Pronunciation Question

[DeNeece]

Hello. Can someone please settle an argument between me and my husband. We are moving to a street named "Peregrine Place". He wants to pronounce it as "peregrin". I thought "pere-green". According to pronunciation rules, I think we're both wrong, and it should be "peregrine..with a long i sound.....to rhyme with time." Please advise. DeNeece

[mykwyner]

Dictionary dot com lists three different pronunciations, and I've heard all three used. peregrine - Definitions from Dictionary.com I suppose that the differences are regional. The rule about the pronunciation of place names is that the locals who live there always use the correct pronunciation.

[amigos4]

Originally Posted by DeNeece

Hello. Can someone please settle an argument between me and my husband. We are moving to a street named "Peregrine Place". He wants to pronounce it as "peregrin". I thought "pere-green". According to pronunciation rules, I think we're both wrong, and it should be "peregrine..with a long i sound.....to rhyme with time." Please advise. DeNeece

Hi, DeNeece! Welcome to the forum!

Before you decide who needs to sleep on the couch tonight, I suggest that
the easiest way to settle the pronounciation issue is to ask your neighbors or the local historical society. Find out the origin of the name for the street. Is Perigrine a family name? If so, it could be pronounced as grin, green, or grine!
Go with the flow and use the pronounciation that is preferred by the members of your new community.
Good luck with your move!

Cheers,
Amigos4

[Buddhaheart]

If I think of the last syllable as a silent/magic ‘e’ syllable and apply a phonics generalization, I would agree with your 1st inclination to pronounce it as /-gri+n/ (the long ‘e’ sound). The LPD has it as either /-grwn/ (short ‘i’ as in ‘it’) , /-grcn/ (the schwa as in ‘ago’) or /-gri+n/. My dictionary doesn’t list the schwa version.

Suggestions by other respondents are definitely valid & worth considering.

[Anglika]

I have only met the -grin pronunciation, both as a personal name and as the bird. But I can well believe that it has alternative pronunciations and the best thing to do is what Amigos4 suggests: ask your neighbours. It's one way to break the ice!

[amigos4]

Originally Posted by Anglika

I have only met the -grin pronunciation, both as a personal name and as the bird. But I can well believe that it has alternative pronunciations and the best thing to do is what Amigos4 suggests: ask your neighbours. It's one way to break the ice!

Better, yet, buy your new home on Park Place!!! That should stop the argument!!!

Cheers,
Amigos4