The most annoying expressions...

I have never heard a UK national say 'haitch' rather than 'aitch' other than when taking the mick, or as a cockney from the 1970's, a la 'Steptoe'.

Go north, young woman.  I'm hard pressed to find UK natives who do not say 'haitch', apart from my husband (who isn't from up here).  Although a British neighbour once told me in confidence that she suspected people who say 'haitch' didn't have a proper upbringing.   

Go north, young woman.  I'm hard pressed to find UK natives who do not say 'haitch', apart from my husband (who isn't from up here).

I hear it all the time from our secretary, referring to HR. I was quite surprised the first time!

Sorry, I made the usual mistake of thinking 'London and the South' but saying 'England'! 

 

Rephrase...Southerners don't say 'haitch' unless... etc etc etc.


Vicky

Rephrase...Southerners don't say 'haitch' unless... etc etc etc.

I have relatives up north, but they'd never say 'haitch'!! 

I have never heard a UK national say 'haitch' rather than 'aitch' other than when taking the mick, or as a cockney from the 1970's, a la 'Steptoe'.

As for french words, I think there is little or no consistency on this.


Vicky

Right now I'm surrounded by London east enders who all say "haitch" and firmly believe it to be the correct way to say it!  No lie, come and have a listen, it's like Dick van Dyke around my current neighbourhood, lol!!

Though a Londoner too, I say "aitch" and was taught it is the proper way.

That is because you live near Cockneys from the 1970's!!!!

 


Vicky

I have relatives up north, but they'd never say 'haitch'!! 

It's cos they had a proper upbringing, I reckon!

That is because you live near Cockneys from the 1970's!!!!

 


Vicky

That explains some of the...er...fashions around here too...!! 

It's cos they had a proper upbringing, I reckon!

Dey musta bin brung up propah, ya mean?!

There's a certain reluctance on the part of Anglo-English speakers to pronounce anything in the French way (hence garr-idge instead of gar-aaj, and the herb vs erb thing)

I don't know about that.

We always say we bought it at "Penuays" instead of Penneys or we bought it at "Tarzshae's" instead of Target.

We have a propa up bringin' like.

"Tarzshay" -- but of course!

"Tarzshay" -- but of course!

Hehe, I have always said that, too.... And ASDA is still Wally-World, just like it was in the USA. 

Rephrase...Southerners don't say 'haitch' unless... etc etc etc.

Are you kidding me?? I hear it CONSTANTLY. Including from our pretend posh friends' little girl who is obviously either being taught it that way in school or not being corrected. It drives us MAD - dh is always trying to correct her but her parents then correct HIM! I hate, hate, hate it but would say that I hear it that way at least 50% if not 75% of the time.

I like the haitch. 

Are you kidding me?? I hear it CONSTANTLY. Including from our pretend posh friends' little girl who is obviously either being taught it that way in school or not being corrected. It drives us MAD - dh is always trying to correct her but her parents then correct HIM! I hate, hate, hate it but would say that I hear it that way at least 50% if not 75% of the time.

I've got to agree.  I hear it all the time. 

I'm another one who is completely irritated by the refusal to pronounce in the french way. 

I will admit to pronouncing "foyer" with the r in America, simply because I come from an area where if I didn't pronounce the r I'd be considered pretentious.    I made the mistake of saying "foyer" while with my BF over the summer, and got practically laughed out of the country. Yet, I'm supposed to sit back and accept filleT, GARage and Herb.

...there are no other words for it other than simply IRRITATING