Monday, August 22, 2005
Isn't the Word Herb Prounounced "Hurb"?
Well it depends on whether you are referring to Herb the person or herb the plant. It also depends on how old you are (at least in Toronto Canada).
If you are referring to Herb the person, then by all means prounounce it hurb. In fact you must. There is no other way to call out to Herb. If you mean a variety of plants that include rosemary, thyme, basil, peppermint, corriander, and parsley, to mention only a few, then you can prounounce it in one of two ways: hurb or urb. Both are perfectly acceptable.
I have done an independent (and very unscientific) survey and have found that at least in Toronto, Canada if you are over forty the chances of prounouncing it as urb are extremely good. If you under forty you will invariably prounounce it as hurb and screw up your nose if you hear urb. But now you will also know what generation the speaker is from!
If you are referring to Herb the person, then by all means prounounce it hurb. In fact you must. There is no other way to call out to Herb. If you mean a variety of plants that include rosemary, thyme, basil, peppermint, corriander, and parsley, to mention only a few, then you can prounounce it in one of two ways: hurb or urb. Both are perfectly acceptable.
I have done an independent (and very unscientific) survey and have found that at least in Toronto, Canada if you are over forty the chances of prounouncing it as urb are extremely good. If you under forty you will invariably prounounce it as hurb and screw up your nose if you hear urb. But now you will also know what generation the speaker is from!
# posted by Ninja @ 12:33 AM 
