The second o is usually glossed over and pronunciation minimized in the transition from the emphasized first syllable ending in the hard c sound to the de emphasized last syllable, starting with the softer L sound. This is assuming that someone is speaking naturally.

I would have a hard time deciphering whether someone was pronouncing 3 syllables or 2 unless they overemphasize the o (3 syllables) or pronounce the hard c at the start of the second syllable (bra-klee- 2 syllables). Pronouncing the hard c at the end of the first syllable gives a bit of a “trip” into the last syllable that gives 3 syllable energy even if the o is “silent.”

The more you eat it, the faster you say it. Brock-lee.

Anonymous wrote:this thread is astonishing. i have never heard of anyone calling it 'brock-lee' except dh's very new jersey dad.

Where are you from?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for 2-syllable people. What others words do you know of that have a silent "o" in the middle of a word?

Melancholy

Wednesday is similar.

And some people pronounce nucular as nuclear.

Wednesday is NOT similar. Nobody in the world pronounces Wednesday with 3 syllables.

I think you got your nucular and nuclear around the wrong way. The actual word is nuclear. Some Americans pronounce it as nucular. How did that happen?

Cuz we’re gonna “nuke ya Larla”

Anonymous wrote:Brock-a-lee
DC born and raised

Same same.

Ask Dana:

in Georgia -- I say "brock - lee"

"Some kind of bush"---a 90+ year old gentleman after a stretch in a nursing home describing the food they served there and one vegetable he was not familiar with. He's a rural bachelor used to cooking a piece of meat, a potato, and opening up a can of green beans, peas, or corn.

this thread is astonishing. i have never heard of anyone calling it 'brock-lee' except dh's very new jersey dad.

I've pronounced it with two and three syllables at times. -DC born and raised.

Anonymous wrote:Do you 3 syllables people say it the same way when you order beef and broccoli?

I read it as 3 syllables, but say if with 2 when ordering.

No. New Englanders are too classy to order "beef and broccoli". We're too busy with our relish trays and martinis.

Anonymous wrote:3 syllables for broccoli. PNW.

I had someone argue with me about my pronunciation of mule. I use 2 syllables and she uses one. I can't even say "mule" with only one syllable!

The same person says "strypt" for striped. I say it with 2 syllables. She's from Baltimore, if that explains anything.

Same. From Seattle. I say

Broc -uh -lee

3 - Michigan

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dana Carvey doing GWH Bush about “the broc-lee,” “not gonna do it, wouldn’t be prudent” if my memory serves me.

Dana Carvey also does "Chopping Broccoli," which seems relevant here.

Highly relevant. I’m from Minnesota and say brah-co-lee, not because that’s the regional way of saying it, but because of Dana Carvey.

Three: "No, thank you."