Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[shiloh]

phoenix....why does "oe" pronounce as a long "i" instead of "oy" or a short "o"? What else words pronounce like this word?

[iitimone7]

shiloh - there are hundreds (or more) of words that are pronounced different from how the word is spelled. all of the english words that we use come from many, many countries, which gives each word a different pronunciation from what we expect. pick a page in a dictionary and read every word - i'm sure that you will find at least one. don't be discouraged.

here are a few examples...

subpoena = su-PEE-na (not sub-pee-na)

theory = THEE-ree (not thee-o-ree)

believe = bee-LEEV (not bee-lyv)

school = SKOOL

cherry = ZTAR-ee (not ZHARE-ree)

iitimone7

[redset]

It's a really old word that came from Latin and Greek, so it has an unusual spelling/pronunciation. There are a few other similar words, but not too many - the only one I can think of right now is amoeba. I think it will usually appear in scientific words.

Just remember when you see 'phoenix' that you have to pronounce it with a long i, and you'll be fine! To be honest I think most English-speaking people have enough trouble spelling it

[CP]

It's pronounced as though spelled feenix.

Phoebe (fee-bee), oenologist (eenologist), Oedipus (eedipuss). At one time, fetus was spelled foetus (fee-tuss).

I am told that the diphthong oe was pronounced oy in ancient Greek and Latin, but that could be wrong. We just pronounce it ee because it sounds better, I believe.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[redset]

[shiloh]

wow.............I didn't expect that someone would reply so soon and so clear. Thanks a lot!! But I have a question. Does "oe" always pronounce as "EE"? Does it pronounce as different sound? If yes,pls give some example. Thanks.

Another question, theory = THEE-ree (not thee-o-ree)
All dictionary that I could search mark theory as thee-o-ree not THEE-ree . which one is correct?

[redset]

Well 'oe' can be pronounce a lot of different ways... in shoe it's a long 'u', in roe it's a long 'o', in the name Coen it's long 'o'-short 'e'... I think the long 'e' pronunciation is fairly unusual, usually in Latin words.

Theory is pronounced 'thee-o-ree', but the 'o' syllable is usually pronounced weak so you can barely hear it, and it sounds more like 'thee-ree'. It depends on the accent of the person saying it, and if they're emphasising the word.

[shiloh]

Thank you so much for your detailed reply.

[Bob S.]