this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2025
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Here "bus" is pronounced like "buzz" and I didn't realise it was weird until I went down to Devon and it was a dead giveaway that I'm a Brummie lol

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[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I'm told there are differences between "merry", "marry", and "Mary", but I don't believe it.

[–] bigfondue@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Depends where you are. Most in the US pronounce them the same, but they are all distinct in Philly for example. But we pronounce "berry" and "bury" the same.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 4 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I'm from NJ and Murray, merry, marry, and Mary are all distinct.

Berry is like merry and bury is like Murray.

I've lived in Philly and then the suburbs for a couple of decades now and have never noticed the berry-bury thing - I'm guessing it's a South Philly thing? So do you eat straw'bury's or do you 'berry' your dead pets?

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I'm also from NJ, but I would be pressed to hear the difference between Marry and Mary tbh. The rest are all distinct though!

But I'm also told, when people find out I'm from NJ (online people), that "You don't sound like you're from NJ" so idk.

I was born here, so simply I must sound like someone from NJ cause I am! Logic.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Interesting! I think central, north, and south Jersey all have some distinctions in accent. Plus I think a lot of people have a pretty stereotyped idea of what New Jerseyans are "supposed" to sound like haha

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago

Oh yes, people absolutely have an idea of what we're suppose to sound like!

Once I start cursing like a sailor they go "oh okay yeah you're from NJ" lmfao. I don't curse nearly as much in text.

[–] Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I get the rest, but how is "Mary" different?

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's how I pronounce it. So now I'm even more confused! How is "merry" different? Because I pronounce that just like Mary.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)
[–] bigfondue@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/English-language_vowel_changes_before_historic_/r/

Yes I would say "bury" like "berry"

I grew up in North Philly and South Jersey

It's listed under Merry Murray merger in the wiki link

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My ex got so mad because down here the boy name Don and the girl name Dawn sound about the same. He would yell no it's not it's DAAHN and DWAWN! But we don't have that nasal Midwestern thing, it's just Don and Daun.

[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 3 points 1 day ago

In my area, "Don" is pronounced with the mouth wide, jaw open. Force a smile as you say it, and you should be in the ballpark.

"Dawn" is pronounced with the lips pursed. Kiss your grandmother on the cheek.