How do you pronounce the word CHAI?

[MouseClubMom]

Ah this seems to be the source of so much debate at the various Starbucks I tend to visit (Nashville says the "ch" like a "k" as in kite but the one in Atlanta says "ch" like cheese). Which one is correct? The Atlanta girls were quite huffy about it the other day!

Speaking of Chai... I am SOOO craving a Chai Tea Latte right now... sigh...

Thanks!

 

[Planogirl]

Everyone in this area (and believe me, I've ordered this at all of the local Starbucks ) pronounces it with the "ch" sound. I've never heard it the other way you mentioned.

I would love to have one right now too.

 

[Sandy22]

In my area it's pronounced with "ch" like cheese. Like: "ch" "eye"

 

[sha_lyn]

like the others said, Ch- as in cheese
the ai makes the long I sound

 

[lulubelle]

Same here in Southern CA...we say it "Ch(like chair)-eye(like how we see ). They are popular drinks!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Chi- as in China. Never heard it the other way before!

On a related note, how the heck do you pronounce beignets? I always want to try some when I'm at Port Orleans, but have no idea how to pronounce it!

 

[Caropooh]

I'm from Seattle and I always hear it pronounced ch-eye. Like chime with out the "mm" sound

 

[Caropooh]

Chi- as in China. Never heard it the other way before!

On a related note, how the heck do you pronounce beignets? I always want to try some when I'm at Port Orleans, but have no idea how to pronounce it!

I'm guessing you pronounce it big-neigh. Like the sound a large horse would make!

 

[Pixie_Dust]

On a related note, how the heck do you pronounce beignets? I always want to try some when I'm at Port Orleans, but have no idea how to pronounce it!

ben-YAYS (or kind of a cross between "ben"- and "bin"-yays, accent on the second syllable), although I'm sure the CMs at Port Orleans wouldn't mind however you said it

 

[Christine]

I also say "Ch" "eye".

Beignets are "ben-yays". Silent "g".

 

[mickeyboat]

ch - like cheese.

Chai tea lattes are my weakness!

Denae

 

[browneyes]

I pronounce it like cha-cha-cha. I've never had Chai.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Chi- as in China. Never heard it the other way before!

On a related note, how the heck do you pronounce beignets? I always want to try some when I'm at Port Orleans, but have no idea how to pronounce it!

Ben-YAYS.

HTH

Edited: b/c it's french y'all

My mom in her best southern non-french will jokingly call them Big-nets.

 

[mckryan]

My mom in her best southern non-french will jokingly call them Big-nets.

OMG - I almost spewed my tea on that one! It sounds like something my sister and I would do, in NO, for giggles.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

OMG - I almost spewed my tea on that one! It sounds like something my sister and I would do, in NO, for giggles.

Yep---when we lived in New Orleans we had:

Big Nets, Missisloppy River, & Red Stick (no hints on that!).

And of course Mardi Grass.

 

[mckryan]

Red Stick (no hints on that!).

Oh crap - now I'll be thinking about this one all day at work!! Will you promise to tell me if I can't figure it out by the time I get home??!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh crap - now I'll be thinking about this one all day at work!! Will you promise to tell me if I can't figure it out by the time I get home??!!

 

[DMickey28]

Chai Tea Latte with a shot of vanilla! Yumm... it's the only thing I have figured out how to order in Starbucks!

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I believe that the correct pronunciation is the "ch" like in China! I love chai, I get it all of the time!

 

[mickeyboat]

O.k. I couldn't resist. I am drinking a non-fat chai tea latte right now.

Denae