leeward pronunciation

Joe Diver · Apr 8, 2011

I do...always have...

loo 'erd

DannyS · Apr 8, 2011

You wouldn't know it to read it, but I heard it before I read it, so I knew.

Winkfish · Apr 8, 2011

kpgraci said:
So...I just learned that when leeward is used as a nautical term it is pronounced looward.

How many of you knew that?

How many of you say that?

I knew it and say it that way. Also, "gunwale" is pronounced "gunnel."

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Apr 8, 2011

And "gunnel" isn't spelled that way...

It's "gunwale."

F'csle is Forecastle

And some defintions you may not have heard before:[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Amidships - condition of being surrounded by boats.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Anchor - a device designed to bring up mud samples from the bottom at inopportune or unexpected times.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Anchor Light - a small light used to discharge the battery before daylight.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Berth - a little addition to the crew.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Boom - sometimes the result of a surprise jibe.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bottom Paint - what you get when the cockpit seats are freshly painted.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Chart - a type of map which tells you exactly where you are aground.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Clew - an indication from the skipper as to what he might do next.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Companionway - a double berth.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Dead Reckoning - a course leading directly to a reef.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Deadrise - getting up to check the anchor at 0300.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Deviation - any departure from the Captain's orders.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Dinghy - the sound of the ship's bell.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Displacement - when you dock your boat and can't find it later.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Estimated Position - a place you have marked on the chart where you are sure you are not.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] First Mate - crew member necessary for skippers to practice shouting instructions to.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Freeboard - food and liquor supplied by the owner.[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Heave-Ho - what you do when you've eaten too much Ho.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Jibe - either you like it or you don't and it gets you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Keel - term used by 1st mate after too much heel by skipper.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Landlubber - anyone on board who wishes he/she were not.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Latitude - the number of degrees off course allowed a guest.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Mast - religious ritual used before setting sail.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Mizzen - an object you can't find.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Ram - an intricate docking maneuver sometimes used by experienced skippers.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Rhumb Line - two or more crew members waiting for a drink.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Sheet - cool, damp, salty night covering.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Shroud - equipment used in connection with a wake.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Starboard - special board used by skippers for navigation (usually with "Port" on the opposite side.)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Swell - a wave that's just great.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Square Rigger - a rigger over 30[/FONT]

Bill Roosa · Apr 8, 2011

well, eyes be from the grate state of OH-higha and we's don't do any ah that there funny talkin. we's talks plane like.

inarathree · Apr 8, 2011

Heave-to - the amount of food to be eaten to arrive at Heave Ho.

Joe · Apr 8, 2011

kpgraci said:
So...I just learned that when leeward is used as a nautical term it is pronounced looward.

How many of you knew that?

How many of you say that?

Most of us learned the word phonetically... hearing it during our first sailing experiences.... before actually seeing the word in print. So the truth is.. we had more trouble SPELLING it before than we did pronouncing it.

Steve Dion · Apr 8, 2011

Yes like "My wife lured me into to marrying her" or would that be "My wife leeward me into marrying her."

Nope, like Jimmy Buffet said "It was my own damn fault".<g>

Mike B1026 · Apr 8, 2011

I wonder if sailing terms are general pronounced in unusual ways because sailing in the US, started in the North East? (Where they talk funny)

If a leeward is pronounced Loo-ward.. it the lee-shore pronounced "loo-shore?"

Capt. Kermie · Apr 8, 2011

I pronounce nautical terms like they are spelled and leeward is lee-ward not looward and mainsail is main sail not main-sul or sol same as headsail, it is head sail not hedsol or sul. Many of the pronounciations come from a few hundred years back when sailors could not read or spell (uneducated) and were somewhat drunk so could not speak right. Words got twisted around and they were never corrected so to this day many pronounciations are from a lack of correction. Some people think it is cool or seamanship like to speak bullhunk.

catsailor · Apr 8, 2011

Though I studied Shakespeare in school, I'm disinclined to speak that way. In general, it sounds silly, with a very few exceptions. I understand it perfectly well when spoken.

RichH · Apr 8, 2011

Many of the funny sounding and funny pronounced nautical terms are from Dutch and German and are 'anglicized' forms of the Dutch / Deutsch.

Leeward and Windward are derived from the old edutch/deutsch pronunciation .... Ljuard /ˈljuːərd/ and Winard /ˈwɪn:ərd/

JerryA · Apr 8, 2011

Ken,

In Ohio we just say "Duh!" when faced with a question like this.

It's got to be a slow forum day.

JerryA

Sam Salter · Apr 8, 2011

What about "lieutenant"
Most of you guys say it as it's spelt 'cause your colonials

I say "leftenant" 'cause I'm a Brit and know how to speak the language!
sam

Joe · Apr 9, 2011

Capt. Kermie said:
I pronounce nautical terms like they are spelled and leeward is lee-ward not looward and mainsail is main sail not main-sul or sol same as headsail, it is head sail not hedsol or sul. Many of the pronounciations come from a few hundred years back when sailors could not read or spell (uneducated) and were somewhat drunk so could not speak right. Words got twisted around and they were never corrected so to this day many pronounciations are from a lack of correction. Some people think it is cool or seamanship like to speak bullhunk.

Sorry, Cap'n, but that is the biggest bunch of malarky I've ever heard. A real Captain would never disrespect the traditions of the Navy and Merchant Marine.

agaliha · Apr 9, 2011

Capt. Kermie said:
I pronounce nautical terms like they are spelled and leeward is lee-ward not looward and mainsail is main sail not main-sul or sol same as headsail, it is head sail not hedsol or sul. Many of the pronounciations come from a few hundred years back when sailors could not read or spell (uneducated) and were somewhat drunk so could not speak right. Words got twisted around and they were never corrected so to this day many pronounciations are from a lack of correction. Some people think it is cool or seamanship like to speak bullhunk.

Our english language is full of illogical spellings and pronunciations. A book is "read" outloud, not "red" outloud. Do you tell people you are going to "Connecticutt." Then they will really think you are an idiot. There are thousands of them. So should we revolt like Capt. Kermie and develop our own "fixes" to make life simpler? I'm with the other posters that think the lore of nautical terminology is one of the beauties and fascinations of the sea and boats. Some things are worth learning.

If we are going to revolt for something that really would make life simpler, why don't we throw away inches, feet, and yards and adopt the metric system. Then your MacGregor 26 would be a MacGregor 7.9 and all your navagational calculations would be infinitely easier! :dance:

tigerregis · Apr 9, 2011

Never mind that Kermie is a troglodyte, if you can navigate with kilometres you are in a book by yourself.