
2007-02-28 06:54:07 · answer #9 · answered by Kat 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Both are right. Americans pronounce it differently from the Brits. And I guess, we all pronounce it slightly differently in whichever country we're from : )
2007-02-28 06:58:58 · answer #10 · answered by Vixen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋