No one can tell you how to pronounce a word.
This resource tells you how to mispronounce it.
Nevada — not Nev-AH-dah
Rule of thumb: When considering a “language of origin” pronunciation, recall how you pronounce the capitals of France, Germany, and Italy in normal conversation. Do you say Pah-REE? Bare-LEEN? R-r-r-ROAM-mah?
So don’t be an ass (ahss) about Nevada.
And for heaven’s sake don’t say Nev-AH-dah in the same sentence with AIR-uh-ZONE-uh. Duh.
Tourist — not TORE-ist
It does not rhyme with “florist.” Consult the pronunciation of “tour” — which you know perfectly well from “three-hour tour” in the Gilligan’s Island song.
Entrepreneur— not ON-tra-pren-NEWER
Rhymes with “burr,” not with horse droppings. Show the business builder a little respect.
Mail — not MELL
No one mispronounces “snail mail.” And yet:
- shoot me an emell
- with juicy detells
- about the yard sell
Auntie — could go either way
Aunt and jaunt ought to rhyme. For many Americans they do rhyme. Yet “ant” has been the majority US pronunciation since the 1920s at least.
Probably the “ants” came marching in during westward settlement in the 1800s. In the early 2000s, media may be boosting a shift toward the jaunty auntie.
Best advice: When in Rome . . .
Karl Stull - Creative 