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English speakers from North America, do you pronounce the first R in the word "February"? Hi, This question is for English speakers from North America. Do you pronounce the first R in the word "February"? I personally don't but am I actually wrong for not doing so? Thank you so much.

Answers · 8

3
In Canada, most people I know say "FEB - U - ARY". The "R" is silent.
2
https://www.italki.com/question/428954 I personally don’t pronounce the first R in February. Merriam-Webster lists both pronunciations, and the first one is without the R. UK dictionaries also list both pronunciations. Note that if you drop the R, you pronounce a Y (IPA /j/) instead. Allow me to be uncharacteristically blunt: Anyone who claims the pronunciation without the R is “wrong” doesn’t really know English. To be fair, there was a Simpsons episode where Lisa had a nightmare in which she dropped the first R in “library.” She was traumatized ;) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/February
1
I pronounce the first "R" in "February," and it is my opinion that "Febuary" is a) a very common b) mispronunciation. (Sorry, I should have read Phil's posting--I've just rediscovered what he already posted:) And I am wrong! The American Heritage dictionary lists both pronunciations. That is, "Febuary" is so common that they simply consider it to be an alternative pronunciation. OxfordDictionaries.com lists both, as well. The problem, of course, is that "February" is difficult to say, and it feels as if it ought to follow the same pattern as "January." But, the dictionaries agree with me: you MUST pronounce the first "R" in the word "library."
1
In Texas... for sure, the R is silent.
1
Yes, we pronounce it but don't stress it.

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