A pronunciation question....

[fajrdrako]

The phrase of the day on 'a word a day' today was "devil's advocate", a phrase I've always liked. But it surprised me by saying that "advocate" was pronounced "advo-kate". When "advocate" is a noun, I pronounce it "advo-cat".

Have I been wrong all these years?

(If so, won't be the first time, won't be the last.)

Comments

[xinef]

I think this is a US/UK thing and both are right. I've certainly heard both over the years. I tend to use advo-cat as the noun and advo-cate as the verb.

[fajrdrako]

Yes, that's what sounds right to me.

[coalboy]

Me too.

[trialia]

Not that I'm aware. I've always pronounced the noun 'advo-cat' with a short 'a' sound and the verb as 'advo-kate'.

[fajrdrako]

And it makes so much sense that way!

[lilithilien]

I always thought the verb was advokate and the noun was advocut. I've never heard advocat before.

[trialia]

I think advocut is more or less what she meant... advocat with a short 'a' sound.

[lilithilien]

I dunno ... Canadians talk funny! ;)

[trialia]

Lol... I'm constantly being accused of having a Canadian accent...

[cionaudha]

I'm with everyone here.

Advo-kate is what you do.
Advo-cut is what you are.

[fajrdrako]

Hmm, okay, if I flatten the vowel a teensy bit... yeah, that sounds right.

[louiex]

*peeks out* I've always said it advo-kit, which I guess is close to the 'cat' pronunciation~

[fajrdrako]

Close enough! I suppose it's really a schwa, a vowel so shortened that it loses its main characteristics. Advokit sounds like the right word to me, more than advokut and a lot more than advocayte.