Londoners- how do you pronounce "quay"?
Oct 8th, 2008, 04:04 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,037
Thanks. I guess I could have just looked it up on wikipedia:
>>A quay, pronounced 'key', is a wharf or bank where ships and other vessels are loaded. A quay may be constructed parallel or perpendicular to the bank of a waterway. The word is commonly used in United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and in some of the former British colonies<<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quay
English is so weird.
>>A quay, pronounced 'key', is a wharf or bank where ships and other vessels are loaded. A quay may be constructed parallel or perpendicular to the bank of a waterway. The word is commonly used in United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and in some of the former British colonies<<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quay
English is so weird.
Oct 8th, 2008, 08:57 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,016
It's always been "key" for me, but in the song "The Star of the County Down" it's pronounced Cay (to rhyme with Bantry Bay), so there are variations in these islands.
I live near West India Quay (and various other local quays) and I occasionally hear people pronouncing it Kway - but perhaps they've only heard of the pop singer a few years ago called Finlay Quaye (to set off at a wild tangent).
I live near West India Quay (and various other local quays) and I occasionally hear people pronouncing it Kway - but perhaps they've only heard of the pop singer a few years ago called Finlay Quaye (to set off at a wild tangent).
Oct 8th, 2008, 10:04 AM
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
No - in the US Quay isn't common usage - and no one would suspect it would be pronounced "key". Just like most people say Green-which and Glou-cest-er. (People from the NE usually use the British pronunciations.) But lots of times I hear tourits asking for Green-which Village - instead of Gren-itch.
