Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:48     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:In my accent (British) it has 4 syllables. I had no idea I was offending so many people!


I learned British English many years before I learned American English and I still struggle daily with American English.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:45     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
In my accent (British) it has 4 syllables. I had no idea I was offending so many people!
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:43     Subject: Re:“Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in Ohio, where you think you know how to pronounce the name of a city because you’ve seen it before in another country, but nope, it’s pronounced totally differently by locals.

Lima is LYE muh
Berlin is BUR lin
Russia is ROO she
Versailles is Ver SALES
Rio Grande is RYE oh grand
Cairo is CARE oh

I also attended a wedding in Bahama, NC, where it’s pronounced Buh HAY muh.

The correct pronunciation is however the locals say it.


+1. I have posted this before but there is also Fauquier County, VA (Faw-keer) and Lord Fauquier and the dorm at W&M both of which are pronounced the French way - Fo-kee-ay.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:43     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:Long ago Radford graduate here and I learned to pronounce Roanoke with 2 syllables:

ROE-noke

Also: Galax is GAY-lax

Hillsville = Hillsvull



My great grandmother was a Radford grad and was born in Roanoke.

She pronounced it “Row-uh-Noke, Vuh-Gin-yah”
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:43     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
If someone is adding a knee that means they don’t know English very well and should be looked down upon until they learn how to say it properly.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:41     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
I am from Richmond going back several generations, have several friends whose families belong to CCV, went to the “correct” Richmond privates, etc. and I can confidently say that none of these people say Virginia with 4 syllables. NoVa is a bit of an anomaly from the rest of VA because so many people here are from elsewhere. That is much less true in the rest of the state.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:39     Subject: Re:“Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
I’ve lived in Ohio, where you think you know how to pronounce the name of a city because you’ve seen it before in another country, but nope, it’s pronounced totally differently by locals.

Lima is LYE muh
Berlin is BUR lin
Russia is ROO she
Versailles is Ver SALES
Rio Grande is RYE oh grand
Cairo is CARE oh

I also attended a wedding in Bahama, NC, where it’s pronounced Buh HAY muh.

The correct pronunciation is however the locals say it.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:38     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Long ago Radford graduate here and I learned to pronounce Roanoke with 2 syllables:

ROE-noke

Also: Galax is GAY-lax

Hillsville = Hillsvull

Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:34     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:DH and I are lifetime Fairfax County residents:
Vur-GIN-yah.

I can’t make myself say Virginia with 4 syllables and OP, I think you’re making things up!


Delegate Louise Lucas uses the 4 syllable version. She doesn’t strike me as being from a wealthy family, but rather a sort of striver who wants to set herself apart.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:33     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can we talk about Norfolk? 😂


My best friend and college roommate is from there! Nah-f*ck.

I am from there too and no, you don't say that. It's just nor-f*ck.


Some do. Many of the older southerners from there do not pronounce the R.


I just quickly say, “Nahr/fick”
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:31     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
DH and I are lifetime Fairfax County residents:
Vur-GIN-yah.

I can’t make myself say Virginia with 4 syllables and OP, I think you’re making things up!
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:27     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m new to the area, and I’ve noticed a couple distinct pronunciations of “Virginia”.

I’ve noticed well-educated foreign-born people, with whom I tend to identify with more, tend to use the four-syllable pronunciation, whereas native born Americans tend to use the lazier (IMO) three-syllable pronunciation. I’ve noticed the prevalence of use of the three-syllable pronunciation isn’t really bound by SES lines, with people who I’d otherwise associate with being upper-class still using the three-syllable pronunciation.

Which is correct? As native-born Americans, which do you use? If you use the three-syllable pronunciation, why? Does it concern you or make you feel self-conscious that better-educated people might perceive you as a rube? Why does America tolerate such colloquialisms in language?


Idiotic thread and question.

Do you think it makes someone from Louisville feel self-conscious that some immigrant with a degree might say "Lou-ee-ville" rather than "Lou-a-ville"?



It’s pronounced “Low-Uh-Vul”


I would say: Lou uh vul, not Low uh vul.


The “Low” part is what makes it the native version. It’s how they recognize each other when first meeting.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:27     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can we talk about Norfolk? 😂


My best friend and college roommate is from there! Nah-f*ck.

I am from there too and no, you don't say that. It's just nor-f*ck.


Some do. Many of the older southerners from there do not pronounce the R.


Me again. Here ya go.

https://www.tiktok.com/@sabel.mp3/video/7332321258522070314
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:26     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:What about Virginnny? You're leaving out an important alternate pronunciation.


“Carry me Back to Ole Virginny” written by African American musician and minstrel performer, James A. Bland. Virginia state song from 1940-1997!




Anonymous
Post 02/03/2025 11:24     Subject: “Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can we talk about Norfolk? 😂


My best friend and college roommate is from there! Nah-f*ck.

I am from there too and no, you don't say that. It's just nor-f*ck.


Some do. Many of the older southerners from there do not pronounce the R.