OK, I had to fact-check Cynthia on this one — it seems that some dictionaries (e.g., Mirriam-Webster) do include that as an alternative pronunciation for “library,” while others do not. Random House doesn’t include “liberry” as one of the formally correct pronunciations, but their appended “pronunciation note” taught me something new (the concept of “dissimilation”):
Pronunciation Note:Library, with one r -sound following close upon another, is particularly vulnerable to the process of dissimilation—the tendency for neighboring like sounds to become unlike, or for one of them to disappear altogether. The pronunciation [LAHY-brer-ee] therefore, while still the most common, is frequently reduced by educated speakers, both in the U.S. and in England, to the dissimilated [LAHY-buh-ree] or [LAHY-bree] . A third dissimilated form [LAHY-ber-ee] is more likely to be heard from less educated or very young speakers, and is often criticized. (See also colonel, February, governor.)
sbchamp over 9 years ago
The ‘T’ is silentLike the ‘P’ in swimmingGrammarly approves
yousir over 9 years ago
Pronouced? Alert the Pricipal.
calliopejane over 9 years ago
OK, I had to fact-check Cynthia on this one — it seems that some dictionaries (e.g., Mirriam-Webster) do include that as an alternative pronunciation for “library,” while others do not. Random House doesn’t include “liberry” as one of the formally correct pronunciations, but their appended “pronunciation note” taught me something new (the concept of “dissimilation”):
Pronunciation Note: Library, with one r -sound following close upon another, is particularly vulnerable to the process of dissimilation—the tendency for neighboring like sounds to become unlike, or for one of them to disappear altogether. The pronunciation [LAHY-brer-ee] therefore, while still the most common, is frequently reduced by educated speakers, both in the U.S. and in England, to the dissimilated [LAHY-buh-ree] or [LAHY-bree] . A third dissimilated form [LAHY-ber-ee] is more likely to be heard from less educated or very young speakers, and is often criticized. (See also colonel, February, governor.)
Stephen Gilberg over 9 years ago
I’ve always pronounced the T and didn’t even notice the alternative until it was pointed out to me last month.
neverenoughgold over 9 years ago
From this day forward I will pronounce the “t” in soften!.Jus to be diffrent…
Erichalfbee over 9 years ago
Librey is also in common use as a shortened pronunciation in the UK.
Jason Scarborough over 9 years ago
I have never heard of pronouncing often as offen, is this some kind of upper class thing?
wordsmeet over 2 years ago
From now, I’ll pronounce the l in “almond” and “salmon.”