Just say "Tarot"

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kyrielle	30 Aug 2002
Here's a weird little question from the performance artist who studies linguistics as a hobby: How do you say Tarot? Does the first syllable rhyme with bear or bar? Is the second syllable "oh" or "uht?" I think it would be interesting to see if there's any pattern to the pronunciations of people in different regions and countries. As I understand it, there's no wrong way to pronounce it. I was curious as to how it does get pronounced. So does it rhyme with parrot, or pharaoh, or borrow, or something else? I'm a "rhymes with pharaoh" person (from central US). -- Kyrielle

Phoenix	31 Aug 2002
I pronounce it like I would pronounce pharaoh. I believe the actual word Tarot comes from the French.

zorya	31 Aug 2002
i'm from the midwest, usa, and i pronounce it tuh ROE

truthsayer	31 Aug 2002
i'm on the southeast coast and i pronounce it "tear-oh" or like pharoah. but i know ppl who call it tear-it like you're saying carrot. i know ppl who say tuh-ROE. we all come from the same area.it seems to have something to do w/ education and socio-economic status than region of the country imho. i figure its like what mom says about out of towners to the same town she's never left,"i know somebody isn't from here when they call a "pecan" (as in pea can ;) ) a puh-cahn. everybody knows its a pea-can!" i always called my aunt my "ant" until i left home and got around ppl who said "ahnt". guess i'm like one of those foreigners now...

midnightmerry	31 Aug 2002
I'm a pharaoh tarot and a puh-cahn pecan gal.

jade	31 Aug 2002
bear-oh british columbia, canada above washington.

the hermit	31 Aug 2002
the "american" dictionary shows— tar' o or ta ro' as both being acceptable as far as the accented syllable the "a" is not long but pronounced as in "at" the "o" is long and pronounced as in "oh" therefore-- TAR-oh or ta-ROE by the way it also says the "e" in "pecan" is a long "e" as in “pea” and once again either syllable can be accented... so it's PEA-kan or pea-KAN I know, I know... it's that dog-gone virgonian streak in me :D

jade	31 Aug 2002
hermit gets a biscuit! for his very informative post :)

Laurel	31 Aug 2002
tarot like pharaoh

Starfish	31 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Laurel tarot like pharaoh That's how I pronounce it too. :TWOR Starfish

Umbrae	31 Aug 2002
There are some parts of the US where the correct pronunciation is: Tert.

VGimlet	31 Aug 2002
Tarot like pharoah fer sure, fer sure. ;)

Sam	31 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Laurel tarot like pharaoh Quote: Originally posted by Starfish That's how I pronounce it too. :TWOR Starfish same here.

Faerie Lin	31 Aug 2002
tarot like pharoah here too! I say PEE-can like pee in a can (hehehe) though I do like hearing people say it like "pah-con" 'cause it reminds me of a chicken clucking hehehehehe. Lin

fairyhedgehog	31 Aug 2002
Oh my word! I'd only ever heard the British pronunciation, which is like "barrow" ('a' as in 'cat', 'ot' like the 'o' in 'no'). Btw, I don't accept dictionaries as being prescriptive only descriptive. So if we don't follow the dictionary we are right and it is wrong :D

midnightmerry	31 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by the hermit by the way it also says the "e" in "pecan" is a long "e" as in “pea” and once again either syllable can be accented... so it's PEA-kan or pea-KAN I know, I know... it's that dog-gone virgonian streak in me :D Hi Hermit, I listened to my Bostonian step-mother say PEA-can all my life while the rest of the family staunchly stood by Peh-khan (or as someone else tried to write it: Puh-khan). My dictionary (Merriam Webster) does not list PEA-can as an accepted form of pronounciation; it has either: pi-'khan or pi-kan The first being very close to how I pronounce the word. I think any of these, PEA-can, Pi-khan, or Pi-kan are acceptable.

Pollux	31 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by the hermit (...) the "a" is not long but pronounced as in "at" the "o" is long and pronounced as in "oh" (...) ta-ROE

Moose	31 Aug 2002
I'm a Pharaoh Tarot person. I've lived in Nova Scotia, Boston and Staten Island-----you probably wouldn't recognize my pronunciation of Pharaoh never mind Tarot. I'll skip pecan. Blessings...............Moose

Royal Cat	31 Aug 2002
Midwest, USA Bear-oh and pea-khan :) Cat

Kaz	31 Aug 2002
i say it the french way, anyone can do the fonetics for that one??? most ppl do here i believe..... kaz

the hermit	31 Aug 2002
you say potato... I say french fries :D

Royal Cat	31 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by the hermit you say potato... I say french fries :D LOL :D Pass the ketchup/catsup/catchsup

DarkElectric	31 Aug 2002
Barrow-Tarot, and Pee-khan! Also, Cah, as in what you drive, after you drive it, you Pahk it. Neah the shoah. The beach, ya know! Blessings, Dhak. (MassaCHOOOOOOOOsetts!)

Strega	31 Aug 2002
LOL DarkElectric!

RedWood	31 Aug 2002
Tarot as in Pharoah eatin' puh-khan peye. Southeast Michigan..From West "By Gawd" Virginia.

Strega	31 Aug 2002
I agree with truthsayer. "It seems to have something to do with education and socio-economic status than region of the country." It's Tarot like pharoah for me. But I've heard people (in the Philippines) say Tarot as in carrot. :)

midnightmerry	01 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by DarkElectric Barrow-Tarot, and Pee-khan! Also, Cah, as in what you drive, after you drive it, you Pahk it. Neah the shoah. The beach, ya know! Blessings, Dhak. (MassaCHOOOOOOOOsetts!) OMG Dark!!! I was laughing so hard reading your post! I felt like I was a kid again listening to my step-mom from Boston!! Poor thing was the only Northerner in a Southern family and we used to tease her about her pahking the cah by the yahd while the squeeerolls (squirrels) played nearby. Thanks for the laugh.

Marion	01 Sep 2002
puh-cauhn tare-oh and roof, not ruff I spoke with someone recently, and it literally took me a few seconds to realize that they were using the word tarot. They said what sounded like tar-uh. Falling accent throughout. I not only say tare-oh, but use a rising accent in the middle, falling slightly at the end. Interesting regional differences.

midnightmerry	01 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Strega I agree with truthsayer. "It seems to have something to do with education and socio-economic status than region of the country." And how did you come to this conclusion? I, for one, have seen very little educational and social-economic status information offered during this thread. So what are you & Truth basing this statement on?

Strega	01 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by midnightmerry And how did you come to this conclusion? I, for one, have seen very little educational and social-economic status information offered during this thread. So what are you & Truth basing this statement on? It wasn't a "conclusion", but one of the MANY possibilities based on the fact that people from the same area do (sometimes) pronounce the same words differently. :)

Kiama	01 Sep 2002
I'm British, and I say it like FairyHedgehog, to rhyme with 'barrow'... So: 'Ta-ROE) (Short 'a', and the 'o' as in 'bow and arrow') Kiama

Kazz	03 Sep 2002
I think it comes down to the accent!! Anyhow this little aussie says it like "Barrow" Cheers Kazz :TQC

jmd	03 Sep 2002
Reading this thread, I found myself asking so often: but what is your pronounciation of 'pharoah' from which the comparison is made? I tend to pronounce it with the accent on the first syllable: TA-roe The 'A' as in the French 'A', as in Car or Aha! (not the 'short' a of 'cat'), and the 'o' as in Do (the note) or the Christmas 'HohHohHoh!'. Most people around Melbourne which I know tend to a similar pronounciation, though there are variations.

catlin	03 Sep 2002
I pronounce it in the French way that is with skipping the final t so it is "Taro" (with a long "oh" at the end). We Germans can also discuss if the word "tarot" is neutre, feminine or masculin (remember the story Mark Twain wrote about German words)? At least you English-speaking folk do not have to bother with that!

midnightmerry	03 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Strega based on the fact that people from the same area do (sometimes) pronounce the same words differently. :) Ahhhh! I was just curious and I was kind of hoping you did have some information to back this supposition- it's the anthropological training I have, I think.

Jewel	03 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer i'm on the southeast coast and i pronounce it "tear-oh" or like pharoah. but i know ppl who call it tear-it like you're saying carrot. i know ppl who say tuh-ROE. we all come from the same area.it seems to have something to do w/ education and socio-economic status than region of the country imho. i figure its like what mom says about out of towners to the same town she's never left,"i know somebody isn't from here when they call a "pecan" (as in pea can ;) ) a puh-cahn. everybody knows its a pea-can!" i always called my aunt my "ant" until i left home and got around ppl who said "ahnt". guess i'm like one of those foreigners now... *LOL* ... well as for Tarot I pronounce it "tear-oh" like pharoah also. I pronouce pecan as "puh-can" (I don't care what you say Truthsayer ~giggles~ ;)) and my ant is my "ant" ... like the pesky little picnic creatures but she does not try to crawl on my food :P

The Just say "Tarot" thread was originally posted on 30 Aug 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.