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Erbs!

(61 Posts)
MissAdventure Thu 06-Sept-18 19:48:09

Do you grow any 'erbs?
When did the pronunciation change?
Did it, in fact, change, or has it always been erb, and I just didn't know?

Jalima1108 Thu 06-Sept-18 19:50:08

I don't know
ps is it 'erbes?

I have a friend who pronounces it like that. She was a French Teacher.

Sorry, a teacher of the French Language.

MissAdventure Thu 06-Sept-18 19:53:03

It may well be 'erbes'.
It was always a herb, for me.

Jalima1108 Thu 06-Sept-18 19:54:38

Just say 'parsley and thyme'

Bellanonna Thu 06-Sept-18 19:54:59

“Erbes” de Provence. Otherwise herbs.

ffinnochio Thu 06-Sept-18 19:56:22

I know the dastardly Americans pronounce herbs like that.

Just getting the possible complaints of Americans mangling the precious English language out of the way.....?

ChaosIncorporated Thu 06-Sept-18 19:58:51

The American side of the family all say 'erb
Is it becoming a trend here. I do 'ope not.

Jalima1108 Thu 06-Sept-18 20:04:30

Hi'm Hafraid Hit His Chaos

ffinnochio Thu 06-Sept-18 20:05:11

grin

MissAdventure Thu 06-Sept-18 20:22:00

So, who here does say 'erb?
Should I begin saying it?
I've seen some tv chefs say it, when I would never have thought them the 'erby' type.

SueDonim Thu 06-Sept-18 20:26:44

I'm always astonished when Americans speak of Erbal Essence hair products. grin

Across the Big Pond, they've retained the French pronunciation, while Brits decided they'd pronounce all the letters.

Wheniwasyourage Thu 06-Sept-18 22:32:46

Why do so many people think they have to copy the Americans? They don't copy us! Erbs indeed!! confused angry

Jalima1108 Thu 06-Sept-18 22:40:49

Isn't it pronounced airb?

lemongrove Thu 06-Sept-18 22:42:26

only if one is French Jalima grin

lemongrove Thu 06-Sept-18 22:43:40

we need a campaign to preserve our precious Herbs......so much crowd funding going on, whaddya think?

varian Thu 06-Sept-18 22:47:34

If you watch an American cookery programme you'll see they often use erbs. Some are just about recognisable although they get the pronounciation wrong - like bayzil. Others have totally different names- like cilantro.

It doesn't annoy me quite as much as the astonishing amount of sugar they put in so many things.

M0nica Thu 06-Sept-18 22:48:14

Gosh, didn't know there was an alternative pronunciation to 'herbs', other than in other languages.

MissAdventure Thu 06-Sept-18 22:50:07

I have spent most of my life making sure I never drop an aitch, which is no mean feat, considering where I live.
I can't go back on it now and say 'ere, pass me the erbs'!

Jalima1108 Thu 06-Sept-18 23:02:41

If pronouncing it 'herbs' is good enough for Michael Bond then I think it will be good enough for me:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0smlX2l9Fk

JackyB Fri 07-Sept-18 06:58:54

And how do you pronounce Herb Alpert?

grumppa Fri 07-Sept-18 07:32:18

With equal stress on both syllables, the second as in air, and the t silent.

ginny Fri 07-Sept-18 07:34:43

Herb .

sodapop Fri 07-Sept-18 08:40:46

Let's not forget oregano varian !

Nandalot Fri 07-Sept-18 09:33:53

It’s tumeric that annoys me. It has an ‘r’ in it so tuRmeric. But I have googled it and apparently both are correct. How do you say it?

grumppa Fri 07-Sept-18 10:06:12

I think the problem is that the h on herb has migrated to the beginning of aitch. Perhaps it will move on to atishoo.

Should Airbnb be pronounced Airb and b?