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> Don't expect it to make sense. It only makes sense if you know how the word entered the english language. Face and celery comes from french which pronounces

> Don't expect it to make sense. It only makes sense if you know how the word entered the english language. Face and celery comes from french which pronounces these words with a soft c. So we pronounce it with a soft c. Coupe comes from french which pronounces it with a hard c. Hence why we pronounce coupe with a hard c. The 'strange' spelling and pronunciation of words with c is a result of loan words from many languages ( french, latin, german, spanish, etc ).

tzot 3y ago
Is the etymology really needed in this case to know how to pronounce "c"? I believe in -ce- -ci- -cy- the c is an s, while in -ca- -co- -cu- the c is a k. Perhaps the etymology is needed to know how to write a k/s sound you've never heard before.
- goodbyesf 3y ago
  > Is the etymology really needed in this case to know how to pronounce "c"? No. You learn it through osmosis by being immersed in the culture. We all learn to pronounce face, celery, coupe, etc from our parents, school, media, etc. Etymology only comes into play if you want to know why we pronounce it that way. > I believe in -ce- -ci- -cy- the c is an s, while in -ca- -co- -cu- the c is a k. That probably works most of the time since I believe that's the rule the french use and so much of our vocabulary came from the french. But there are exceptions as others have noted. 'Boston Celtics' is pronounced with a soft c, while the 'celtic people', is pronounced with a hard c. As far as I know it's cultural. There isn't a rule which will help you out here other than you simply have to know it.
- yakubin 3y ago
  Except in “Celtic” and “Cillian” the “c” is a k.
  - Xorakios 3y ago
    Can you imagine when I visited Boston for college interviews and said I was a fan of the <K>eltics? :)
    - arrowsmith 3y ago
      Both pronunciations are acceptable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Celts#Pronunciation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Celts#Pronunciati...
      - bknight1983 3y ago
        Technically yes but in the context of the basketball team it’s only soft C

tzot 3y ago

Is the etymology really needed in this case to know how to pronounce "c"? I believe in -ce- -ci- -cy- the c is an s, while in -ca- -co- -cu- the c is a k. Perhaps the etymology is needed to know how to write a k/s sound you've never heard before.

goodbyesf 3y ago
> Is the etymology really needed in this case to know how to pronounce "c"? No. You learn it through osmosis by being immersed in the culture. We all learn to pronounce face, celery, coupe, etc from our parents, school, media, etc. Etymology only comes into play if you want to know why we pronounce it that way. > I believe in -ce- -ci- -cy- the c is an s, while in -ca- -co- -cu- the c is a k. That probably works most of the time since I believe that's the rule the french use and so much of our vocabulary came from the french. But there are exceptions as others have noted. 'Boston Celtics' is pronounced with a soft c, while the 'celtic people', is pronounced with a hard c. As far as I know it's cultural. There isn't a rule which will help you out here other than you simply have to know it.
yakubin 3y ago
Except in “Celtic” and “Cillian” the “c” is a k.
- Xorakios 3y ago
  Can you imagine when I visited Boston for college interviews and said I was a fan of the <K>eltics? :)
  - arrowsmith 3y ago
    Both pronunciations are acceptable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Celts#Pronunciation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Celts#Pronunciati...
    - bknight1983 3y ago
      Technically yes but in the context of the basketball team it’s only soft C