Why is “Sour“ Pronounced “Sir“ in French?340

If you're an English speaker who's ever tried to learn French, you've probably noticed that the pronunciation of the word "sour" is a bit unexpected. In French, it's pronounced "sir," which can be quite confusing at first.

So, why is "sour" pronounced this way in French? The answer has to do with the history of the word and how it has evolved over time.

The word "sour" comes from the Latin word "surus," which means "sharp" or "tart." When the word was borrowed into French, it was pronounced with a long "u" sound, similar to the English word "rude." However, over time, the "u" sound gradually shortened and became more like an "i" sound. This is a common sound change that has occurred in many languages over time.

In addition to the sound change in the vowel, the final "r" sound in "sour" has also been dropped in French. This is another common sound change that has occurred in many languages, and it's likely due to the fact that the "r" sound is a relatively weak sound.

So, the combination of the sound change in the vowel and the loss of the final "r" sound has resulted in the modern pronunciation of "sour" in French, which is "sir."

It's important to note that the pronunciation of "sour" in French can vary depending on the region. In some regions, it may be pronounced with a more pronounced "i" sound, while in other regions it may be pronounced with a more neutral vowel sound.

Here are some additional examples of words that have undergone similar sound changes in French:
Flour (English): pronounced "fleur" in French
Sour (English): pronounced "sir" in French
Hour (English): pronounced "heur" in French
Door (English): pronounced "dor" in French
More (English): pronounced "mor" in French

These are just a few examples, but there are many other words that have undergone similar sound changes in French. These sound changes are a natural part of language evolution, and they can make it difficult for learners to master the pronunciation of a new language.

2025-01-27

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