The first (ANT) is by far the predominant American pronunciation. The second (AHNT) is common in the Northeast, some Southern dialects, and among African Americans. British speakers today also prefer the second pronunciation (AHNT), according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Why are there two pronunciations of aunt?
Aunt is another one that’s pronounced differently depending on where you’re from: If you say it “ahnt” you’re probably from Britain or one of just a couple parts of the U.S. (notably the Boston area). In fact, the “ant” pronunciation is the older one, but it shifted to “ahnt” in England after the colonies were settled.
What is the pronunciation of aunts?
how to pronounce aunt. The usual vowel of aunt in the United States is the [a] of rant except in New England and eastern Virginia, where it is commonly the “New England broad a, ” a vowel similar to French [a] and having a quality between the [a] of hat and the [ah] of car. The vowel [ah] itself is also used.
What percent of people pronounce aunt as ant?
This US dialect splatter chart shows that just over 75% of Americans pronounce aunt and ant (the bug) the same.
Are aunt and ant pronounced the same?
Ant and aunt are two words that are often pronounced in the same way, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are homophones.
Do the British say aunt or Auntie?
Auntie is more commonly used in American English, but it has the same meaning as the word aunty, which is more commonly used in British English. According to merriam-webster.com, the word auntie was first used in English in 1672, while the word aunty can be found in English literature in the 18th century.
How do you pronounce aunt in UK?
Below is the UK transcription for ‘aunt’: Modern IPA: ɑ́ːnt. Traditional IPA: ɑːnt. 1 syllable: “AANT”
What do the Irish call their aunts?
Aintin and Uncail, Nia and Neacht
Aintin is the word for “aunt” and uncail for “uncle” but in the Irish kinship system aunt and uncle have a wider definition; in common kinship an aunt or uncle is the sister or brother of either the mother or the father.
What is aunt called in America?
Known alternate terms include auntie or aunty. Children in other cultures and families may refer to the cousins of their parents as aunt or uncle due to the age and generation gap. The word comes from Latin: amita via Old French ante and is a family relationship within an extended or immediate family.
How do Aussies spell Auntie?
Aussies tend to use ‘aunty‘ more, whilst the Brits use ‘auntie’. Both use aunty or auntie to refer to our Broadcasting Corporations, the ABC and the BBC.
How do you say aunt in Australia?
Traditional IPA: ɑːnt. 1 syllable: “AANT”
How do Southerners pronounce aunt?
Originally Answered: In what regions is “aunt” pronounced “ant” vs. “awnt”? In the South it is “ant”, except people from Virgina say “ahnt”.
How do Boston people pronounce aunt?
For example, the words aunt and bath are pronounced “ahnt” and “bahth” in Boston. In Boston English, ah is pronounced more like “aw,” though.
What do Scottish people call their aunts?
Family words in Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | |
|---|---|
| brother | bràthair |
| sister | piuthar / siùir |
| uncle | bràthair-athar (father’s brother) bràthair-màthar (mother’s brother) |
| aunt | athaireag / bràithreag (pat) piuthar-athar (father’s sister) màithrean (mat) piuthar-màthar (mother’s sister) |
Who do you call auntie in Hawaii?
Uncle
In Hawaii, “Aunty” and “Unko” (Uncle in Standard English) are used as a sign of respect towards elders. While it is common practice, there are times when these terms of endearment can be used in woefully wrong ways.
What is a fun aunt called?
Fun Aunt Names
- Sassy.
- Tinkerbell.
- Kit-Kat.
- Tannie.
- Theida.
- Fant.
- Funfetti.
- Gummy bear.
What is the male version of aunt?
Aunt and uncle
The word uncle is the male equivalent, referring to the brother of one’s parent or the male partner of a parent’s sibling (your dad’s sister’s husband, for example). It ultimately comes from the Latin avunculus, meaning “mother’s brother.”
What does Auntie mean in the UK?
aunt
What does Auntie mean in England?
British English: auntie /ˈɑːntɪ/ NOUN. Someone’s auntie is the sister of their mother or father, or the wife of their uncle. His uncle is dead, but his auntie still lives here.
Is Tia the word for aunt?
Your aunt is the sister of your mother or father, or the wife of your uncle or aunt.
How do you spell auntie in Canada?
The main difference between the words Aunty and Auntie are two, the first one is that Aunty is more frequently used in British English while Auntie is more frequently used in American English. The another is that Aunty is mostly used in a more formal tone while Auntie is considered a less formal word.