17 votes

So uh, how do you pronounce Tilde?

If it's pronounced til-duh, then how do you say it plural? til-does? til-dehs?

36 comments

  1. [2]
    json
    (edited )
    Link
    Tilda Swinton can have the best ~swinton fan group on this platform.

    Tilda Swinton can have the best ~swinton fan group on this platform.

    19 votes
    1. BashCrandiboot
      Link Parent
      Damn it. I knew someone was going to take my idea.

      Damn it. I knew someone was going to take my idea.

      5 votes
  2. [4]
    zoec
    Link
    As in the name Mathilde.

    As in the name Mathilde.

    13 votes
    1. [3]
      Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      And how do you pronounce "Mathilde"? :P

      And how do you pronounce "Mathilde"? :P

      10 votes
      1. [2]
        zoec
        Link Parent
        Mr. Algernon, are we characters in a Hofstadterian silent dialogue? ;)

        Mr. Algernon, are we characters in a Hofstadterian silent dialogue? ;)

        5 votes
        1. Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          Ms Zoec, are we silent characters in a Hofstadterian dialogue?

          Ms Zoec, are we silent characters in a Hofstadterian dialogue?

          4 votes
  3. [5]
    s4b3r6
    Link
    Are you American, or British? It changes it.

    Are you American, or British? It changes it.

    10 votes
    1. [2]
      Layla
      Link Parent
      They should've had a woman say them both or vice versa, having a man say one anď a woman the other is kinda off. I can't tell the difference.

      They should've had a woman say them both or vice versa, having a man say one anď a woman the other is kinda off. I can't tell the difference.

      4 votes
      1. Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        That's probably because there is no significant difference between the British and American pronunciations of "tilde". It's not like "fast" or "car" or "new" where the differences are more noticeable.

        I can't tell the difference.

        That's probably because there is no significant difference between the British and American pronunciations of "tilde". It's not like "fast" or "car" or "new" where the differences are more noticeable.

        5 votes
  4. [15]
    time
    Link
    I've always been saying it 'til-day' and not 'til-duh,' but it seems like I'm in the minority here.

    I've always been saying it 'til-day' and not 'til-duh,' but it seems like I'm in the minority here.

    8 votes
    1. [10]
      Arishaig
      Link Parent
      If you're in the minority, then so am I. It probably comes from the fact that I first learned the word in the context of middle-school Spanish, but I pronounce it 'till-day' and 'till-dace' (i.e....

      If you're in the minority, then so am I. It probably comes from the fact that I first learned the word in the context of middle-school Spanish, but I pronounce it 'till-day' and 'till-dace' (i.e. with an unvoiced 'S' and not a voiced 'Z' for the plural) respectively.

      5 votes
      1. [9]
        Krael
        Link Parent
        I'm a little confused by this. Isn't an 'S' just an unvoiced 'Z' to begin with? Kind of like how 'F' is an unvoiced 'V'.

        with an unvoiced 'S' and not a voiced 'Z'

        I'm a little confused by this. Isn't an 'S' just an unvoiced 'Z' to begin with? Kind of like how 'F' is an unvoiced 'V'.

        4 votes
        1. [8]
          zap
          Link Parent
          You are right, of course, but I think @Arishaig was just saying that they use the unvoiced 'S' to pluralize tildes (as one would in Spanish) rather than the voiced 'S' (as one would in English).

          You are right, of course, but I think @Arishaig was just saying that they use the unvoiced 'S' to pluralize tildes (as one would in Spanish) rather than the voiced 'S' (as one would in English).

          4 votes
          1. [7]
            Krael
            Link Parent
            That was my point. There is no voiced 'S' in English. When you use your vocal cords while making the mouth movement for an 'S', the result is a 'Z'.

            voiced 'S'

            That was my point. There is no voiced 'S' in English. When you use your vocal cords while making the mouth movement for an 'S', the result is a 'Z'.

            2 votes
            1. [4]
              zap
              Link Parent
              I think we're all in complete agreement here, but it's hard to tell because we're using the concepts of letters and phonemes interchangeably. To be clear, I was saying that the letter 'S', in the...

              I think we're all in complete agreement here, but it's hard to tell because we're using the concepts of letters and phonemes interchangeably. To be clear, I was saying that the letter 'S', in the context of word tildes, is pronounced as a voiced alveolar fricative in English and a voiceless alveolar fricative in Spanish. The first sound is represented in IPA as /z/, while the second is represented in IPA as /s/. In English and Spanish orthography, however, both of these sounds are represented by the letter 'S' :)

              5 votes
              1. [2]
                Krael
                Link Parent
                I think it's safe to say that that's exactly what's happening here, and led to confusion on my part. Thanks for clearing it up for me, I wasn't aware of the difference in the Spanish pronunciation...

                I think we're all in complete agreement here, but it's hard to tell because we're using the concepts of letters and phonemes interchangeably.

                I think it's safe to say that that's exactly what's happening here, and led to confusion on my part.

                Thanks for clearing it up for me, I wasn't aware of the difference in the Spanish pronunciation of 'S'.

                2 votes
                1. zap
                  Link Parent
                  Of course. Thanks right back for making my first interaction on Tildes a friendly and interesting one!

                  Of course. Thanks right back for making my first interaction on Tildes a friendly and interesting one!

                  2 votes
              2. Arishaig
                Link Parent
                You are exactly right @zap. I didn't want to break out the IPA in mixed company ;). When I referred to a "voiced S" I did indeed mean the /z/ phoneme as differentiated from the /s/ phoneme.

                You are exactly right @zap. I didn't want to break out the IPA in mixed company ;). When I referred to a "voiced S" I did indeed mean the /z/ phoneme as differentiated from the /s/ phoneme.

                1 vote
            2. [2]
              tvfj
              Link Parent
              They were just describing the two sounds in a way that shows how they contrast. They could have said "with a voiceless alveolar fricative, /s/, and not a voiced alveolar fricative, /z/" for the...

              They were just describing the two sounds in a way that shows how they contrast. They could have said "with a voiceless alveolar fricative, /s/, and not a voiced alveolar fricative, /z/" for the same meaning. The "a" refers to the individual sound they utter, not picking from a set of voiced and voiceless /s/

              2 votes
              1. Arishaig
                Link Parent
                Yup, exactly. I was clarifying the contrast between a orthographic "s" being pronounced as /s/ vs. /z/. Talking about phonetics without using a phonetic alphabet is confusing!

                Yup, exactly. I was clarifying the contrast between a orthographic "s" being pronounced as /s/ vs. /z/. Talking about phonetics without using a phonetic alphabet is confusing!

                1 vote
    2. [3]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [2]
        Arishaig
        Link Parent
        Is that with a long "I" like in "idéntico" or a short one like in "illness"? I noticed a discrepancy in my pronunciation, and was rather surprised by it.

        Is that with a long "I" like in "idéntico" or a short one like in "illness"? I noticed a discrepancy in my pronunciation, and was rather surprised by it.

        1. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. Arishaig
            Link Parent
            That's exactly what I'd do if I were speaking Spanish. I was just surprised by the fact that I used the Spanish 'S' sound but the English 'I' sound when saying the word in English. I was curious...

            That's exactly what I'd do if I were speaking Spanish. I was just surprised by the fact that I used the Spanish 'S' sound but the English 'I' sound when saying the word in English. I was curious if others had the same discrepancy.

            Thanks!

    3. [2]
      rodya
      Link Parent
      Perhaps it's a result of growing up around hispanic culture, but I've always heard it said as 'til-day'. This thread genuinely confused me!

      Perhaps it's a result of growing up around hispanic culture, but I've always heard it said as 'til-day'. This thread genuinely confused me!

      2 votes
      1. Arishaig
        Link Parent
        Question for you. I'm an American who knows a little Spanish. I end up pronouncing "tildes" as /'tɪl deɪs/ as opposed to what I think is the proper Spanish pronunciation of /'til deɪs/ (that is...

        Question for you. I'm an American who knows a little Spanish. I end up pronouncing "tildes" as /'tɪl deɪs/ as opposed to what I think is the proper Spanish pronunciation of /'til deɪs/ (that is using the "I" sound from the English word "illness" rather than "I" sound from the Spanish word "idéntico"). I suppose if I were speaking Spanish I'd pronounce it the other way.

        How do you pronounce "tildes"? Does it differ if you are speaking English vs Spanish?

        1 vote
  5. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. MahatmaCoat
      Link Parent
      I’ve always pronounced the character as in ‘tilled’ - but I’m a Brit.

      I’ve always pronounced the character as in ‘tilled’ - but I’m a Brit.

      1 vote
  6. starchturrets
    Link
    Tilde as in "til death do us part."

    Tilde as in "til death do us part."

    6 votes
  7. [2]
    GoingMerry
    Link
    Hmm, I say til-dee. I don't really care of the "correct" pronunciation, I like mine better.

    Hmm, I say til-dee. I don't really care of the "correct" pronunciation, I like mine better.

    4 votes
    1. Amarok
      Link Parent
      Same here, more fun to say, rhymes with Arbys.

      Same here, more fun to say, rhymes with Arbys.

      2 votes
  8. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. MahatmaCoat
      Link Parent
      Brit here. Concur. Basically ‘Tilled’, as in the result of ploughing earth.

      Brit here. Concur. Basically ‘Tilled’, as in the result of ploughing earth.

  9. Layla
    Link
    Oh god, i'm stupid. I always say "Tie-eld" in my head.

    Oh god, i'm stupid. I always say "Tie-eld" in my head.

    3 votes
  10. meghan
    Link
    Neither? I say till-dee

    Neither? I say till-dee

    3 votes
  11. [2]
    dredmorbius
    Link
    Throat Warbler Mangrove.

    Throat Warbler Mangrove.

    1. MahatmaCoat
      Link Parent
      I think you mean luxury yacht.

      I think you mean luxury yacht.

      1 vote