Do you pronounce caramel as car-mel or cara-mel
Discuss how why the other pronunciations are wrong
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CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
Karamel but I'd say Carmel in English. You SW people taught me that and now I can't forget it, lol.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@CrazyMusicLover I guess the US is not as monolithic as you assume, i say it as 3 syllables.
I just did a google:
Pronunciation
American pronunciation
Sounds like
keh
·
ruh
·
muhl
slow
This isn't exactly a question of etymology, you might want to try the Q&A thread at r/linguistics. Although, it most likely has nothing to do with Starbucks, even less its Italian origins, since the disyllabic pronunciation has existed quite a long time already.
E: found this map where you can see that in the US the trisyllabic pronunciation prevails near the east coast and in the south, whereas the disyllabic one prevails elsewhere.
AI Overview
Yes, the second "a" in "caramel" is often silent in North American English, leading to a two-syllable pronunciation (kar-muhl) in many regions, though a three-syllable version (kar-uh-muhl) with the middle "a" present is also common and sometimes preferred, especially on the East Coast or in British English. Both pronunciations are considered acceptable in American English, and the choice often depends on regional habits or personal preference.
Regional Variations and Acceptable Pronunciations
Two Syllables (kar-muhl): This is a common pronunciation in many parts of North America, where the middle "a" sound is dropped.
Three Syllables (kar-uh-muhl): This version, which includes the second "a" sound, is also accepted and may be more common in certain regions, such as the East Coast of the United States.
British English: British English often retains the middle "a" sound, though it can be subtle.
Factors Influencing Pronunciation
Geographic Location: Where you learned to pronounce the word can influence your usage.
Informal vs. Formal Speech: The two-syllable version may be more common in rapid, everyday speech, while the three-syllable version is sometimes considered more formal.
Word Origins: The word caramel has been in English since the 18th century and came from French and Spanish.
I just did a google:
Pronunciation
American pronunciation
Sounds like
keh
·
ruh
·
muhl
slow
This isn't exactly a question of etymology, you might want to try the Q&A thread at r/linguistics. Although, it most likely has nothing to do with Starbucks, even less its Italian origins, since the disyllabic pronunciation has existed quite a long time already.
E: found this map where you can see that in the US the trisyllabic pronunciation prevails near the east coast and in the south, whereas the disyllabic one prevails elsewhere.
AI Overview
Yes, the second "a" in "caramel" is often silent in North American English, leading to a two-syllable pronunciation (kar-muhl) in many regions, though a three-syllable version (kar-uh-muhl) with the middle "a" present is also common and sometimes preferred, especially on the East Coast or in British English. Both pronunciations are considered acceptable in American English, and the choice often depends on regional habits or personal preference.
Regional Variations and Acceptable Pronunciations
Two Syllables (kar-muhl): This is a common pronunciation in many parts of North America, where the middle "a" sound is dropped.
Three Syllables (kar-uh-muhl): This version, which includes the second "a" sound, is also accepted and may be more common in certain regions, such as the East Coast of the United States.
British English: British English often retains the middle "a" sound, though it can be subtle.
Factors Influencing Pronunciation
Geographic Location: Where you learned to pronounce the word can influence your usage.
Informal vs. Formal Speech: The two-syllable version may be more common in rapid, everyday speech, while the three-syllable version is sometimes considered more formal.
Word Origins: The word caramel has been in English since the 18th century and came from French and Spanish.