towards

[arbolnegro]

When I'm hearing American English, different people seem to pronounce the word "towards" different ways. I'd like to know if that is a region-based difference and if so, what is the pronunciation in the different regions.

[Barb_D]

I"m sure there is a lot of regional variation. The way I say it rhymes with "boards" but sometimes there is a bit more of the W.

[arbolnegro]

I"m sure there is a lot of regional variation. The way I say it rhymes with "boards" but sometimes there is a bit more of the W.

Thanks, so I'm assuming that the way you pronounce it is the common way to pronounce it in Pennsylvania?

[raindoctor]

/tɔɚds/

Note that /w/ drops.

[Barb_D]

I grew up in New York, but not the city. It was commonly said that way there. I couldn't really say how they say it here. I'll have to listen more.

(If you want a word with a lot of variation, look at "drawer." I say it as one syllable, droor. I've hear others say it as "draw" and others have enough of the "er" sound at the end that it sounds like "draw-er" or "droor-er.")