Learn To Say It Correctly!!

Scooter321 · Jul 1, 2009

Three different spellings, yes, but how are they prounounced differently? For instance, what dissimilar words would they rhyme with?

How about:

Hairy Mary

Merry Berry

Marry Harry

rn/writer, RN · Jul 1, 2009

How about:
Hairy Mary
Merry Berry
Marry Harry

As far as I'm concerned, and I'm pretty picky, all six words sound the same.

Merry Mary isn't contrary,

She likes to make berry wine,

And if she marries hairy Harry,

Her life will turn out just fine.

Okay, I didn't make the words rhyme in the poem, but seriously, merry, Mary, and marry do not sound any different to me.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2009

How about:
Hairy Mary
Merry Berry
Marry Harry

Exactly!!!!!!

or

Mary Scary

Merry Ferry

Marry Barry

\ˈma-rē\ = marry

\ˈme-rē\ = merry

\ˈmā-rē\ = Mary

I haven't met many Americans who differentiate. When I do it in front of them they can hear the difference for some reason they just can't pronounce them differently at least not here in the midwest.

If you ever suspect that a Brit is pretending to be an American ask them to pronounce "merry" then "marry"-- hey maybe I should consult with immigration. LOL!

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2009

As far as I'm concerned, and I'm pretty picky, all six words sound the same.
Merry Mary isn't contrary,
She likes to make berry wine,
And if she marries hairy Harry,
Her life will turn out just fine.
Okay, I didn't make the words rhyme in the poem, but seriously, merry, Mary, and marry do not sound any different to me.

Very cute ditty! I love it.

It is to do with how "open" your throat is when you say them.

By the way this really doesn't bug me. I just think it is cute.

Scooter321 · Jul 1, 2009

Exactly!!!!!!
or
Mary Scary
Merry Ferry
Marry Barry
\ˈma-rē\ = marry
\ˈme-rē\ = merry
\ˈmā-rē\ = Mary
I haven't met many Americans who differentiate. When I do it in front of them they can hear the difference for some reason they just can't pronounce them differently at least not here in the midwest.

Y'know, you have a point there. I'm a transplanted Brit--been in New England for over 12 years now. Perhaps that's why the difference in pronunciation seems obvious to me. Now that you mention it though, I don't think I hear 3 distinctly different sounds much these days, except from hubby of course. Not that it bothers me in the slightest. Plenty of other word assassinations get on my nerves a lot more--most of the ones in this thread for a start. :grn:

talaxandra · Jul 2, 2009

They all sound very different to me - ah, regional differences :) So which word (Mary, merry or marry) are they pronounced like? Obviously this is addressed to those who can hear a distinction! and at least this is something where context indicates which word is meant.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2009

They all sound very different to me - ah, regional differences :) So which word (Mary, merry or marry) are they pronounced like? Obviously this is addressed to those who can hear a distinction! and at least this is something where context indicates which word is meant.

I would expect that Canadians and Aussies would "get" the difference. After all we are practically cousins.

talaxandra · Jul 2, 2009

Kissing cousins, even! :kiss

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2009

Kissing cousins, even! :kiss

Hee!

I never met an Aussie I didn't like.

LuLu2008 · Jul 3, 2009

Can we please end this thread?

rn/writer, RN · Jul 3, 2009

Can we please end this thread?

Why are you asking to end it?

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2009

How about "an historic moment" instead of "a historic moment". I had to look that one up. "A" historic moment is actually correct.

Not entirely.

In the case of the word historic, "an" is used because the first syllable, of three, is not the stressed syllable -- so it is "an" even though the h is not silent. You can find this info in Webster's dictionary.

That being said American modern usage has allowed the use of "a" instead of "an".