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View Poll Results: How do you say "Pecan?"
Puh-Kahn 49 79.03%
Pee-Can 7 11.29%
Puh-Can 1 1.61%
Pee-Kahn 4 6.45%
Other or Neither 1 1.61%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 10-22-2010, 09:25 PM
 
10,239 posts, read 19,601,490 times
Reputation: 5943

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Greetings Fellow Texans,

I am posting the usual weekend poll a little early simply because I got into a heated argument with a Georgian a bit ago. It revolved around the "proper" pronunciation of "pecan."

Now, I grudgingly admit that the fellow -- who is a good friend -- had a right to talk. Much as it pains me to say it, Georgia actually beats out Texas in commercial pecan production (we are second). But dammit, we still hold top spot when it comes to native pecan trees.

Anyway, it occured to me that there seems to be an east/west divide on the subject across the so-called "Pecan Belt". From my own experience, folks west of, and including, western Alabama, pronounce it correctly. Which is "Puh-Kahn" (slight accent on second syllable).

East of there, it comes out "Pee-Can"...which as any true Texas male knows, is something you carry in your pickup truck for beer-induced emergencies!

Also, seems like the yankees (if they have heard of them at all) have a "different" way of enunciation. I don't know about the far SW and W states which, I was honestly surprised to learn, grow a lot of commercial pecans. And as far north as Illiniois.

Beltwide Pecan IPM PIPE
(
The U.S. is the world’s largest pecan producer by far, with pecans also growing in Mexico, Australia, South America, Israel, and South Africa. Pecans are a warm weather crop, requiring some winter chilling, limiting U.S. growing areas to the southern states and the southwest. The top five states in order of native pecan production during 1970-1999 were Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The top five states in order of improved pecan production for the period 1998-2002 were Georgia, N.M., TX, AZ, and Alabama. When total production is included, Georgia is the largest producer, followed by Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona.

Anyway, the question is, how do you prounounce "pecan."

And by the way, since it is the State Tree, I have a soft spot for it...and enjoy picking up pecans, shelling, and eating them up. BUT...the paradox is that -- much as it is a staple at Texas/Southern family dinners and reunions, I never cared all that much for pecan pie! Too damn sweet!
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Old 10-22-2010, 09:29 PM
 
Location: Up on the moon laughing down on you
18,495 posts, read 32,933,707 times
Reputation: 7752
Puh khans
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Old 10-22-2010, 09:44 PM
 
Location: America
5,092 posts, read 8,843,518 times
Reputation: 1971
i say "pee-can" and "pee-kahn" . i can't help it! i find that i usually say the former when i'm talking about the pie, and the latter when i'm talking about the nut
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Old 10-22-2010, 09:54 PM
 
Location: League City
3,842 posts, read 8,266,728 times
Reputation: 5364
Quote:
Originally Posted by HtownLove View Post
Puh khans
This is correct pronunciation
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Old 10-23-2010, 12:19 AM
 
Location: DFW Texas
3,127 posts, read 7,627,872 times
Reputation: 2256
Puh-Khan!!! Only a damn Yankee pronounces it Pee-Can.
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Old 10-23-2010, 12:41 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh--Home of the 6 time Super Bowl Champions!
11,310 posts, read 12,369,435 times
Reputation: 4938
Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasReb View Post
Greetings Fellow Texans,

Anyway, it occured to me that there seems to be an east/west divide on the subject across the so-called "Pecan Belt". From my own experience, folks west of, and including, western Alabama, pronounce it correctly. Which is "Puh-Kahn" (slight accent on second syllable).

East of there, it comes out "Pee-Can"...which as any true Texas male knows, is something you carry in your pickup truck for beer-induced emergencies!

Also, seems like the yankees (if they have heard of them at all) have a "different" way of enunciation. Anyway, the question is, how do you prounounce "pecan."
OK TR, I'm going to blow your theory to kingdom come!! I live as far East as they get and I pronounce it "puh-kahn" just like you do! So does my sister!
Quote:
Originally Posted by TXTwizter View Post
Puh-Khan!!! Only a damn Yankee pronounces it Pee-Can.
I'm a damn Yankee and I pronounce it the same way you do!!!!
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Old 10-23-2010, 01:57 AM
 
Location: Somewhere in Texas
5,406 posts, read 13,274,564 times
Reputation: 2800
Quote:
Originally Posted by TXTwizter View Post
Puh-Khan!!! Only a damn Yankee pronounces it Pee-Can.
Living in the south now for many, many years, I have actually changed my pronunciation of said nut to puh-khan. I used to say pee-can (or maybe it was pee-kahn...been too long...can't remember for sure) when I lived in California, but I guess that came from my damn Yankee parents even though my dad immigrated to the east coast from Germany. Come to think about it, I'm a damn Yankee too since I was born in NY. Hmm, would I be considered a Limey if I had been born in England? I would hope not.
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Old 10-23-2010, 08:14 AM
 
9,418 posts, read 13,492,235 times
Reputation: 10305
puh-khan. hearing it pronounced pee-can makes me nuts (hee hee!). Doesn't puh-khan praline sound much prettier than pee-can praline? Seriously. Say them both outloud. The latter just sounds wrong.
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Old 10-23-2010, 08:28 AM
 
Location: Simmering in DFW
6,952 posts, read 22,682,176 times
Reputation: 7297
I am always a little taken aback when someone says pea-cann! Same with Sal-monn (for salmon, which I pronounce sah-mon). My former MIL also liked vienna sausages ---ewww - which she pronounced
"VY-EHNNA" and sirens (as in ambulance) were "SIGH-REENS"
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Old 10-23-2010, 09:08 AM
 
Location: America
5,092 posts, read 8,843,518 times
Reputation: 1971
Quote:
Originally Posted by TXTwizter View Post
Puh-Khan!!! Only a damn Yankee pronounces it Pee-Can.
when i lived in south carolina/georgia i remember most people pronouncing it "pee-can/kahn", and i'm pretty sure they're not yankees
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