Separated by a common language

[janedavitt]

I'm getting used to 'herbs', 'oregano', 'caramel', 'tomato', 'centrifugal', 'beta' and 'basil' to name but a few, being pronounced differently over here but I was thrown in a Numb3rs episode I watched this week. They're tracking tidal currents and they go out on a boat and drop labelled buoys, then track when they hit the beach.

Both Charlie and Amita called them 'boo-ees' which had me wriggling a finger in my ear, sure I'd misheard.

In England, we pronounce 'buoys' as 'boys', the word derived, I assume from 'buoyant' (boy-ant) because they're things that float. I guess. Seems to make sense.

So is that really how it's said in the US? ::is curious::

Comments

[melusina]

Yep - really and truly!

[allegraconbrio]

I've heard the word pronounced both ways here in the US. I do hear boo-ee more often when I hear it, but it isn't very often I hear people use the word. :)

[janedavitt]

They sound so cute that way! If a little too close to 'boobies' ;-))

[janedavitt]

It doesn't come up much in my daily conversations either :-)

[justhuman]

I've only ever heard boo-ees in the US. Much like you, I didn't realize that the word was pronounced differently in the UK

[princessofgeeks]

yes, BOO-ees.

I know. We're impossible. :D.

[green_grrl]

Yup! I grew up on the coast, and have only ever heard boo-ees. Seafood/waterfront restaurants often did cutesy labeling on the restroom doors: "Buoys" and "Gulls."

[catspaw]

Which makes an even better pun when pronounced the Brit way :-)

[catspaw]

How do 'caramel' and 'centrifugal' differ from the Brit way?

[janedavitt]

The Americans say 'cen triff ih gul' not 'sen trih phew gull' and 'car mel' not 'cah ra mel'

[litotease]

East Coast or West? I'm West, and grew up with "boys" as the pronunciation (but I'm also not right on the ocean, which might make a difference).

[green_grrl]

Really?! I grew up on the beach in San Diego, and my dad grew up in Long Beach and Los Angeles--both of us started sailing as children. I've never heard "boys."

[etrangerici]

I've heard both around New England. I think I actually say 'boys' more often than not, for some reason.

[litotease]

Hmmm. OK, not East Coast v. West. NorCal v. SoCal? *is intrigued*

[green_grrl]

Maybe? I could ask my sister, who sailed quite a bit in San Francisco and Crescent City.

[starwatcher]

.
I've heard both, but 'boo-ey' is more common. OTOH, folks around here live fa-a-ar from any water big enough to need buoys.
.

[ninetydegrees]

I've just realized I'd never heard it said boo-ees (or I didn't pay attention) whereas this is closer to the French word. Good to know!

[janedavitt]

It's making me wonder how many words I don't know about and would say differently...

[janedavitt]

Not at all! It's just different, not wrong.

[janedavitt]

It does :-))

[janedavitt]

Interesting how sometimes you can swap between them.

[janedavitt]

Heheh!

[janedavitt]

It's facinating!