Is there a pronounce difference between sea and see?

Question

Last night I was watching a British comedy and I heard a character saying "I want to see the sea". The other said: "You can see the sea". I pressed the rewind button of the remote control to hear it again and I didn't notice any difference between see and sea. Both sounds like "see".

Now I've just heard the words on howjsay website and still can't notice difference. Did I miss something?

Thanks for your attention.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

No, these words sound exactly the same.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

So if someone wants to say "I want to see the see"(just for kidding, as it doesn't make any sense), will the listener understand it as "see the see"? Or is it impossible?

Philip · Answer

The context makes it clear to the person being addressed. see is a verb and wouldn't follow the; sea is a noun and wouldn't follow to.

[However, see is also a noun meaning the center of authority [Sea of Rome = pope's jurisdiction]. I'm sure there would be no confusion.]

Clive · Answer

Hi,

The listener will assume the speaker is saying something that makes sense, so will understand it as 'see the sea'. Then the speaker will have to say 'That's not what I meant', and explain why he is speaking nonsense.

The grammar, and the context in which something is said, normally makes the meaning very clear.

For example, I say 'I went for a swim in the sea'.

The listener is not going to think

Clive said 'I went for a swim in the see'', oh my ***, what does he mean?

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Well I think there might not be any difference...maybe they pronounce the same way..like then and than

Fivejedjon · Answer

'Then' and 'than' are not pronounced the same way.

Anonymous · Answer

see is like when you watch something and sea is like an ocean.

Is there a pronounce difference between sea and see?

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