Distribute ⁰

...just read that the "t" went in the 17th century and started to come back into usage about 70 or 80 years ago.

Both are in the Oxford and the Cambridge dictionaries.

Grammaretto

Is it offen or often?

"Offen", obviously!

Whitewavemark2

Do we all understand what they are saying?

Yes

End of

Quite

That must have been a slow news day, two years ago!

I've found it! Started by kircubbin two years ago!!!

share.google/EpPFORVqh5Uu0cBqs

You say Tomato, I say Tomayto ....

I agree totally kircubbjn2000. It's bothered me for a while now that people suddenly started saying CONtribute and DIStribute. I. can understand why people do it and I am wondering how far back both versions are mentioned in the OED. I did say at the time too, that you never hear Americans say CON-tribute or DIS-tribute, which is backed up by graphite's quote. If I can find the conversation I'll post a link.

Do we all understand what they are saying?

Yes

End of

kircubbin2000

MaizieD

I don’t see the problem. Who isn’t saying them properly and how are they going wrong?

Every time it's mentioned on TV they pronounce it distra bute instead of dis Trib ute.

Aaahhh. I get it. That is awful, I'd be shouting at the screen.

On the other hand, the matter of which syllable is stressed is not so serious

Though the modern tendency to say ree search drives me up the wall

Grannybags

Now you've got me walking about muttering distribution out loud and doubting myself 😁

😂😂😂

Now you've got me walking about muttering distribution out loud and doubting myself 😁

Grannybags yes because it can't be a disTRIbution lorry. Or can it?

kircubbin2000: If you can't say this properly just Google it.

All is not lost. I can say 'this' properly without the need to Google 'it'.

Definitely often!

I usually emphasise the first syllable of distribute and I say paraSEETamol (and have heard medics say it the same way).

The one that annoys me is 'nucular' instead of 'nu-clear'.

CONtribute does mildly irritate me, but not nearly as much as REEsearch.

And I do hope I’m not the only one who wishes the Shipping Forecast presenters would pronounce Cape Wrath to rhyme with moth, and not with American-speak math.

I think i say it either way, and I don't even care!

Is it offen or often?

I say DIS tribute.

I'm a Southerner with Northern parents if that helps!

I'd no idea at all, until last week that there is an expected way of saying words in terms of emphasising particular parts.

MaizieD

I don’t see the problem. Who isn’t saying them properly and how are they going wrong?

Every time it's mentioned on TV they pronounce it distra bute instead of dis Trib ute.

My DM called the appendages on eether eyether side of your face, your Years
It always irritated me.
And here is me trying to learn Gaelic. 😟😂

Have I correctly contributed to the discussion?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202605/medium-afv6rl-screenshot-2026-05-31-at-09-02-47.png https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202605/medium-avo05s-screenshot-2026-05-31-at-09-04-24.png

Paracetamol

OK.

Why didn't I just do this:

dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/paracetamol

loopyloo

Had a set-to with DD about paracetamol.
I pronounce it parasetamol and she says paraseetamol.

I expect the "see" pronunciation is correct as the "see" sound is also in its other name acetaminophen.

I don't know this for sure but logically it makes sense.