Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: ladyjane

According to my dictionary, Feb-u-ary is the preferred pronunciation while Feb-ru-ary is the secondary pronunciation.


68 posted on 01/30/2016 12:23:54 PM PST by Ben Ficklin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies ]


To: Ben Ficklin

Many of the American dictionaries have given up. I think the OED and most of the English dictionary keep the r.

The word is like library. Many people pronounce it libarry.

“The loss of the first “r” in the pronunciation of February is (in part) the result of a process called dissimilation (or haplology), where one of two similar sounds in a word is sometimes changed or dropped to avoid the repetition of that sound. (A similar process sometimes occurs with the pronunciation of library.) “

And then there is ‘axe’ instead of ask. We’re going to the dogs!! LOL

Thank you for your comment. I hadn’t realized our dictionaries have changed.


69 posted on 01/30/2016 2:04:05 PM PST by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson