How many ways can you say vase?

Answer 1

I know four ways --
1) vace (General American English)
2) vaze
3) vahs
4) vaws
These rhyme with face, haze, Ma's and jaws, respectively

I actually learned these as a child from a poem in a book of humorous verse my parents owned.

Thanks to your question, I thought to track it down. Here it is (and it even tells which regional accent is associated with each pronunciation) :


Washington Post, July 31, 1889, p. 4

The V-a-s-e.

From the madding crowd they stood apart,
The maidens four and the Work of Art;

And none might tell from sight alone
In which had Culture ripest grown--

The Gotham Million fair to see,
The Philadelphia Pedigree,

The Boston mind of Azure hue,
Or the soulful soul from Kalamazoo--

For all loved Art in a seemly way,
With an earnest soul and a capital A.

Long they worshiped, but no one broke
The sacred stillness until up spoke

The Western one from the nameless place,
Who blushing said: "What a lovely vace!"

Over three faces a sad smile flew,
And they edged away from Kalamazoo.

But Gotham's haughty soul was stirred
To crush the stanger with one small word.

Deftly hiding reproof in praise,
She cries, "'Tis indeed a lovely vaze!"

But brief her unworthy triumph when
The lofty one from the home of Penn,

With the consciousness of two grandpapas,
Exclaims, "It is quite a lovely vahs!"

And glances round with an anxious thrill,
Awaiting the word of Beacon Hill.

But the Boston maiden smiles courteouslee,
And gently murmurs, "Oh, pardon me!

"I did not catch your remark because
I was so entranced with that charming vaws!"

--James Jeffrey Rochee

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0503b&L=ads-l&P=29147

Answer 2

1) Vayz.
2) Vahz.
3) Vahzay.
4) Vahzee.
5) Vays.

Answer 3

vace
vaze
vaz

Answer 4

MANY!!!