AndyJoy Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I say sherbet. I know many people who say sherbert. When I was a has-to-prove-she's-right, perfectionistic, type-A 10-year-old I lugged a very large dictionary to church one Sunday to prove it to a classmate:lol:! Sherbert was not in my dictionary in 1991. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in FL Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 OK - Maybe this will answer the question: From Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage 1994 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 No second 'r'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 OK - Maybe this will answer the question: From Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage 1994 Cool link, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggie Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 Do I call sherbet "sherbert"? Absolutely not.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted July 22, 2011 Author Share Posted July 22, 2011 OK - Maybe this will answer the question: From Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage 1994 Interesting blurb and quite diplomatic I might add - very non-commital. The etymology of the word suggests that sherbet is the correct spelling and pronunciation, but the acceptance of sherbert as early as the 17th century explains the confusion. I'd like a definitive answer - it would help me sleep better - but I suppose I will be satisfied knowing that, even though the vast majority of English speakers (including myself) pronounce it with an extra r (not in the original Turkish), we come by it honestly. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fhjmom Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I have always pronounced it (and heard) "sherbert" with the second "r". More importantly though, I had to say :tongue_smilie:because halfway through this thread I had to get up and make myself a dish of cherry-limeade sherbet; and I don't even eat sherbet usually. Gramps brings it as a treat for the kids! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I grew up always pronouncing it sherbert. Then I married dh, who insists on the sherbet pronunciation. So now I say sherbet to make him happy :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I noticed the missing R as a kid; I thought it was just one of those words...probably French in origin, because you know...you never can tell w/ the French. So here's a link to dictionary pronunciations: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sherbet. The American one is sherbIT. (I've never heard anyone say that!) But listen to the British one, too. There's the hint of the missing R in that one. So I bet that particular pronunciation is quite, quite old. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 Had an argument with my dad when I was a kid. We all made fun of him for saying "sherbet." He finally pointed out there was no "r"! We did not change! However, these days, I've tried to say it the right way. Trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I usually pronounce it without the 2nd R. It feels un-natural, though, because we did say the 2nd R when I was a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 Yes, I say Sherbert. And now all I want is a big bowl of orange sherbeRt:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I say sherbet but grew up saying sherbert. I was an adult before I found out there was no second R. I guess I either never looked at the containers, or my eyes saw the second R because I thought it was there. Whenever we had sherbeRt as kids, my mom would always say "Shoot the sherbert to me Herbert." It was as if she couldn't serve it without saying that. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted July 22, 2011 Author Share Posted July 22, 2011 I say sherbet but grew up saying sherbert. I was an adult before I found out there was no second R. I guess I either never looked at the containers, or my eyes saw the second R because I thought it was there. Whenever we had sherbeRt as kids, my mom would always say "Shoot the sherbert to me Herbert." It was as if she couldn't serve it without saying that. :D Love the sax and trombone solos - your mom sounds fun.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 Yup. Normally I'm a stickler for correct pronunciation, grammar, that sort of thing (as I suppose most of us WTMers are ;)), but I've always pronounced it "sherbert", and never heard anyone pronounce it any other way. Interesting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hwin Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I just don't eat it so I can avoid making that decision. It kills me to mispronounce it but saying sherBET is just going to draw attention. Oh and I noticed our local ice cream shop spells it "sherbert" now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I was in early elementary school, maybe second grade, and the teacher gave us a long lesson on pronouncing "library", "nuclear", "government" and "sherbet". So, no, I do not mispronounce them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 Others we argued about as kids: mascarpone (another phantom r) and giblets (hard g or soft). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I pronounce it without the 2nd "r", but I have NEVER met anyone else who does. It doesn't bother me either way. But don't get me started on the mispronunciations that DO bother me... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I usually pronounce it without the 2nd R. It feels un-natural, though, because we did say the 2nd R when I was a kid. Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 No "r" sound here, although I used to pronounce it that way. I really looked at the spelling one day and realized I was saying it incorrectly, so I changed. The "r" pronunciation doesn't bother me, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepymommy Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I say Sherbert. I was just in the grocery store this morning and noticed the in the ice cream aisle the have a sign in the sherbet location that says "Sherbert". I never really paid much attention to it until I read this thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 I was in early elementary school, maybe second grade, and the teacher gave us a long lesson on pronouncing "library", "nuclear", "government" and "sherbet". So, no, I do not mispronounce them. Did she include "jewelry" in that lesson? Does anyone else cringe when they hear people say JEW-lery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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