My wife pronounces it three different ways, each of which she can support. I pronounce it one, but other than that it’s the way I’ve heard it I can’t support my pronunciation even after some searches. What’s yours and why?
If it’s in a Greek or ancient Latin context I pronounce it with a hard C, but if it’s a general English context I pronounce it with a soft C.
I’m not sure what the third way would be.
So far, the main way I haven’t seen suggested.
I guess I owe my wife an apology.
So how do you pronounce it?
Honestly, I’m afraid to say. No one will support me, it seems.
Sen-chwar.
Wouldn’t that be spelled centuar (like how “actually” is often pronounced “ackschually”) and not centaur?
…yea I wanna explanation
Sorry, I’m not sure how to explain. It’s the only way I’ve ever heard it said.
I told my wife about this thread and about how you said you pronounced it differently and she jokingly said “sen-CHWAR” in a funny voice. When I read your comment off to her she laughed incredibly hard. Her joke turned out to be spot on lol.
Rude.
But I’m glad I could add some levity to your day! I can often make my wife chortle, but when I can make her laugh incredibly hard it’s a good day.
I have not once in my entire life heard anyone say it like that. Where are you from? Maybe it’s a regional thing…
Maryland. Maybe it’s regional, like you said. However, I was sheltered growing up, so maybe not.
That very well could be regional. Are you near Baltimore? I grew up around DC, but mostly in Annapolis, and I’ve always said it like cen-tar
Edit - I agree with the person below, your brain probably decided that’s how it was pronounced at a young age. There’s a bunch of words I’ve read but never say out loud because I know I will say them wrong! I should just own them, there’s too many great words out there!
“Hermione”
I am no longer in Maryland, but yes, I spent most of my life within an hour of Baltimore. I was indeed an avid reader, so it’s possible that I made my own decision about its pronunciation (that has certainly happened with other words), but I think I got this one from hearing my mom say it. I can’t prove that, though.
>EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted wants to know your location.
I’ve never heard it that way but I get it. A combination of (the relevant bits of) suture and jaguar. Only problem is, it’s not spelled centuar, it’s spelled centaur.
However, until one shows up to personally correct your spelling and pronunciation, I think you’re free to call imaginary creatures whatever you call them.
So on the one hand, I think you are going to find almost nobody agrees with your pronunciation. On the other hand, you should wear your mispronunciations with pride because what that tells me is that you were a reader growing up and likely came about this word the first time in text without any other context, maybe even many times before you heard it spoken. Your brain made an educated guess (I’m guess pulling from the pronunciation of “jaguar”?). It got it wrong, but understandably so, and it has cemented in your brain. Fix it if you care to, but no real need. Either way, kudos for being a young reader.
Chwar? Like… Shwarma?
Now i’m hungry for a Centaur shawarma.
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Hard C and noticeable U: Ken-tower.
Is tower 1 or 2 syllables for you?
Two. The last part of centaur is tau-or.
Similarly, “dinosaur” is pronounced dino-sour, and not as dino-saw.
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Sehn-tar, because I am American and that’s how I learned to say it. How am I meant to justify a common pronunciation?
Cent as sent + taur as tor. We pronounce most greek c’s as s in english as is cicero or cent being pronounced with an s sound instead of a k sound. Tor is the same as in taurus. Mine is not the only correct pronunciation, my explanation is just the justification for my specific pronunciation
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Wait you’re telling me it’s Kickero? 🤯
Back in his day, yes. In modern greek it is sisero and in modern latin it is Chichero. Similarly, in Julius Caesar’s day, his name would have been pronounced Kai-zar and in modern latin and italian, it is Chai-zar.
sen-tar
“sen-” like “cent” (like 25 cents), and “-tar” like “a tar pit”
Correctly, smugly and pretentiously
Nice.
Sen-tar. I used to say sen-tore as a kid (as in taurine) but I think it sounds better the other way. Also easier to say in my opinion.
I pronounce it like sen + tar, and accent it like boxcar. Can’t think of a reason, that’s just how it looks to me.
sans-taure (because I’m francophone)
C’est la voie.
sin-a-tar just because it seems right, even though the spelling clearly indicates otherwise.
Well, it seems not a single other person agrees with me on my choice of pronunciation, but it’s nice to not be the only one whose answer isn’t based on the spelling!
Thank you for the answer.
Man, English is a mess.
Be fair. We inherited most of that mess from the French.
You’re not wrong.
Sɛntɵ
sen-tor
As in taurus, which rhymes with torus.
This is the only way in English I’ve ever known
A bunch of Americans pronounce it sen-tar for some reason that I’ve never understood.
That’s how it looks.
I also pronounce Taurus closer to “Tarus” than toorus.
Seems just like a regional accent thing
That’s one of my wife’s answers.
You’re very prompt.
Cen-toor
