How do you pronounce the word "the" ?

[JerseyShawn 0]

I pronounce "the" as "da". Like saying "whats the matter" is "whats da madda" Im a New Jersey idiot, but I never noticed how I talk until I moved to California and people pointed it out or they make fun of me. Then I make fun of them for putting 20 vegetables and ranch dressing on their pizza.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

ranch dressing on their pizza

OMFG

[stitch 0]

Thu/eeee

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

[MikeJD 0]

Thee before a vowel; thuh before a consonant. That's what I do, and it seems most natural. I'm surprised anyone doesn't do this. Freaks.

If you use thuh before a vowel then you have to put an awkward glottal stop between the words (like in the middle of uh-oh). But if you use thee, then you can run the words together with kind of a 'y' sound between them.

What I don't get is why posh people use an instead of a before words starting with a hard 'h'. For example, 'an hotel'.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

Thee before a vowel; thuh before a consonant. That's what I do, and it seems most natural. I'm surprised anyone doesn't do this. Freaks.

If you use thuh before a vowel then you have to put an awkward glottal stop between the words (like in the middle of uh-oh). But if you use thee, then you can run the words together with kind of a 'y' sound between them.

What I don't get is why posh people use an instead of a before words starting with a hard 'h'. For example, 'an hotel'.

You can thank 'enry 'iggins for that, Guv.

[shropshire 0]

Quote

What I don't get is why posh people use an instead of a before words starting with a hard 'h'. For example, 'an hotel'.

The long and the short of it is that it depends how one pronounces 'a' (ay as in day or a as in apple).

If one says 'ay' hotel : it sounds O.K where as '[short]a hotel' does not.

try 'heirloom' too
a heirloom - sounds clumsy
whilst
an heirloom does not.


Oh and the yanks can fuck off, dropping the 'h' in Herbs is just plain retarded.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[4000m 0]

As a I am German I pronounce it like "zeh"

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/4000meter
Youtube Favorites: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjnVsp4Epra-PRDETgrF3M04B3X86X1eh

[MikeJD 0]

Quote

Quote

What I don't get is why posh people use an instead of a before words starting with a hard 'h'. For example, 'an hotel'.

The long and the short of it is that it depends how one pronounces 'a' (ay as in day or a as in apple).

If one says 'ay' hotel : it sounds O.K where as '[short]a hotel' does not.

try 'heirloom' too
a heirloom - sounds clumsy
whilst
an heirloom does not.


Oh and the yanks can fuck off, dropping the 'h' in Herbs is just plain retarded.

Sounds more like it depends on how you pronounce 'hotel'. For me it has a hard h, whereas 'heirloom' has a soft one. So I'd say 'a hotel' but 'an heirloom'.

And I wasn't going to mention 'herbs', but I knew I could rely on you, Tony.

That always seems like a bizarre thing to me, especially since as a rule Americans tend to go for the more obvious pronunciation of a word according to its spelling - like 'lieutenant', for example. To take a nice simple word like 'herb' and mangle it into something that sounds not only not like English, but not of this earth... .

Edited for spelling. If you're going to mock someone's pronunication, you have to watch your spelling.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

Oh and the yanks can fuck off, dropping the 'h' in Herbs is just plain retarded.

Oh and the Brits can fuck off, prancing around in "lorries" instead of driving a TRUCK like a man.

[shropshire 0]

P.S : Ghoti is pronounced 'fish'

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[thrillstalker 0]

Quote

Thee before a vowel; thuh before a consonant. That's what I do, and it seems most natural. I'm surprised anyone doesn't do this. Freaks.

If you use thuh before a vowel then you have to put an awkward glottal stop between the words (like in the middle of uh-oh). But if you use thee, then you can run the words together with kind of a 'y' sound between them.

What I don't get is why posh people use an instead of a before words starting with a hard 'h'. For example, 'an hotel'.

a and an are differentiated by vowels.

ex. i went to a store yesterday

i rode in an airplane today.

if it is a e i o u and sometimes y, you need to use an

"Never grow a wishbone, where your backbone ought to be."

[thrillstalker 0]

Quote

To take a nice simple word like 'herb' and mangle it into something that sounds not only not like English, but not of this earth... .

you could always use a different word, reefer, pot, cheeba, ganja, sensimilla, weed, trees, instead of calling it herb.

"Never grow a wishbone, where your backbone ought to be."

[warpedskydiver 0]

I know a few Brits that would laugh at you taking the piss
but they might also laugh at your injuries too

I would not go thinking they don't have some damned tough guys around there if I were you

I even know a few retirees that would scare you shitless

[BillyVance 34]

If I'm just talking matter of factly, it comes out as "thuh", if I put an emphasis on something, I sometimes say "thee"

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

I know a few Brits that would laugh at you taking the piss
but they might also laugh at your injuries too

I would not go thinking they don't have some damned tough guys around there if I were you

I even know a few retirees that would scare you shitless

Aren't thinly-veiled threats of violence what got you banned from Speaker's Corner, too?

[stitch 0]

In Tijauna I pronounce it "El".

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

[warpedskydiver 0]

Actually telling you that some men might not like you saying crap about them is just the simple truth...

[Andy9o8 2]

You're a pretty angry guy aren't you? Too bad this isn't the forum for it.

[warpedskydiver 0]

Quote

You're a pretty angry guy aren't you? Too bad this isn't the forum for it.

WTF?

You never have witnessed the attitudes of receptionist?

[shropshire 0]

Oh and another couple that our 'cousins' get soooo wrong .

Tube ...... is not TOOB

and

Buoy - it's Boy not Boo-ee

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[MikeJD 0]

Quote

I know a few Brits that would laugh at you taking the piss
but they might also laugh at your injuries too

I'll respect a sense of humour over a thuggish attitude any day.

[Erroll 80]

Quote

...If you're going to mock someone's pronunication, you have to watch your spelling.

Indeed.

[MikeJD 0]

Quote

Quote

...If you're going to mock someone's pronunication, you have to watch your spelling.

Indeed.

Damn it! And it's too late for me to edit it now... I hate it when that happens.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

If you're going to mock someone's pronunication, you have to watch your spelling.

If one must promote the King's English, one should promote the King's grammar.
Wot?

[theonlyski 8]

Quote

Wot?

Wide open throttle?

Whats that got to do with any of this?

"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message