How do you pronounce "que" ?

[Mortlives]

You know what really drives me nuts for some reason? When people say "a couple or three". For instance, I would say "I'd like a couple of cookies" which could encompass anywhere from 2 to 5 cookies. People I work with (in TN) say "I'd like a couple or three cookies".

Why does this bother me? I have no idea!

It is a puzzle. The dictionary definition of "couple" is two. However, "a couple of " is apparently idiomatic for a few in some places. But if you're co-workers aren't familiar with that bit of slang, a couple or 3 would be correct. Me, I'd just say "I'd like 4 cookies".

 

[brbenoit]

I am an ON line person. The line has already been formed, there are people standing there forming the line, and I am joining them by getting ON line. My friend and I have actually argued this point.

And a non-related argument: my DH (and all his friends that we went to college with) claim that you go outside and "have a catch", whereas I merely say that you are going out to "play catch". How can you "have" a catch???

But once you join the line you are now in the line.

 

[js]

And to think, my mom use to be a "thread killer"

 

[disneyfanfamily]

My father in law says "a couple of 3 cookies". He means 6. That confused my for awhile. Why not say 6. It is shorter!

 

[Lorelai]

"Queue" is the word for a line and its pronounced like the letter Q.

"Oui" is the french work for "yes" and is pronounced like "we."

According to Webster's "que" is:
\Que\, n. [Cf. 3d Cue.] A half farthing.

Hope that helps settle things!
Leslie

I really don't give a half farthing whether it is "Q" or "Qui" just as long as the queue is less than a quarter farthing long. Nothing worse than a full farthing queue.

Unfortunately I have been calling it "Q - eh", as in the Canadian "eh", since 1993. By the way, I love to hear the Canadian "eh" (pronounced "A") when we take the kids to visit their Aunt & Uncle in Canada. But I guess I must drop the "eh" now - don't want to mislabel any farthings.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Ya-Know what bugs me more than a difference in opinion on what one should call their carbonated beverage? (which I believe "beer" is the universally agreed upon form) The use of "ya-know" in every other line, or worse, when it's paired up with "like".

This one seems to be a rather regional thing. Mostly I've heard it from people that are from the northern central US (Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas), and parts of Canada. Espicially noticed during hockey game intermission interviews ...

interviewer: What are your thoughts on that period?
player: well, ya know, we didn't really play all that well and ya know, we gave up a few bad goals, and didn't really uh, ya know uh, give our goaltender the support he needed, ya know, but we've got one more period left, and i think we'll be able to pull it together and ya know, uh, have a pretty good chance to win this one.

 

[brbenoit]

This one seems to be a rather regional thing. Mostly I've heard it from people that are from the northern central US (Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas), and parts of Canada. Espicially noticed during hockey game intermission interviews ...

interviewer: What are your thoughts on that period?
player: well, ya know, we didn't really play all that well and ya know, we gave up a few bad goals, and didn't really uh, ya know uh, give our goaltender the support he needed, ya know, but we've got one more period left, and i think we'll be able to pull it together and ya know, uh, have a pretty good chance to win this one.

The ya know is also very common here in Michigan. Being right by Canada we have fun asking Canadians to say out and about. The fun of hearing oot and aboot, eh.

 

[MassMom94]

As a variation on the "queue" theme, the principal at my son's school always spells it "cue." As in, "we are implementing a new policy for the drop-off and pick-up cue." I was on a committee with her and whenever she would send around memos, draft policy statements etc. I would write back a comment that involved correcting the spelling (without telling her it was wrong, of course), but she never got the hint!

 

[MassMom94]

I grew up in Michigan, where it was always pop. I've lived in two other states where it is always soda. Here in MA, some old-timers still refer to it as tonic, as in "I'd like an orange tonic," but I haven't heard that from anyone under 40. Most people, including my kids, call it soda.

 

[monetnj]

The faux thing reminds me that it took me awhile to realize that chic was pronounced sheek. As for UK/American English differences, I've always loved the way the British use the word brilliant the way we in the US use great. As in, "That movie was brilliant!" If you ever get a chance to see the show "Changing Rooms" on BBC America, you might hear brilliant a thousand times at the end when they reveal the rooms. In contrast, the US version of the show, Trading Spaces, will be filled with "Oh my god, I love it!"

I also like the way the Brits use holiday in place of vacation. Only 53 days until my next Disney holiday!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

My SIL pronounces chic, "chick" instead of "sheek". I've tried to correct her discreetly, but it doesn't work. She thinks I'm mispronouncing, maybe her friends pronounce it "chick" too. Maybe it goes back to chic jeans, in which chic was pronounced "chick".

 

[bgirldeb]

So, do you all drink soda or pop. I am a pop girl myself.

I was born in Cleveland OH, so my family up there calls it pop. I moved to FL where everyone calls it 'soda'. Now I live in the South and married a Southerner who used to call everything 'coke' or 'sweet tea' Now he differentiates between coke, sprite, dr. pepper, etc.. I'm trying to get my kids to call it 'pop' just to irritate the in-laws

 

[momrek06]

Here is one for you all....Moving from BOSTON, MA...

We moved to Toledo, Ohio (actually Sylvania) my DH was with Conrail.

My DS' were 1 & 4 yo, I pulled up to the drive-up bank teller. (Now remember, I have literally been in the area all of a week).

The teller says to me.."Thank you, have a nice day and ANY SUCKERS OUT THERE"....WTH ...who is she calling SUCKER...I am here, my two sons are here but NO, there are NO suckers here... ...

I asked her to repeat herself, she nods and holds up a pile of LOLLIPOPS...

Ohhh...so in Ohio they are called SUCKERS...

Not in BOSTON, nope NO suckers here...

 

[bgirldeb]

Ohhh...so in Ohio they are called SUCKERS...

That is true!!! I forgot about that! Another one to annoy the inlaws...

 

[mama4]

One of the Disney sayings that makes me smile to myself every time (I'm easily pleased at WDW) - is the announcement that the ride / bus will start 'momentarily'. In UK English this means 'for a little while' rather than 'in a little while'.

That must have been confusing for you at first. Why on earth are they announcing the ride will only run for a moment??

 

[mama4]

Here is one for you all....Moving from BOSTON, MA...

We moved to Toledo, Ohio (actually Sylvania) my DH was with Conrail.

My DS' were 1 & 4 yo, I pulled up to the drive-up bank teller. (Now remember, I have literally been in the area all of a week).

The teller says to me.."Thank you, have a nice day and ANY SUCKERS OUT THERE"....WTH ...who is she calling SUCKER...I am here, my two sons are here but NO, there are NO suckers here... ...

I asked her to repeat herself, she nods and holds up a pile of LOLLIPOPS...

Ohhh...so in Ohio they are called SUCKERS...

Not in BOSTON, nope NO suckers here...

I used to hear both when I was growing up. I remember trying to figure out which were suckers and which ones were lollipops. I remember deciding that the sphere shaped candy must be lollipops while the flat one was the sucker. That put my little mind to rest

 

[krismas29]

In the late 70's (I was 8) my family briefly moved from Boston to Lousiville, KY ... I never realized the regional dialect that I spoke until then!

I clearly remember my mom sending me to get her a "frappe" and the people at HoJo's in KY had NO IDEA what I was talking about. I also had no idea that most of the country calls a "frappe" a milkshake! In those days if you ordered a milkshake in Boston you got milk and flavored syrup, no ice cream. Needless to say, I left the place with nothing

I was also unaware that 'jimmys' on an ice cream cone were actually called sprinkles and that if I wanted a coke, I should not be ordering a 'tonic'.

Gotta love colloquialisms

 

[rayelias]

Well, where I'm from people usually say pop. "Can I get a pop? Sure, what kind do you want? I'd like a diet Pepsi. Coming right up!"

I've always pronounced queue as "Q".

I get confused about using the term "hospital". Where I'm from people say
"the hospital". For example somone would say, "My dad is in the hospital."

However, I've noticed that many people don't use the word "the" in front of hospital. They would say, "My dad is in hospital." That sounds so weird to me.

Not sure which is correct. What do you say?

I've heard the same thing with "Prom".

I've always said "Going to THE prom".

But, I hear a lot (especially on TV, so I'd presume that the left coast says it this way) "Going to prom," as if "prom" is a verb.

Drives me nuts.

 

[Robo]

But, I hear a lot (especially on TV, so I'd presume that the left coast says it this way) "Going to prom," as if "prom" is a verb.

That usage does not necessarily make "prom" a verb.

(As in, "I'm going to skate.")

It can easily be a noun similar in use to saying, "I'm going to school." or "I'm going to class."

 

[english rose 47]

And then of NORWICH is pronounced NORRIDGE as in porridge in England and HAPPIESBURG is pronounced Hays boro!! Yes why did America adopt English!!!and my all time favorite is Worcestershire it's pronounced Wustersheer !!!