pronouncing nike like like

My, aren't you the snotty little twat.

I'm not sure they are pronouncing it that way out of ognorance. I think they are using a "nickname" if you will. I hear people say Nyke Airs sometimes.

IDK

I used to work at a running store and this guy would always come in and ask if he could try on some Azlicks (Asics)

That's not fair. You have to assume that they have never heard the word spoken, or used it in conversation, otherwise they would know how to pronounce it correctly and do so (unless they are being willfully wrong, but I'll ignore that).

So, all people are doing is pouncing the word in the most intuitive way - if like="lyke", then Nike="nyke". This is common sense - what would be "stupid" is thinking "Now, there is nothing to suggest this, but I think that this Nike word must somehow be pronounced completely differently to every other word with the same structure, so I will make up a different pronunciation and hope I get it right".

They are not stupid, they just lack that particular piece of knowledge. A good shop assistant would graciously provide them with this piece of knowledge - perhaps when they ask to try on the "Nykes" you can say "Yeah, the Nikes, no problem" and help them out, make them feel comfortable and help introduce them in to this wonderful sport.

I pronounce it Nyke. Always have always will.

Looks like most people do too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X6V5DnxmAE

pepG wrote:

I pronounce it Nyke. Always have always will.

Looks like most people do too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X6V5DnxmAE

ok, who gives a crap about a y or an i? same pronunciation. i'm talking the e at the end of nike.

i'm incredulous because it's not like nike is a specialty running brand, but rather one of the big mamas of athletic apparel of all time. part of our cultural lexicon. to be unfamiliar with that seems bizarre to me.

I've taught English in Turkey, Hungary, and Morocco, and almost all my kids pronounced Nike as if the word rhymes with "mike". I tried to correct it, but had my students started using the American pronunciation, nobody in their respective countries would have understood what they were talking about. So I left well enough alone.

pepG wrote:

I pronounce it Nyke. Always have always will.

Looks like most people do too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X6V5DnxmAE

Seems like a valid site for verifying pronunciation:

Good call.

bmcpool strikes back wrote:

what's the deal with people saying nike without saying the e at the end? i worked in a running store for 2 years and people said this all the time. someone said that they other day and it blew my mind again. are people really that stupid that they don't know how to pronounce the name of nike?

Nike is the greek goddess of victory, and should be pronounced that way.

They say "Nyke" in Argentina, and I would assume most of South America does the same thing. Regardless they are wrong.

Coopington wrote:

Seems like a valid site for verifying pronunciation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrAUQWCE9cI&feature=relmfu

Good call.

That's a (freakin hilarious) parody youtube account.

Nike rhymes with bike

1) Pronouncing it like "Mike" is shorter,thus the default for many people - right or wrong.

2) It's the name of a company - who fvcking cares??

A similar situation:

I own a wine shop and also sell accessories such as glasses, openers, etc. The "Nike" in the world of wine glasses is a company called Riedel - pronounced ree-dle(rhymes with needle). 8 out of 10 customeres refer to them as ry-dell glasses. I don't correct them but if they hear me pronounce it they often remark that they always wondered about the correct pronounciation. This includes otherwise knowledgeable customers. I should know my stuff as the shop owner, but I don't fault anyone for not knowing- it's just not that important.

A funny parallel is that Riedel glasses are overblown in their importance, you can get the same quality at better prices. But guess what I sell the most of?

Will you offer an LRC discount at your shop?

I would most certainly, but to maintain my double life as a letsrun poster I can't tell you the name of the shop. It is located in New England - the pass phrase will be "marathons suck" - you must say this loudly upon entry and I will give you 15% off anything in the shop. Good luck!

Also, keep in mind that I will neither confirm or deny that I am the mystery wine shop owner on letsrun - when confronted I will only say that you looked like someone who could use a discount...

Oh, it must be a slow time of year for letsrun.com. Glad the Olympics are just around the corner. Then we can start discussing really important things like what color of Nikes were the most popular. I can hardly wait!

Longshanks wrote:

I used to work at a running store and this guy would always come in and ask if he could try on some Azlicks (Asics)

nah the guy wanted your bits

Does anyone know how to say Linux?

Is it lynn-ucks or lye-nux?