Pronunciation: 'ma'am'
- Thread starter Luc4
- Start date
I'm assuming you are asking about the "ma'am" part.
In the American South (where you hear it very often) it is something like "mè-yam." That is not IPA, it is a hodgepodge notation. In the UK it is something like "mahm," but I don't think you hear it that often?
If you ask in the English forum, you might get a right discussion going.
Isotta.
In the American South (where you hear it very often) it is something like "mè-yam." That is not IPA, it is a hodgepodge notation. In the UK it is something like "mahm," but I don't think you hear it that often?
If you ask in the English forum, you might get a right discussion going.
Isotta.
In the UK, "Ma'am" is indeed pronounced "Mahm" or "Marm" (soft letter R) by those who only use the word occasionally. Where the word is more commonly used (such as by a servant to a mistress) pronunciation is closer to "Mum" and much shorter in sound. 
foxfirebrand
Senior Member
Southern AE greatly modified by a 1st-generation Scottish-American mother, and growing up abroad.
In AE ma'am rhymes with jam. We have an expression that indicates a quick, slapdash effort-- "wham, bam, thank-you-ma'am."
The Southern AE pronunciation is different, as Isotta pointed out. If you can pronounce mayhem without the aitch, you've got it.
The Southern AE pronunciation is different, as Isotta pointed out. If you can pronounce mayhem without the aitch, you've got it.
Yes, I was asking that just (<- is it ok the just here?foxfirebrand said:
sorry if it's wrong. I meant precisely) for that expression. I read about it here, an old thread: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=28043&highlight=wham+bam.Thank everyone of you for your answers.
I pronounce it "mam."
