2 ms·
If I personally say “herbivores and omnivores” I find myself wanting to pronounce the h sound. But my Merriam Webster dictionary implies with parentheses that
by stephenhuey 5y ago
If I personally say “herbivores and omnivores” I find myself wanting to pronounce the h sound. But my Merriam Webster dictionary implies with parentheses that some Americans do not pronounce it:
ˈ(h)ər-bə-ˌvȯr
- kazinator 5y agoThe difference is more pronounced (pun intended) when an indefinite article is attached: "an herb" versus "a herb".
- stephenhuey 5y agoTrue, but I tend to think of choosing the indefinite article appropriate to how I pronounce the word. So if I pronounce the h then I’d choose a, but since I don’t I always go with an. But for herbivore, it would be a for me. :)