How did I not know this?

Hammer89 · 27-05-2021 06:51PM #1

I've been reading up a lot about parsley in recent days because I'm as bloated as bodies that get fished out of rivers and I need to lose water weight. And it turns out parsley helps you cleanse your system. It's a natural diuretic and when you consume enough of it, you piss like mad. I know, amazing. But that's not what I want to talk about.

What I want to talk about is the fact [?] that the H in herbs is silent!

I think it is because I watched a YouTube video and some Australian lady pronounced it 'erb'. I put it down to the fact she was Australian at the start, but then another lady, this time from the United States, described herself as an 'erbalist'. In fact the video title starts with the words 'An herbalist' which makes no sense - at least, that's what I thought, but it does if it's silent, which I think it is.

How did I reach my early 30s without knowing this?

Rhythmics · 27-05-2021 06:55PM

They also say "Aluminum", don't worry yourself too much.

dxhound2005 · 27-05-2021 07:10PM

I Honestly never knew that up to this very Hour.

Tzardine · 27-05-2021 07:14PM

Anyone who pronounces it as 'erb' is wrong and should be given a swift kick to the pancreas.

In situations like this, if you are in doubt as to the correct pronunciation you need to look to the Brits - the people who invented the language.

It's Herb.

dxhound2005 · 27-05-2021 07:17PM

Tzardine wrote: »

Anyone who pronounces it as 'erb' is wrong and should be given a swift kick to the pancreas.

In situations like this, if you are in doubt as to the correct pronunciation you need to look to the Brits - the people who invented the language.

It's Herb.

They added on the H pronunciation long after the word went over to America. The Americans have remained true to the original French pronunciation.

silliussoddius · 27-05-2021 07:21PM

I thought the kidneys “cleanse” the system.

chooseusername · 27-05-2021 07:22PM

An 'erb in a herb garden

Tzardine · 27-05-2021 07:23PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

They added on the H pronunciation long after the word went over to America. The Americans have remained true to the original French pronunciation.

Its a different word in French (herbe) and so the H is indeed silent.

But we are talking about the English pronunciation, and the H has been hard for over 1000 years.

The Americans can go and sHite.

volchitsa · 27-05-2021 07:24PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

They added on the H pronunciation long after the word went over to America. The Americans have remained true to the original French pronunciation.

Yeah but we don't say "istory" or "orrible" or any number of other words that come from French where the H is silent. We're speaking English, not French.

volchitsa · 27-05-2021 07:25PM

Tzardine wrote: »

Its a different word in French (herbe) and so the H is indeed silent.

But we are talking about the English pronunciation, and the H has been hard for over 1000 years.

The Americans can go and sHite.

Snap

EmmetSpiceland · 27-05-2021 07:25PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VdN-2RYPKg

RobbingBandit · 27-05-2021 07:31PM

Center center CENTER!!!!!

It's Centre you damn yanks and your reverse words and U less Colour damn you all to hell

dxhound2005 · 27-05-2021 07:36PM

volchitsa wrote: »

Yeah but we don't say "istory" or "orrible" or any number of other words that come from French where the H is silent. We're speaking English, not French.

We are writing in English, and we need phonetics to describe pronunciation.

Pronunciation
(UK, General Australian, General New Zealand) enPR: hû(r)b, IPA(key): /hɜːb/

(US, Canada) enPR: (h)ûrb, IPA(key): /(h)ɝb/

Dictionaries are useful things to dispel the notion that every word can only have one spelling, one definition and one pronunciation. English has thousands of examples to show the nonsense of that idea.

silliussoddius · 27-05-2021 07:42PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

We are writing in English, and we need phonetics to describe pronunciation.

Pronunciation
(UK, General Australian, General New Zealand) enPR: hû(r)b, IPA(key): /hɜːb/

(US, Canada) enPR: (h)ûrb, IPA(key): /(h)ɝb/

Dictionaries are useful things to dispel the notion that every word can only have one spelling, one definition and one pronunciation. English has thousands of examples to show the nonsense of that idea.

The most fonetic word of all.

StemCell · 27-05-2021 07:58PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

I'm as bloated as bodies that get fished out of rivers and I need to lose water weight

"Water weight" is a new one...at least if it's applied to males.

27-05-2021 08:13PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

I've been reading up a lot about parsley in recent days because I'm as bloated as bodies that get fished out of rivers and I need to lose water weight. And it turns out parsley helps you cleanse your system. It's a natural diuretic and when you consume enough of it, you piss like mad. I know, amazing. But that's not what I want to talk about.

What I want to talk about is the fact [?] that the H in herbs is silent!

I think it is because I watched a YouTube video and some Australian lady pronounced it 'erb'. I put it down to the fact she was Australian at the start, but then another lady, this time from the United States, described herself as an 'erbalist'. In fact the video title starts with the words 'An herbalist' which makes no sense - at least, that's what I thought, but it does if it's silent, which I think it is.

How did I reach my early 30s without knowing this?

If you are retaining fluid, I'd also recommend tea. You probably already know that tea is a diuretic, but it is better than anything else; it is fairly miraculous. We give tea to horses who have capped hocks or have sustained other damage resulting in oedema. A little-known fact about horses is that they go mental for tea. More importantly, it removes built-up fluid in a flash.

On the H-point. The H is pronounced. Ignore Americans, they don't know what they're talking about. It's "an herb" but it isn't "an 'erb" I don't know the reason, I only know the rule.

Hope this 'elps.

Leg End Reject · 27-05-2021 09:01PM

"A herb" here because we pronounce the H. "An herb" for those who don't pronounce the H.

We say "An hour" because the H is silent, so it sounds like it begins with the vowel O.

dxhound2005 · 27-05-2021 09:07PM

Af an our. Half with a silent H and a silent L.

Taeholic · 27-05-2021 09:09PM

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Center center CENTER!!!!!

It's Centre you damn yanks and your reverse words and U less Colour damn you all to hell

It drives me crazy too, why do they remove the U? What do they have against the letter?

Jequ0n · 27-05-2021 09:17PM

Maybe you should all embrace “erb” (which it should be) to distance yourselves from your British neighbours?

Leg End Reject · 27-05-2021 09:18PM

Taeholic wrote: »

It drives me crazy too, why do they remove the U? What do they have against the letter?

One could argue that phonetic spelling makes more sense, but all the Zs irk me.

Jequ0n · 27-05-2021 09:20PM

Leg End Reject wrote: »

One could argue that phonetic spelling makes more sense, but all the Zs irk me.

Scrabble makers are behind it

Taeholic · 27-05-2021 09:21PM

Leg End Reject wrote: »

One could argue that phonetic spelling makes more sense, but all the Zs irk me.

That's a valid point and yes the Zs bother me too.

27-05-2021 09:23PM

volchitsa wrote: »

Yeah but we don't say "istory" or "orrible" or any number of other words that come from French where the H is silent. We're speaking English, not French.

How do you pronounce cafe? Cafe or caf-ay.

27-05-2021 09:26PM

StemCell wrote: »

"Water weight" is a new one...at least if it's applied to males.

"I'm retaining water"

"You're retaining fu*king pizza"

- - Billy Connolly

27-05-2021 09:27PM

What’s much more interesting than the herb erb debate is scone/scon. Because in the U.K., that’s not even regional ie north south. It’s hyper local. Different towns and classes, all mixed together, pronounce it differently.

Of course it’s not scon. That’s ridiculous.

dxhound2005 · 27-05-2021 09:29PM

I asked the maid in dulcet tone
To order me a buttered scone;
The silly girl has been and gone
And ordered me a buttered scone.

27-05-2021 10:39PM

Leg End Reject wrote: »

"A herb" here because we pronounce the H. "An herb" for those who don't pronounce the H.

We say "An hour" because the H is silent, so it sounds like it begins with the vowel O.

Is there a distinction between written and spoken text, I wonder?

Some people pronounce the H in "an herb", "an historian", and "an hour" very slightly. Slightly audible, but it's there.

I was taught that you treat the letter H as if it were a vowel, when writing. But even in spoken language, you do hear it.

Buddy Bubs · 27-05-2021 10:44PM

Tzardine wrote: »

Anyone who pronounces it as 'erb' is wrong and should be given a swift kick to the pancreas.

In situations like this, if you are in doubt as to the correct pronunciation you need to look to the Brits - the people who invented the language.

It's Herb.

Don't ask the Brits. They have a silent H in the letter H

Leg End Reject · 27-05-2021 10:56PM

A Lamb Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Is there a distinction between written and spoken text, I wonder?

Some people pronounce the H in "an herb", "an historian", and "an hour" very slightly. Slightly audible, but it's there.

I was taught that you treat the letter H as if it were a vowel, when writing. But even in spoken language, you do hear it.

Do you stay in an hotel or a hotel when away on an holiday or a holiday?

Say my name · 27-05-2021 11:10PM

My mother has a folk "cure" that's been passed down the generations involving plants and prayer.

She's as Irish as Irish can be. But her maiden name would have French origins.

Anyway she calls them "erbs".

27-05-2021 11:26PM

Leg End Reject wrote: »

Do you stay in an hotel or a hotel when away on an holiday or a holiday?

Would go to an hotel, but only when on a holiday.

That's inconsistent. None of us would ever say "an holiday".

Would you say "a historian" or "an historian"? I think most people would say the latter, and would also pronounce the letter H. It's an odd one.

Leg End Reject · 28-05-2021 06:43AM

A Lamb Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Would go to an hotel, but only when on a holiday.

That's inconsistent. None of us would ever say "an holiday".

Would you say "a historian" or "an historian"? I think most people would say the latter, and would also pronounce the letter H. It's an odd one.

'A' for hotel, holiday and historian. I only use 'an' if the H is silent.

Holy Duck · 28-05-2021 07:00AM

volchitsa wrote:

Yeah but we don't say "istory" or "orrible" or any number of other words that come from French where the H is silent. We're speaking English, not French.

Del Boy would beg to differ, bloody ell olchitsa!!

Leg End Reject · 28-05-2021 07:42AM

Holy Duck wrote: »

Del Boy would beg to differ, bloody ell olchitsa!!

Mange tout.

dxhound2005 · 28-05-2021 07:57AM

Leg End Reject wrote: »

'A' for hotel, holiday and historian. I only use 'an' if the H is silent.

If you say An Otel the H is silent.

Allinall · 28-05-2021 08:01AM

OP, why don't you change your username to Ammer89 ?

the beer revolu · 28-05-2021 08:07AM

The English don't, exclusively, say "h erb". Northerners pronounce it "erb".

Hammer89 · 28-05-2021 08:24AM

Allinall wrote: »

OP, why don't you change your username to Ammer89 ?

More like Spanner89 if I didn't know it was pronounced erb

Hammer89 · 28-05-2021 08:29AM

Anyway leaving aside the phonetic arguments, I can confirm that parsley tea can and does make you piss quite a lot.

I can also confirm I woke up this morning still bloated but it was probably the chipper I ate after the tea

fryup · 28-05-2021 08:33AM

here's another one for you OP, asparagus makes your wee smell of eh asparagus

razorblunt · 28-05-2021 08:43AM

Rhythmics wrote: »

They also say "Aluminum", don't worry yourself too much.

It appears as aluminum and aluminium in the documents around its first extraction. They chose the typo and ran with it!

Allinall · 28-05-2021 08:51AM

Hammer89 wrote: »

Anyway leaving aside the phonetic arguments, I can confirm that parsley tea can and does make you piss quite a lot.

I can also confirm I woke up this morning still bloated but it was probably the chipper I ate after the tea

Not to drag the thread off topic too much, but why the hell does "phonetic" not start with "f"?

dxhound2005 · 28-05-2021 09:01AM

If you think that is a bit mad, just be grateful you don't live in South Africa.

New Home · 30-05-2021 11:31AM

If this is a thread about pronunciation, then fine. But it's about parsley and its benefits, be very careful if you're pregnant because it can cause miscarriages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley#Precautions

Hammer89 · 30-05-2021 03:55PM

New Home wrote: »

If this is a thread about pronunciation, then fine. But it's about parsley and its benefits, be very careful if you're pregnant because it can cause miscarriages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley#Precautions

More like piscarraiges because I haven't stopped :pac:

New Home · 30-05-2021 04:49PM

Wait until you discover dandelion tea...

893bet · 31-05-2021 10:20PM

****ing windmills rotate orientation at the top.

**** me. I assume the were just facing the prevailing wind direction in an area. Rarely been up close or thought about it but passed near a few recently and noticed them changed different days,

How ****ing obvious.

Embarrassed engineer.

How did I not know this?

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