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Pedants' corner

Eeee-ther or eye-ther? Neee-ther or neye-ther???

10 replies

headfairy · 11/09/2012 22:36

What is the correct pronunciation of either and neither?

OP posts:
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Virgil · 11/09/2012 22:38

I believe it is eye ther and nye ther. Or at least DH always corrects me when I say ee ther.

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Goofus · 12/09/2012 12:37

I use both but I think eye-ther and nye-ther sound more 'correct'.

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redexpat · 25/09/2012 19:07

Let's call the whole thing off!

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ScatterChasse · 26/09/2012 15:49

I thought that redexpat Grin

I think nye-ther and eye-ther are the 'original' English pronunciations, and neether/eether are the more common American ones.

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stifnstav · 30/09/2012 16:21

This drives me mad.

DH sings that the Grand Old Duke of York's men were neee-ther up nor down. I say that they were nye-ther up nor down.

I am correct. I can feel it in my waters.

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sausagesandwich34 · 30/09/2012 16:23

I use both depending on the other words in the sentence

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nulgirl · 30/09/2012 16:24

Have just said them out loud and realise I say ee-ther and nye-ther. Going for the mix and match approach.

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Maat · 30/09/2012 16:24

eye & nye.

Aye.

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VintageRainBoots · 06/11/2012 05:57

In the US, you hear both pronunciations. I tend to say eether and neether, though.

(Yup, I'm 'Murican).

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MirandaGoshawk · 06/11/2012 17:47

Like ENvelope or ONvelope (pronunciation, not spelling!) and garridge, garrAHge etc., I believe that these are .... er, don't know. Just use either. (Eether) or Eyether. It's down to preference or what you've grown up with, although I don't know which is actually Correct, in a loo/toilet Mitford kind of way. Does it matter?

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