First Published: 5th of September, 2020
Last updated: September 5, 2020 at 21:29 pmStandard English pronunciation can be troublesome. There are rules, and there are, as always, exceptions to the rules. The word “iron” is a good example.
People of the Caribbean often pronounce it “i-ron.” That is, just the way it is spelled. However, in British pronunciation, the “r” is silent. Say: I-on. And, in American pronunciation, the r is reversed: say i-earn.
Confusing? Welcome to the English Language. Remember, if you’re saying “i-ron,” it is not necessarily wrong. We could just classify it as Caribbean Standard Pronunciation. But know for sure that that pronunciation would be wrong by American and British Standards.
If you want to stick to standard American English, say i-earn. If you are speaking by British standards, say “i-on.”
But the confusion doesn’t end there! While the Americans pronounce “iron” as “i-earn,” they pronounce “irony” as “I-ron-ee” and “ironic” as “i-RON-ic.” Now that’s ironic isn’t it? Yes! The irony of it all!
