How do you pronounce 'ate'

[nyota]

I was taught not to pronounce ate (as in "I ate an apple") as 'eight'. Recently I got to know that 'eight' pronunciation is very common and 'ett' sounds weird.

How do you pronounce "ate" in BrE, AmE or AusE? Does it vary that much depending on the region?

[susiedq]

How do you pronounce

six, seven, eight ?

[nyota]

eight - /eɪt/
ate - /ɛt/

Or didn't I get some joke?

[birdeen's call]

/ɛt/ is uncommon in the US, but exists dialectally. It is used by some RP speakers and, I've just found out, some Northern English speakers. That's certainly not an exhaustive list. I would guess that it might be used in some Irish accents.

[konungursvia]

That's right. Most North Americans pronounce both /eɪt/. My Grade 10 art teacher did say the other though, he was from a small town somewhere.

[BobK]

I thought your title meant 'How do you pronounce "ate". There is variation, as you've heard. Strict/prescriptive RP guides require the simple vowel., as do less enlightened teachers. I think I probably favour the RP version, but sometimes use the diphthong, depending on my audience.

b

[nyota]

I thought your title meant 'How do you pronounce "ate". There is variation, as you've heard. Strict/prescriptive RP guides require the simple vowel., as do less enlightened teachers. I think I probably favour the RP version, but sometimes use the diphthong, depending on my audience.

b

Thanks Bob. Which version would you use/ hear at home? Among friends?

[Barb_D]

I only use "eight." I wouldn't have guessed that "ett" was more refined -- quite the opposite, actually.

[Curt Jugg]

I suspect this is mainly an American/British thing. Oxford Dictionaries Online give only /ɛt/

definition of ate from Oxford Dictionaries Online

[BobK]

I suspect this is mainly an American/British thing. Oxford Dictionaries Online give only /ɛt/

definition of ate from Oxford Dictionaries Online

As I said nyota, that's what I do; but as I also said, I sometimes slip into using the diphthong.

b