How you pronounce kilometer?

[Constant Mesh]

I've been watching some of the bicycle race in France.

I'm always curious about how the announcers pronounce kilometer. People can't seem to agree on how it's pronounced.

One would believe the correct way is "kilo" meter. We pronounce kilogram as "kilo" gram.

Many say "kilom" eter. Maybe it sounds better to them that way.

Seems like it's correct to always say "kilo" whatever.

 

[ionbeam]

Klick.

 

[RossKean]

When the unit became officially mandated in Canada, the "official" pronunciation was to say it as you would "pillow beater". Personally, I prefer the accent on the second syllable.

 

[Fred W]

621 milli-miles.

 

[Mr_Canoehead]

KILO-meter - just like CENTI-meter or MILLI-meter; you dont say mill - IMMETER, why would you say kill-OMMETER?

Pet peeve.....

 

[mcatrophy]

According to the University of Cambridge (that's Cambridgeshire, UK), the American pronunciation is kill-om-itter, the UK is kill-owe-meater. Reference.

Personally (though it pains me to admit it), I usually say it the American way, or else just "kay".

 

[redzgrider]

Mile.

 

[Bounce]

Federal Highway Administration guidance was KEELOHmeter.

 

[Cav47]

We don't.

 

[LKLD]

We said klicks in the service, but I say ki-lom-eter.

 

[SacramentoMike]

You asked the question wrong anyway. You asked how I pronounce kilometer. Is that what you wanted to know, or did you want to know how it's supposed to be pronounced? Answer: Hell, I dunno.

 

[Fred W]

I pronounce it "Throat Warbler Mangrove."

 

[Nanahanman]

How do you say speedometer?

Same for kilometer.

However, there is the US vs English language thing so y'all in the US may have a different take

 

[RossKean]

Take your pick

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/kilometre

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kilometer

https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-kil2.htm

And finally...




So, we still don't know!

 

[eflyguy]

Not only are both forms commonly used, but they are both used by the same people..

The precise way would be kilo-meter, per the unit, but when used in conversation, it's often kill-ommeter.

How far to the store? Five kilo-meters.

How fast can we go to get there? About 75 kill-ommeters an hour.

I grew up in a metric world, and many people used both like that.

 

[Uncle Hud]

KILL-oh-meter. Most times I say "kay-emms". Fewer syllables. Brevity is important.

 

[SacramentoMike]

How do you say speedometer?Same for kilometer.

However, there is the US vs English language thing so y'all in the US may have a different take

We don't all say "y'all," y'know.

So is it "speed-AH-meter," or "SPEED-uh-meter?" No, really.

 

[Uncle Hud]

SacramentoMike is correct. Only us lucky Southerners use "y'all".

And, of course it's pronounced speed-AH-meter.

 

[El Toro]

spid om eter, no?

When our first son was born in 1978 the nurses at Vanderbilt's neonatal intensive care unit (long story ... you will be spared) were all talking about saunt eh meters.

I had to listen to their context to figure out that they were referring to centimeters. If I'd corrected them, they would have thought I was nuts. What did I know? Stupid dumbass highfalutin' engineer.... mumble mumble mumble. No, I did not correct them. I know which side of the bread is buttered, and if there's anyone you don't want being P'O'd at you, its the nurses in the ICU who are taking care of your loved one.

So ... I sucked it up.

Now as for kilometers ... it seems to me that you say potayto and I say patahto ... difference is the spice of life.

Like Flaming Go Drive, is Flamingo Drive (in Madison north of Nashville). And Lah Fayette is Lafayette down there where the old Nashville Sears Roebuck used to be. And Receipt passes for Recipe throughout women's Church groups in Southern Churchs ... or at least it used to.

Can't we all jes git along?