pah-KHAN
I say “pecan”.
Does that help?
Ahn
Pee-Can is what grandpa keeps under the bed at night because he can’t make it to the bathroom in time!
I was born in Alabama. My relatives and I all say puh-KAHN. I have lived in Texas for 48 years. Everybody I know here likewise says puh-KAHN.
Once I got into a discussion on exactly this subject. There were 6 of us college age kids sitting around a bunch of food warmers we were cleaning.
Every single person had a slightly different pronunciation. The only one who said pee-CAN with an emphasis on the second syllable was a little cutie from SE, Georgia.
There are a dozen pecan trees in my yard. This year they produced only a handful of pecans. Last year even less.
Maybe next year.
When I was growing up and the family went from NJ down to South Carolina, and we stopped in NC at a roadside stand. Upon seeing a particularly nice pie that we wanted to buy (unmarked as to contents), my mother asked if it was made with PEE-cans.
She was told that “the PEE-cans were in the back near the shed, and that polite folks mostly use the facilities. However, if y’all are interested in buying this here pe-KAHN pah, we’ll gladly sell it to you.”
Well, now I say pe-KAHN, even though I still say things like “yous guys” and “youts.”
PEE-CAN here in MA .
We also pronounce “route” as ROOT.
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I also proudly say Pee-CAN, as it is shown for my region. Unlike some of my relatives who’ve moved out of state and have been intimidated into changing to pee-cahn, I refuse to change. It wouldn’t come out of my mouth any other way!
PEE-CAN is a rusty metal bucket out behind the barn! LOL
People who do not live where pah-kauns are grown don’t know what they are talking about.
We have a national pie whisperer who knows
The north part of Pleasant Grove in Dallas, Texas was known as Pecan Heights (pronounced as “Pee-KAHN”). Area around Jim Miller and Military Parkway.
I had a pee can once -— until we got indoor plumbing.
PEE-CAN’T
There are more choices. I say puh-KAHN.
Carya illinoinensis
pah-kahn, here in Georgia and also N. Fla where I grew up. I can’t say for any English speakers in S.Fla, there are so many yankees down there they may say pee-can.
I have always thought it was Pee Kahn with only a very slight emphasis on the first syllable. My family has been in the Florida Panhandle for over 250 years.