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Schala Posted 17 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
Pronunciation of Magus?
For the life of me, I don't understand people saying MEY-GUH S.
When you look at the word, it instantly reminds you of the word Magic. So you give it a hard MAG-US.
Can someone explain to me why Mey-Guh-s is more acceptable than Mag-us?
When you look at the word, it instantly reminds you of the word Magic. So you give it a hard MAG-US.
Can someone explain to me why Mey-Guh-s is more acceptable than Mag-us?
Top answer
Welcome to English Forums! com/dictionary/magus Click on the pronunciation icons. CJ
- Welcome to English Forums!
- com/dictionary/magus Click on the pronunciation icons.
- CJ
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15 Answers
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Welcome to English Forums!
See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magus
Click on the pronunciation icons.
CJ
See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magus
Click on the pronunciation icons.
CJ
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I understand thats how the dictionary says it.
That wasn't my question, I'm asking why is it said that way? Mag-us seems more reasonable.
That wasn't my question, I'm asking why is it said that way? Mag-us seems more reasonable.
00
Hi,
I pronounce it that way because that's how I've always heard educated people pronounce it.
Clive
I pronounce it that way because that's how I've always heard educated people pronounce it.
Clive
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SchalaThat wasn't my question, I'm asking why is it said that way? Mag-us seems more reasonable.Well, yes, I don't doubt the sincerity of your feelings about what is reasonable, but then you may as well question the pronunciation of about 5,000 other English words!
To me, for example, it would be more reasonable to pronounce do and to a
00
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In fairness, "poor" and "moor" (and "more") are all pronounced the same way as "door" and "floor" where I live.
Also, Colonel is a French word and not subject to our phonetics.
Similarly, Magus is a Latin word, deriving from greek "magos". The plural form is "Magi".
Also, Colonel is a French word and not subject to our phonetics.
Similarly, Magus is a Latin word, deriving from greek "magos". The plural form is "Magi".
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SchalaI understand thats how the dictionary says it.That wasn't my question, I'm asking why is it said that way? Mag-us seems more reasonable.here is an observation/phenomenon: "2 syllable words with latin suffixes such as -ent, -ant, -ous, -us, -al, -urn have initial tense vowels"
-ant: vacant, secant, mutant
-ent: recent, decent, foment, momen
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My name is Magus and I am a Zimbabwean.
Eversince I was young my name has been through numerous pronounciations across three continents.
MER-GUS, MAH-GUS, MAH-GES, MAH-GOOS, MAG-US, MEY-GUH S, MEH-GOOS. Some I don't even remember.
I am glad someone has said something that seems reasonable. I will stick with MEY-GUS.
Eversince I was young my name has been through numerous pronounciations across three continents.
MER-GUS, MAH-GUS, MAH-GES, MAH-GOOS, MAG-US, MEY-GUH S, MEH-GOOS. Some I don't even remember.
I am glad someone has said something that seems reasonable. I will stick with MEY-GUS.
00
The 'u' after 'g' makes the sound a hard g, as in goose. A 'g' followed by 'i' or 'e' makes the g sound like a 'j', as in ginger or generation.
RB
RB
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