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sadia · 12-09-2010, 12:36

How do you pronounce Leeward Islands ? I have always said "lee-wards", but some people in the marina are saying "lew-erds". Any ideas ?

markpierce · 12-09-2010, 12:42

My 1970 Webster's Dictionary says both pronunciations are correct. I'd expect one variation would be more common in certain areas than others.

Vasco · 12-09-2010, 12:46

Loowerds. Only landlubbers say Leewerds.

**GordMay** · 12-09-2010, 12:47

The traditional nautical pronunciation is “lew-erd”, however the literal pronunciation of “lee-werd” is probably more popular in the general (lubber) population.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasco

Loowerds. Only landlubbers say Leewerds.

Mimsy · 12-09-2010, 13:15

I say Lew-ard. My husband says Lee-ward. I am a Texan, he is a Brit and there in lies the difference.

He also has the strange penchant for putting u's into words unnecessarily.

paradix · 12-09-2010, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimsy

I say Lew-ard. My husband says Lee-ward. I am a Texan, he is a Brit and there in lies the difference.

He also has the strange penchant for putting u's into words unnecessarily.

There's nothing unnecessary about those u's. They simply add flavour and colour to the language with little extra labour. Or at least that's the rumour I heard from my neighbour. I realise you may not recognise the importance of that extra letter, but I'm sure if you analyse the dialogue between yourself and your husband, you'll realise that it will minimise friction if you honour your differences.

As to the OP, down here it's always loo-id.

TaoJones · 12-09-2010, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by paradix

There's nothing unnecessary about those u's. They simply add flavour and colour to the language with little extra labour. Or at least that's the rumour I heard from my neighbour. I realise you may not recognise the importance of that extra letter, but I'm sure if you analyse the dialogue between yourself and your husband, you'll realise that it will minimise friction if you honour your differences.

As to the OP, down here it's always loo-id.

I've run the post by paradix through the Cruisers Forum Australian English to American English translator, Mimsy, and this is what he was trying to impart to you:

"There's nothing unnecessary about those u's. They simply add flavor and color to the language with little extra labor. Or at least that's the rumor I heard from my neighbor. I realize you may not recognize the importance of that extra letter, but I'm sure if you analyze the dialogue between yourself and your husband, you'll realize that it will minimize friction if you honor your differences."

"As to the OP, down here we're always lewd."

TaoJones

DeepFrz · 12-09-2010, 15:05

Sorry Tao, you missed that Mimsy is Texan. It should be yor, not your.

But the flavour of the rest of that translation is rather colourless.

barnakiel · 12-09-2010, 15:38

loowerds

indeed water quality seems to have deteriorated in that area recently

b.

Stillraining · 12-09-2010, 15:57

So...Is it the lee shore or the Lew shore.?

This is no different then other English words, where one time one is use and another time a different one..sort of like present and past tence or as with Spanish and their messes up Feminine and Masculine baloney.

Some will say Helms a lee or lee sails other will say helm to leward and leward sails both are correct English...Personally I like "helms a lee" and leward sails..But if Im explaining to my crew I will sometimes say the lee side of the bot not the lewarw side and vice versa depending on how it works in the sentence....both role off the tongue easier for me in certian instances and I think that is about all it matters..which one rolls off your tongue easier.

barnakiel · 12-09-2010, 16:12

And the 'yacht' ???

Some say it with a darker 'thought' like pronunciation, others with a more open 'fast' like pronunciation. Are these two pronunciations socially or geographically justified?

b.

barnakiel · 12-09-2010, 16:18

BTW lew (like few) or loo (like poo)?

I would think the lew represents a diphthong while the loo represents a long vowel?

b.

Stillraining · 12-09-2010, 16:22

Im not even going to look that up....it sounds dirty...

**Pblais** · 12-09-2010, 16:27

Quote:

I am a Texan, he is a Brit and there in lies the difference.

It amazing you can talk to each other. Love may be blind but I don't think it's deaf (you can decide Def or Deef). Personally, I prefer "wind - word".