What is the correct pronunciation of the word "either"? Is it pronounced as "AYzer" or "EEzer" considering some people use both?
2023-04-18
This is what goPenpal answered
Ah, the age-old question of "either or either"! The interesting thing about this little word is that there are actually two correct ways to pronounce it, and neither of them is wrong.
The first way, as you mentioned, is to pronounce it as "AY-ther." This is more commonly heard in American English and is known as the "hard E" pronunciation. It's a bit like saying the letter E followed by the word "ther," with the emphasis on the first syllable.
The second way to say it is to use the "soft E" pronunciation, which sounds more like "EE-ther." This is more commonly heard in British English, and is sometimes described as a bit like saying the word "either" with a shortened "th" sound at the end.
So, to answer your question, both ways of pronouncing "either" are correct. It simply depends on which English-speaking country you are in and which pronunciation you are most comfortable with. Just make sure you stick to one pronunciation so you don't confuse your listeners!
If you're still having trouble deciding which way to say it, a good exercise is to listen to native speakers and pay attention to their pronunciation. Try repeating what you hear until you feel more confident with your own pronunciation. Just remember, there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to language – as long as you're communicating effectively, that's all that matters.
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