How do you pronounce this word?

I put this in the lounge because it isn't a writing question. It's more of a general wonderment.

How do you pronounce interesting? With three syllables (in-tres-ting) or with four (in-ter-est-ing)?

I pronounce it with four, and sometimes I annoy myself with it. Everyone I know pronounces it with three, so I feel weird or abnormal. I'd love to pronounce it with three! But it's become such a habit, I just can't break it.

So which do you do?

 

I think you might have missed a trick; ask not only how to pronounce it, but also where the respondent is from... I've heard the four syllable version used a lot by folks based in the Dallas area of the US. I'm interested to know now if this is the source and want it confirmed!

 

It can be either 3 or 4, depends on how much effort I want to put into it. Though technically it is 4.

 

Three in general conversation.

Four when it's code for "that's complete shit." E.g.:

Someone: "Did you know chemtrails are poisoning us all?"
Me: "In-ter-est-ing."

 

Epic!

 

Damn! Beat me to it! Yes, what @Tenderiser said.

 

Now I feel even more weird.

 

It's ok. I still like you.

Besides, being weird is not so bad. It's those normal people you gotta watch out for.

 

God, Chemtrash. (Shudder)

 

Three I'm afraid.

 

I pronounce it in- ter-est-ing as opposed to int-rest-ing.

 

HERETIC! FREAK!

 

100% agreement with @Tenderiser (damn it!)

If I pronounce all four syllables it's because I'm trying to make a point.

But I'm generally a pretty sloppy speaker. Too fast, too garbled. I want words to keep up with my brain, and apparently I refuse to accept that they don't. So any syllables I could possibly lose, I lose.

 

I bet you don't pronounce "woman" and "women" with ONE syllable, like I do. I develop a highly specific speech impediment whenever those words come up.

 

I say "animals" 50% of the time and "aminals" the other 50%. My nephew, as a toddler, said "aminals" and apparently my brain decided it was an excellent idea. My nephew is now driving, but I'm still saying "aminals" far too often.

Stupid brain.

ETA: What's the syllable you pronounce? Wan and Wen?

 

Aminals is cute.

All the letters kind of slur together into one mumbling sound like wmn.

 

You need to buy a vowel.

ETA: Or, really, two!

 

My tongue is a super-feminist that refuses to acknowledge men have any place in wmn.

 

And/or your tongue is an unfortunate ruffian which grunts instead of speaking!

(Please read the above in a posh accent. I don't know which one. The posh-i-est.)

 

"Pronounce the word the way God intended it to be, or every waking moment for you will become a swirling torrent of PAIN AND MISERY!"

 

Also good!

Less posh, more passion!

 

Mispronunciation makes the baby Jesus cry.

 

Is that Gee-zus or Hay-soos?

 

It's Jesus as in "JESUS CHRIST THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHEMTRAILS YOU COCKWOMBLE!"