Monday 19 February 2018

Pika or Pika. You say to-mate-o: I say to-maht-o

I used to pronounce pika, peeka, but then began to wonder since half the world seemed to be saying pike-a.

 I read that the word was first used in 1827 and comes from Tunguse, a Siberian language, piika, pronounced peeka, or peaker, if you really like. The Canadians claim the correct pronunciation, with pike-a being very much American, as in United States of.

 So, it is definitely peeka from now on.
Plateau Pika and the extensive burrows on the Tibetan Plateau
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5 comments:

  1. Sophia29 August 2021 at 13:58

    Helpful, thanks! Will continue pronouncing it in the objectively correct Canadian way.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous22 August 2022 at 05:15

    also it makes a “peek” noise so “pee-kah” makes more sense.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous18 June 2023 at 21:05

    Only certain Americans pronounce it wrongly. In Washington State, for example, I know for a fact they say "pee-ka."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7 August 2023 at 02:35

      I am from WA and I always said pike-uh (until just now when I learned this after having a dispute with a friend), although I may have learned the incorrect pronunciation in Colorado.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous16 March 2024 at 11:44

    Why do British people pronounce it as “pie-kuh”

    ReplyDelete

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