How do you pronounce "Lawyer"?

[Cool-Beans]

I believe that if they are run-of-the-mill, it is pronounced "loy-er." If they are hot-shots who bill hundreds of dollars per hour, it is pronounced "uh-ter-nee."

 

[Becky2005]

I think this is a depends on where you are from thing.

I always pronounced it "Law-yer" but would get teased for it, so now I just say Attorney. No matter what I can NOT get myself to pronounce it any other way. I get all tongue-tied if I try to do it the other way and get all messed up. I know if I say "Law-yer" someone is going to give me grief so I just avoid it at all costs for having to say it out loud.

Edited to add -- My mom grew up in Southern Illinois (Anna from any that know the area) & Illinois basically has 2 dialects from what I can tell, just depends on where you are at. So, I tend to have some of the southern IL ways of pronouncing things thrown in with around Chicago way of saying things too. Interesting mix but I've lived here all my life.

I can't say "naked" correctly either -- so now it's "nude".

 

[JR6ooo4]

Loi-er. I grew up in the suburbs north of Chicago if that makes a difference.

Heheheheee

me too
Mikeeee

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Loi-ya (but liar made me ). I grew up in NH.

I voted Loi-er but I'm from LonGuyLand, so for me it's more like Loi-ah.

I'm stuck between the two. I'm sitting here saying Lawyer over and over again. My family going to think I'm crazy.

 

[Mean Queen]

Law-yer. They are an attorney of law, not loi. Or at least that's what my dad, the attorney, told me my entire life.

ETA: Raised in FL. if that makes a difference.

 

[Cantw8]

E X P E N S I V E

 

[KristaTX]

When I saw this poll I truly expected it to be nearly 100% in favor of "law-yer". I guess I say "lah-yer". I live in Texas, and I have never ever heard anyone around here say "loi-er" . Am I the only one who finds that pronunciation odd-sounding ??

So it's like "loiter" without the "t"?? No "y" sound at all??

I learn something new on the DIS every day .

 

[lovemygoofy]

born and raised with in the south. Guess which one I choose

 

[darlak]

Law-yer. I'm from Alabama. I don't think I've ever heard it pronounced any other way.

Since I work with them all day, I often call them other, easier to pronounce, yet much less flattering names.

 

[PoohJen]

3 years of law school and meeting thousands of lawyers (loy - ers) in my life, I've never, ever heard it called law-yer by another lawyer.

anyway, that's such a dirty word. I prefer attorney, thank you very much.

 

[Beth76]

Loi-yer. Lived in STL my whole life.

 

[OK!]

I guess I say "loi-yer" if I'm speaking slowly and "loi-er" at normal speed. Of course, now I feel nuts for sitting here and saying it a dozen times out loud to myself at varying speeds to determine the difference.

 

[swilphil]

loi-er in KC. My husband is one, and I've never heard law-er. He did have a Russian client who called him counselor.

He also had a client who literally waved at him when he told the client he needed to waive his preliminary hearing. The guy said, "You mean...." and

 

[mirthmaiden]

I believe that if they are run-of-the-mill, it is pronounced "loy-er." If they are hot-shots who bill hundreds of dollars per hour, it is pronounced "uh-ter-nee."

yeah, and don't forget the "esquire"

 

[MidgeD79]

loi-yer - extreme se MI

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't know! I'm sitting here saying it to myself, but it sounds like it could be lawyer or it could be loi-er. Maybe it's a combination of the two.

I'll stick with attorney.

 

[RadioNate]

Loy-er

that is how my attorney friends say it too. The only time I have heard Law-yer is Matthew McConaughey in A Time to Kill and then I just assumed it was his accent, which is sorta a mis-mash of southern and Texan.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Loi-er / loi-yer. Born and raised in So. Cal., have lived in Colorado for 11 years, worked with lots of lawyers in both states, and have never heard anyone say law-yer.

I live in Texas, and I have never ever heard anyone around here say "loi-er" . Am I the only one who finds that pronunciation odd-sounding ??

So it's like "loiter" without the "t"?? No "y" sound at all??

To my ear, the y sound comes from the end of the "oi". Like how coin sounds like coy with an "n". I say "loi-er", loi-yer" and "loy-er" all the same way. I'm a little confused, too.

 

[Crankyshank]

I'm from New England. It's Loi-ah

 

[Golf4food]

Law-yer. They are an attorney of law, not loi. Or at least that's what my dad, the attorney, told me my entire life.

ETA: Raised in FL. if that makes a difference.

Ditto. On all counts, including state.

Nobody practices Loi. I've never seen a public service announcement that says, "Don't drink and drive. It's the loy." NO! It's the LAW. Hence, a Law-yer.