English speakers, do you pronounce "patronizing" the same way in both sentences?
I think I'm mentally pronouncing it paytronizing in #1 and either paytronizing or pattronizing in #2 (I can't decide), but I'm not sure that makes sense. Merriam-Webster gives both pronunciations, but doesn't indicate that the different meanings of the word call for different pronunciations, so that's probably not the case.
Opinions? How do you say it?
Hi shilgia, good question. I say "pay" for the first (though it's not a word I would use) and "patt" for the second. I can't give any reason why, however. I think I would consider it wrong if someone said "pay" in the second case. At least an American. I don't know what they do in other places.
Thanks!
I think I say "patt" in the second, but after I wrote that I tried out "pay" and I couldn't decide whether it sounded wrong.
Does it sound wrong to everyone else also?
I'm sure I say paytronize for sense #1. I think I say pattronize for sense #2 but I'm not sure. Paytronize wouldn't sound wrong to me in sense #2. I don't know if the Brits use the word in sense #1.
I would agree with everyone so far, paytronize for #1, pattronize for #2. And like DianaHaddad, I'm not sure I'd even use the word in the sense of #1, although possibly in a somewhat overblown way. So I might say, "I would prefer not to patronize his establishment," but if I were being more casual, just, "I don't like to go there" or "I won't shop there."
Patronizing as in #2, yes, I do use that, and I'm quite sure I say pattronizing. I'm Canadian, BTW.
Odd that this apparently consistent distinction in pronunciation doesn't show up in a dictionary. Mind you, I'd never even thought about it until you asked, Shilgia. Which is what I love about SiT!
I would say PAYtronizing for both, and I'm an American. Then again it's not a word I ever use, and I've been known for strange and incorrect pronunciations.
Australians use "patt"ronizing in both cases, with the emphasis on the Patt. We use it reasonably often.
Interesting question Shilgia. I think you might be on to something. This native speaker of English from Ireland finds the "pay" pronunciation works for both senses, and I think I probably use the "patt" pronunciation sometimes in the second sense, and probably not in the first. However, I'm not sure how often I would use the word in the first sense, if ever - at least in speech.
