During a New Year’s Eve conversation, Boyd used the word mauve, pronouncing it “mowv.” Before my brain comprehended that Boyd’s assured use of “mowv” was a clue to his superior knowledge of the adjective, my tongue counteracted with “mawv.” “Martha Stewart,” observed Susan, “always says ‘mowv.’” I humbly acquiesced that their pronunciation must be correct. Who was I to disagree with Boyd, Susan and Martha Stewart?
My favorite on-line dictionary verified that mauve is, indeed, pronounced “mowv.” Another dictionary site included it in its “100 Most Mispronounced Words and Phrases in English.” French words for colors do tend to trip me up; I remember checking the dictionary when Ray told me one time that his favorite color was chartreuse.
I’m on the lookout for anything of a “moderate grayish violet to moderate reddish purple,” so that I can practice saying mauvish in a sentence.
This is an interesting comment. I looked up mauve in my old standby, WEBSTER’S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY, Tenth edition, and the first pronunciation is mawv. The second pronunciation is mowv. Of course, this is the same edition that has CaribBEan as the first choice, and CaRIBbean as the second choice. Who decides when the first preference in pronunciation is “old hat”?
Cherrye, I’ve been giving this mawv/movw thing some thought (you know how I love words : ) The Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (11th edition) lists the pronunciation the same as your dictionary. However, my standby, The Oxford Modern English Dictionary, offers only mowv. This source says the “au” of mauve is a diphthong (shwa/horseshoe thingy) which is pronounced like “go.” The French word “taupe” has the same diphthong. So, all that said, it seems like we each get to choose when something is “old hat!”
I’m curious: which hat are you wearing in the case of “moderate purple”?
I think my “old hat” is firmly entrenched on my gray-haired head, so for me it’s mawv.
But at least I’ll know what someone is talking about if I hear mowv.