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Andrew
Why does this word sound like this?
choir / ˈkwaiə /
Nov 11, 2014 5:15 PM
Answers · 5
According to Google, it used to be spelled exactly like it's pronounced (ie. "quire"), but it's spelling was changed to more closely resemble the French "choeur".
November 11, 2014
It's hard to answer without speaking it, but it sounds like "quire" or "k wire" or "kw eye or"
November 11, 2014
Thanks to Jmat, I found the thread: Why is 'choir' pronounced kwʌɪə? [quire]
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=2117387&langid=18
Wordreference forum member 'ewie' wrote: "
The question you should really be asking, Karen, is: Why is the word kwʌɪə spelt 'choir'?
It was originally spelt quire, and borrowed from Old French quer.
Some time in the 17th century people started spelling it choir so that it would look more like Modern(ish) French choeur. The new spelling remained ... alongside the old/original pronunciation"
November 12, 2014
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Andrew
Language Skills
English, Russian
Learning Language
English
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