How Do You Pronounce The First Two Months of The Year?

[Angela Channing]

After a month of hearing so many people pronouncing January as Jan-Yoo-Ree, we are now in the month that so many people pronounce as Feb-Broo-Ree or Feb-Yoo-Ree. Even my Alexa pronounces it this way.

Am I alone in thinking these months have FOUR syllables? I pronounce them as Jan-Yoo-Ah-Ree and Feb-Broo-Ah-Ree.

How do you think these months should be pronounced?

 

[Frank Underwood]

I pronounce January as Jan-Yoo-Air-E, and February as Feb-Yoo-Air-E.

For me, the r after "feb" in February has always been silent.

 

[Angela Channing]

I wonder whether it's a British vs USA thing because so many people in the UK seem to drop one of the syllables in January and February.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Am I alone in thinking these months have FOUR syllables? I pronounce them as Jan-Yoo-Ah-Ree and Feb-Broo-Ah-Ree.

Thats what I would say also

but I do think that in general written word and verbal speech has deteriorated and I see it with younger folks who come into our dept

Its become slovenly and dumbed down

They write notes and formal reports in text speak and that isnt satisfactory or acceptable for something that will go into patient records

 

[Michelle Stevens]

I pronounce January as Jan-Yoo-Air-E, and February as Feb-Yoo-Air-E.

For me, the r after "feb" in February has always been silent.

Same here. It must be an American thing.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

The best delivery of "February" I've heard was an episode of Brookside where Paul Collins reminded his wife of the cold month when she was refusing to let a rescued dog stay in the house:

Actor Jim Wiggins - a former English teacher, if I remember correctly - rolled (or trilled) the first "R", making it sound even more upscale. His pronunciation sounded to my ears like "Feb-rroo-uh-ree" (the double-R representing a roll, rather than a rhotic r, and because the r was rolled, it could almost be heard as "Feb-uh-rroo-uh-ree").



Back in this thread on the pronunciation of February I said this:

it's Feb-Roo-Uh-ree if I'm being proper. Feb-Yoo-Uh-Ree more informally (or if I can't be bothered working my tongue that hard).

However, in either case, I never place equal emphasis on all four syllables. The middle two syllables run so closely together the word ends up sounding like "Feb-ruh-ree" or "Feb-yuh-ree.

It's similar with January. I say JAN-you-uh-ree, but only the first syllable is emphasised, so in informal speech it can be perceived as "JAN-yuh-ree" or "JAN-yoo-ree", even though I know I'm touching upon all four syllables quickly.

It's similar to how "necessary" (British pronunciation) will often sound like "NESS-uss-ree", because Brits traditionally have only given that "A" sound in the third syllable a tiny nod (though most younger Brits now over emphasise it).

 

[Angela Channing]

Back in this thread on the pronunciation of February I said this:

I didn't realise I had discussed this previously, it's clearly a bugbear of mine!

It's similar to how "necessary" (British pronunciation) will often sound like "NESS-uss-ree", because Brits traditionally have only given that "A" sound in the third syllable a tiny nod (though most younger Brits now over emphasise it).

It's interesting that you say this because other words that annoy me when people drop a syllable are temp-poor-ree and reg-lar-lee instead or temp-poor-rar-ree and reg-lar-ah-ree when saying "temporary" and "regularly".

 

[Mel O'Drama]

temp-poor-ree ... nstead or temp-poor-rar-ree

The way I say it sounds like "TEMP-ruh-ree". I do voice the "o" (or "uh" sound) after the first syllable, but it's so un-stressed it's barely even there.

reg-lar-ah-ree

Hmmm. As written here, this is a complete tongue-twister for me. I can't even say it this way once.

This is a case where I lean towards four more definite syllables, but my pronunciation is more like "reg-ya-la-lee".

 

[Angela Channing]

Hmmm. As written here, this is a complete tongue-twister for me. I can't even say it this way once.

I think had trouble with spelling the sounds of the individual syllables, . The way I say "regularly" is reg-yoo-la-lee but definitely with 4 syllables. "Reg-yoo-lee" really annoys me.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I think had trouble with spelling the sounds of the individual syllables,

I can relate. This thread has really made me think about how I say certain words, and I don't even know if I'm correct about how my pronunciation sounds when there are so many variables such as the surrounding word sounds and the other person (or people) involved in the conversation. Attempting to then spell it out phonetically takes things to another level again.

The way I say "regularly" is reg-yoo-la-lee but definitely with 4 syllables.

Ah, then I think we're quite close on that one.