How do you pronounce “crayon”?

[NAB]

This was always a hard one for me to say as well as iron. I think I say cran but know it’s cray on

Went to speech therapy in elementary school for my r’s . That was very long time ago

 

[Jennasis]

Cray-on

 

[Christine]

LIke another person just said: it rhymes with the fabric "rayon."

 

[DLgal]

LIke another person just said: it rhymes with the fabric "rayon."

You mean "ran?"

 

[1GoldenSun]

We're "cran" people at my house. But then, I grew up saying "meer" for the word "mirror" so maybe we're strange.

 

[tvguy]

My husband and I got into it last night after he pronounced the word “crayon” without saying the “yo” portion. I’ve never heard anyone say it that way before or I must have been wildly ignoring it. I pronounce it like “cray-awn” and he thinks I’m crazy.

Who is right? And how did I not hear this before? Is my marriage in trouble? Is everything built on this one big lie? Rome is burning. Send help.

Tell your husband to step away from his crayons for a minute and look in the dictionary. LOL.

 

[E&Cmom]

Cray-on.

 

[Imzadi]

LIke another person just said: it rhymes with the fabric "rayon."

You mean "ran?"

 

[Meriweather]

2 syllables.....never heard it pronounced any other way......

 

[Kirby]

I pronounce it with two syllables but occasionally Crayolas with three.

 

[_19disnA]

Cray-on

Same here. Never knew anyone pronounces it as only one syllable until I saw this thread.

 

[tzolkin]

I'm actually surprised by the poll results (currently at 10% who say "cran"). I have lived in several different regions of the US and feel like way more than 50% of people say it as one syllable. My kids and I have actually had this conversation quite a few times because they've had arguments with friends over the pronunciation.

I say it as two syllables, but everyone in my house says it slightly differently.

What about the people who pronounce it by the brand name "Crayola?" Sounds too hoity toity for me.

Like they say, "Do you have some Crayolas I can use?" I have heard many other brand names for things-- Kleenex, Kotex, QTips, etc but never heard that one before.

 

[ronandannette]

My husband and I got into it last night after he pronounced the word “crayon” without saying the “yo” portion. I’ve never heard anyone say it that way before or I must have been wildly ignoring it. I pronounce it like “cray-awn” and he thinks I’m crazy.

Who is right? And how did I not hear this before? Is my marriage in trouble? Is everything built on this one big lie? Rome is burning. Send help.

Well, that depends. Tell us how he hangs the toilet paper. One of you may actually be a monster.

You are right.
The good news is, you may qualify for an annulment based on this discovery.

For sure. Don't just divorce...make it like it never even happened.

Philly vernacular: crown

But now that you know better, you can do better...right?

Same here. Never knew anyone pronounces it as only one syllable until I saw this thread.

The previously unknown horrors unleashed by the DIS are numerous. I think I liked it better when I was just whistling in the dark.

 

[RedAngie]

But now that you know better, you can do better...right?

I CAN, but why would I WANT to???

Don’t worry, I pronounce it correctly when in high company, and only say “crown” when hanging out with lowlifes.

Come to think of it, that would be 90% of the time.

 

[Hook326]

I say crans. Grew up in the NW suburbs of Chicago. Feels weird to say “cray-awn” even if it is correct.

Same Chicago. About the same for me as to the pronunciation. I sort of drop or slide over the second syllable.

NW of Chicago in IL here and 3 out of 4 of us in my house say it with one syllable. Youngest son says 2 syllables (oldest son said crayola at first). I’ve never heard the crown version.

 

[Christine]

I just wonder who first looked at the word crayon and thought it was anything other than two syllables? Does it start with manybe a heavily accented individual.

I've course I don't know how people look at the word CAR-A-MEL and drop the syllable in the middle to say "Car-Muhl." And a LOT of people say it that way--very puzzling to me.

 

[Dan Murphy]

look at the word CAR-A-MEL and drop the syllable in the middle to say "Car-Muhl." And a LOT of people say it that way--very puzzling to me.

Carmuhl is the correct pronunciation, Christine., silent 'a'

 

[tzolkin]

I've course I don't know how people look at the word CAR-A-MEL and drop the syllable in the middle to say "Car-Muhl." And a LOT of people say it that way--very puzzling to me.

Carmuhl is the correct pronunciation, Christine., silent 'a'

I’m with Christine— Carmel is a real word, but it is a completely different word than caramel. (Carmel is the name of a place or person. Caramel is a sweet candy.)

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Mid-Atlantic born and raised and I grew up using the “crown” pronunciation. At some point, my husband lovingly pointed out that I sounded like a dumb hick and I switched to using the two syllable pronunciation. But, knowing there are people out there saying “cran?” That’s going to haunt me.

ETA: OP, ask your husband how he pronounces “lawyer.” That’s the one that nearly ended my marriage.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I grew up in one syllable land (so that's how I voted) and currently live in two, so I do occasionally say it that way. There is probably some sort of pattern to that based on the words before and/or after, but I've never bothered to figure it out.