SIGforum
“Off-ten” or “offen”. How do you pronounce it?
August 15, 2026, 12:53 AM
Ogie“Off-ten” or “offen”. How do you pronounce it?
It depends on how you are conversating.
August 15, 2026, 09:01 AM
WaterburyBobI'm gunna pronounce it the way I always have - offen.
"If Gun Control worked, Chicago would look like Mayberry, not Thunderdome" - Cam Edwards
August 15, 2026, 04:45 PM
ScreamingCockatooThere's a T in there. Off Ten.
Like there's a D in sandwich. Not sammich.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
August 15, 2026, 05:35 PM
sigfreundOne of the joys that students of American English always discover is the countless pronunciation conventions that have nothing to do with how the specific letters in certain words are normally pronounced.
As an example, how might we pronounce “
ghoti” based on some of those common conventions?
“ One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. … Against stupidity we are defenseless. … [R]easons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one's prejudgment simply need not be believed … and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside ….”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer August 15, 2026, 06:44 PM
bertoI pronounce the "T" in often but not in some other words like city names in the bay area and the rest of CA.
August 15, 2026, 06:52 PM
StorminNorminquote:
Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
There's a T in there. Off Ten.
Like there's a D in sandwich. Not sammich.
It might not be proper, but to me a sammich sometimes means something simple and good like a BLT sammich or a PB&J sammich.
NRA Benefactor Life Member August 15, 2026, 07:58 PM
V-Tailquote:
Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
There's a T in there. Off Ten.
Like there's a D in sandwich. Not sammich.
I usually don't pronounce the 'k' in knee or know.
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים August 15, 2026, 09:36 PM
straightshooter1Off-ten is how this old redneck pronounces the word. I can't think of anyone in my family or circle of friends and acquaintences who pronounce it offen.
Bob
August 16, 2026, 05:10 AM
ScreamingCockatooWell there's an S in ask too...
It's ASK not AKS(axe).
My mom was an English and History teacher.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
August 16, 2026, 09:33 AM
bettysnephewSOOO, How in the blooming hell does Saint John become Sin Jin?
To stay on subject, offen.
The “POLICE"
Their job Is To Save Your Ass,
Not Kiss It
The muzzle end of a .45 pretty much says "go away" in any language - Clint Smith
August 16, 2026, 09:58 AM
PatenI understand the pronunciation of Often with the silent T. I don't understand people who drop the Ts in other words though. It kind of pisses me off a little.
Have You Noticed People Not Pronouncing Their T’s?August 16, 2026, 10:19 AM
a1abdjLet's look at words similar to often:
Do you say Sof-Ten?
Fas-Ten?
Mois-Ten?
August 16, 2026, 11:54 AM
BillyBonesNYI pronounce it as it is written, hyphen nitrates a pause.
Often
August 16, 2026, 12:49 PM
ftttuThere are nerdy, but interesting YouTube videos on the origins of our words.
Also: Daddy, that was a big ghoti you caught today! “Ghoti” is the gh of laugh, the o in women, and the ti in motion.
Retired Texas Lawman
August 16, 2026, 01:46 PM
sigfreundquote:
Originally posted by ftttu:
Also: Daddy, that was a big ghoti you caught today! “Ghoti” is the gh of laugh, the o in women, and the ti in motion.
Finally.
“ One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. … Against stupidity we are defenseless. … [R]easons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one's prejudgment simply need not be believed … and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside ….”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer