"CENTI"meter vs "SONO"meter

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I have no idea why nurses feel the need to pronounce this simple word in such a rediculously affected manner. I was a physics and math major and not until nursing did I EVER hear someone pronounce centimeter as sonometer. It makes me want to hurl!!!

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
itiswhatitis said:
I have no idea why nurses feel the need to pronounce this simple word in such a rediculously affected manner. I was a physics and math major and not until nursing did I EVER hear someone pronounce centimeter as sonometer. It makes me want to hurl!!!

It's the French pronunciation......not ridiculous at all.:caduceus:

ok.. so ..suddenly upon entering the field of nursing , we are now speaking french..i want to hurl even more!!

Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.

Hey itiswhatitis,

I think it mostly has to do with how they were "taught" to say it. You know, you say "toe-MAY-toe", I say "to-MAH-toe"??? :rolleyes:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f35/pronunciation-153896.html?highlight=sontimeters

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thanks siri, I was going to suggest the same thing - we had a lengthy discussion about it recently.

I still think it sounds silly to say "sono" meter. Affected. Like you are trying to impress someone with your superior grammar skills.

I'll have to remember this though next time I hear someone make fun of President Bush and his pronounciation of "nuclear" and I think they are being silly for getting upset. :D

steph

Specializes in Float.

Well I am very glad for the explanation that it is the French pronunciation. My OB teacher pronounced it that way and I was like HUH? Why in the WORLD does she say it that way? now we are in the South and I think every community has its own way of saying things - but I was appalled that she would say it so off lol...now I know why! I mean she is a highly educated woman, and a FNP lol....so I was so surprised! haha

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

Funny, there's a lengthy thread going on at SDN over this...

Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
stevielynn said:
Thanks siri, I was going to suggest the same thing - we had a lengthy discussion about it recently.

I still think it sounds silly to say "sono" meter. Affected. Like you are trying to impress someone with your superior grammar skills.

I'll have to remember this though next time I hear someone make fun of President Bush and his pronounciation of "nuclear" and I think they are being silly for getting upset. :D

steph

these are very different horses here. "nucular" is not a different pronunciation of nuclear, it is flat out wrong. bush, who probably began pronouncing this without understanding it, has come to use it as a way to keep in touch with the people = manipulate, which makes his vernacular cute-ism disgusting.

itiswhatitis said:
It makes me want to hurl!!!

:chuckle Well I don't feel that strongly about it, but it does grate my nerves a little. I never really thought it sounded pretentious...I've just never really heard it pronounced that way outside of nursing (though I'm sure it can be and it is)

Specializes in ICU, Education.

As stressfull as nursing is, and of all the crap that gos on in the profession, I cannot believe that, of all things is what bothers you. Better take a chill pill. There's a lot worse out there to deal with

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
stevielynn said:

I'll have to remember this though next time I hear someone make fun of President Bush and his pronounciation of "nuclear" and I think they are being silly for getting upset. :D

steph

:rotfl:

You know, I stopped making fun of the president for that years ago, and here's why: I've spent innumerable hours trying to teach my hubby to pronounce it "new-clee-ear". And after 26 years, the man STILL can't wrap his tongue around the syllables well enough to get the correct pronunciation out. Comes out "new-cu-ler" every dang time. I give up!!:roll

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