What Can I Get You?

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Can you say “What can I getchu?” when taking an order at fast food restaurant or is that too informal?

Dave_anon · Accepted Answer

Hi

I'd say that your question is about code switching. That comes up quite often in discussion about varieties of English when it used as a second language. But it also comes into play amongst people of different class or income or social community.

Running the 't' and the 'y' together so that it sounds, for example, as 'getchu', happens quite a lot. If you are working in a fast food place where most of the customers - maybe the staff - tend to do that, there's nothing wrong if you slip into that. If you pronounce the sounds carefully, separately, your customers may feel that you are trying to distance yourself from them.

It has to be said, if you say 'getchu' in a false sounding way, that will not be good either.

Of course, it is very informal. If you are being interviewed for a job in an office, it's unlikely to help you.

So long as you can do either - and judge which is right - I'd say it's just part of learning the language.

Dave

CalifJim · Answer

anonymousCan you say “What can I getchu?” when taking an order at fast food restaurant

Is there any other way to say it at a fast-food restaurant?

In other words, yes, you certainly can.

anonymousis that too informal?

Not at all.

American English

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Middle Atlantic, USA, that would pass unnoticed at even the finest restaurant. That is the formal pronunciation alongside the informal "getcha". I think you can say that Americans are hard on tees as a rule, making them dees and cee-aitches and glottal stops, whereas most Brits neatly nip them off with their teeth.

CalifJim · Answer

anonymous Can you say “What can I getchu?” when taking an order at fast food restaurant or is that too informal?

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