play alt-5db61f2bd1cc5
Usage Notes

How Do You Pronounce 'Groceries'?

Is there one standard way?


In American English, 'groceries' has several forms of pronunciation. But is one the "correct" way to say it? Editor Serenity Carr breaks down the various kinds of 'groceries.'


TRANSCRIPT


Whether you're a weekend shopper or a Tuesday afternoon one, chances are you buy these at least weekly: grōs-rēs, or maybe you buy grō-sə-rēs, or perhaps you buy grōsh-rēs. We do not judge, in fact, our dictionary says all three pronunciations are just fine.

Up next

play alt-5db61f2bd1cc5
How Do You Pronounce 'Groceries'?

 

Is there one standard way?

play video title attorney generals
Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

 

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

play illustrated notebook that says everyday vs every day
'Everyday' vs. 'Every Day'

 

A simple trick to keep them separate

play serenity carr next to an illustration of a refrigerator with the letter d in it
Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

 

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest