[Killer Chicken]

Okay, well, I have been having an ongoing arguement with my family and friends on how you pronounce caramel. I pronouce it how it is spelled care-a-mel. They prounce it car-mel. No one that I have found around my area argrees with me. But commercials on TV say it how I say it. Am I right? Or am I crazy lune? Your comments would be useful so I can print them off and show them to my family.

[Cadfael]

I work in a factory that makes caramel.. to sandwich between wafers....

it is cara-mel...

Trust me... I have had to sit through boring training videos, and wether it be an American commentator or an English one... it is always cara-mel...

...and now I know I need to get a life!!!!

Why did I answer this topic!!! :D

[Killer Chicken]

Thanks Cadfael. I just showed my mom your post. It helped, she knows that I am right, but refuses to admit it. This was what she said... "Oh yeah right, those people on the internet are made up anyway" She is so stupid... Grr... She knows I'm right and refuses to admit it.

So you really work in a caramel factory? Awesome! What is that like? Do you get free candy?

[Cadfael]

Yes... I can eat as many choccie biscuits (candy) as I want... but I have been there for 4 years now... thus... I am fed up to the back teeth with them!!! :D I HATE the DAMN THINGS NOW!!!!

I actually do not work on the prodiction side, but I have to monitor overnight temperatures, thus the boring videos.

BTW... tell your lovely mother...

"I post... therefore... I am!"

I think? :D

[dragondrool]

Since I happen to have a Webster's dictionary beside me...

and I know that they always list the 'preferred' pronunciation first...

it's car-a-mel, like you said, and Cad seconded. Either one is correct, but that's the first listing.

Most people around here pronounce it car-mel. I wonder if that's a regional thing.

However it's pronounced, it was a hated ingredient in the premium ice cream I helped make when I worked in an ice cream place for four years. Ice creams with caramel get mushy and gloppy more than any other, especially if they have chocolate in 'em, too. Yes, I did get to eat all I wanted (mostly vanilla, since I'm a purist! :) ). Yes, I have to be in the mood to eat it now. Besides, nothing measures up to the stuff we made. I can still smell it, too. I used to come home with my clothes reeking of ice cream. It's a very distinctive smell.

[Killer Chicken]

Yummy... Free food.

Now that is heaven.

[asimovian]

To be precise, according to
http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=caramel
it should be pronounced [copy/paste does not work with phonetic script]
car - as in pat or pay,
a - as in about or item,
mel - as in about or item or pet,
with the emphasis on the first syllable.

[asimovian]

dragondrool,

Since I happen to have a Webster's dictionary beside me...
and I know that they always list the 'preferred' pronunciation first...

They would be silly doing otherwise, wouldn't they.
Nice picture you have under your name !

[Miriamele]

I've always said "care-a-mel", and I think that phonetically, going from the spelling of the word, that's correct. Why would you drop the "a"?

[dragondrool]

Originally posted by asimovian
dragondrool,


Nice picture you have under your name !

Thanks! I thought he was awfully cute. And he has a book besides. What more could you ask for? :D

BTW, I found him at Cadfael's Avatars. Thanks, Cad! You drool... er...I mean ROOL! :D