[-]

rheameg@reddit

I use both interchangably. Sometimes I think either sounds better other times either. Either way it works

[-]

5t0n3dk1tt13@reddit

Either is hard I. Ee-thur is ether, like Ethernet cables

[-]

thelmandlouise@reddit

I ther for adjective (im happy either way) E ther for noun (im happy with either)

[-]

the_courier76@reddit

For me, it's contextual. For example, when giving an ultimatum, it's eyethur. If I'm agreeing with someone about a dislike, it's eethur.

[-]

cheesyca@reddit

I'm a freak and do both. Not at the same time but like I'll say one and then later on I might say the other in another conversation.

[-]

Randolpho@reddit

Both, depending on what sounds best in the sentence

[-]

That's it for me too. It it's just "either" I say I. If it's "either one" it's E, but "either way" is back to I. "You can do either" is I but "pick either" is E. So basically whichever either (I) you would rather, is the right either (E) for you.

[-]

EducationalRooster64@reddit

I bet what sounds best is based on the vowel or consonant sounds that come before/after. I find my brain will swap words/pronunciations to create the path of least resistance 😂

[-]

Randolpho@reddit

I wouldn't take that bet, 'cause you're probably right

[-]

ladyofthe_upside_dow@reddit

Exactly. Sometimes one is just better suited than the other. I can’t necessarily explain any further than that as to why I choose one pronunciation over the other in any given sentence, but my brain absolutely does have some kind of rule about it. It just sounds wrong to use certain pronunciations in certain sentences.

[-]

ImLittleNana@reddit

Yes, the same happens with ‘-ville’. Sometimes it sounds like vull, sometimes like vill.

Jacksonville and Louisville do not rhyme.

[-]

Perle1234@reddit

Knoxville is either or, but Maryville will forever be Murrvil lmao

[-]

ImLittleNana@reddit

You get it lol

That’s actually the two towns that sparked this conversation in my family.

[-]

wermos@reddit

It's things like this. This is why I can't complain about other languages like Chinese being difficult. We have our own skeletons in the closet 😭

[-]

DimbyTime@reddit

Other than the tones, Chinese is much easier to learn than English

[-]

wermos@reddit

The writing system is pretty complicated too

[-]

Perle1234@reddit

It pure vibes lol. For me anyway. I’m a southerner and half the things I say are pronounced by vibes.

[-]

iloveyourlittlehat@reddit

The word “route” is like this for me.

“What rout did you take to get here?”

“I took root 10.”

[-]

FlamingoWalrus89@reddit

A doctor I work with pronounces nerve root, like "rut" / "ruh-t". It drives me nuts! But now I notice other people pronounce both root and route this way sometimes.

I'm like you, I switch it up, but never "rut" lol.

[-]

bord_de_lac@reddit

I’m like this with “caramel”. I don’t know why.

[-]

Sky14318@reddit

Omg. This is exactly me, as well. I go back and forth.

[-]

SuzQP@reddit

For me, I think it depends on the level of authority I want the sentence to convey.

Ey-ther is useful for ultimatums and formal pronouncements. It's the suit and tie pronunciation. Ee-ther is warmer, more casual, and friendly. It's the comfy pants version.

[-]

spintool1995@reddit

Eyether you eat your dinner or you go to bed. Eether way is fine with me.

[-]

DimbyTime@reddit

Yes!!

[-]

humble-meercat@reddit

This is a good way to put it!

[-]

GrapefruitSlow8583@reddit

It's like Tick tock

Or click clack

Or a big green couch

There's an order for these words, that's sorta just built-in. You'll never say "wow, that's a green BIG couch" or "the clock it tock ticking loudly. That horse's hooves clack click on the cobblestone"

[-]

rhino76@reddit

I-ther if the sentence begins or ends with it. Ee-ther if it is in later/mid sentence.

[-]

ArcticBeavers@reddit

The important part is that there is no functional difference them. I also toggle between the two.

You can live your entire life with either (I chose 'I-thur' here) pronunciation and everyone will understand what you mean.

[-]

LakeWorldly6568@reddit

I figured out thinking about this that I tend to do I-thur when it is the first word in the sentence but EE-thur when it comes later, unless the previous word ended in an "ee" sound.

[-]

trace501@reddit

I do either

[-]

dobie_dobes@reddit

Same. It’s weird.

[-]

SuperPomegranate7933@reddit

Bingo.

[-]

Stardewfan24@reddit

Exactly. Ee-ther way or I-ther one.

[-]

RecognitionCapital13@reddit

Agreed. Same with data and data. It depends on the sentence.

[-]

whippersnapper123123@reddit

Start of a sentence is I-ther, after anything else is E-ther. For me anyways.

[-]

UltraMegaboner69420@reddit

Im not sure what the rule is for this one but I would like to second this guys idea

[-]

MegansettLife@reddit

"2 vowels do the walking; the 1st on does the talking" My kids' 2nd grade classroom wall. Either.

[-]

akm1111@reddit

But if it's both pronunciations together, like when you say some thing is so-so, or a 50% chance, I do it backwards. That's ee-ither, eye-ther and nee-ther, neye-ther.

[-]

SuzQP@reddit

I'm trying not failing to construct a credible sentence with two or more uses of "either."

[-]

whippersnapper123123@reddit

Oh I meant like where it’s at in the sentence, not two in the same sentence. e.g. “Either X, or Y” (where I’d usually use I-their), or “… either X or Y” (E-ther). Idk I just thought of it seeing this post and sounding it out.

[-]

spintool1995@reddit

Eye-ther to me communicates consequences. Eye-ther you do this or this bad thing will happen. Eether is more of a preference. So Eye-ther you do your homework or you're going to flunk your class. I could eat either chicken or pizza for dinner tonight.

[-]

SuzQP@reddit

Ah, I see it now! Thanks so much for clarifying.

[-]

LakeWorldly6568@reddit

Pretty much the same unless the proceeding word ends in the same sound then you switch.

[-]

whippersnapper123123@reddit

Oh that’s a good point. I do that too. “For me, e>I<ther …”

[-]

elenchusis@reddit

Either this guy really gets it, or he just doesn't care either way.

[-]

johannaishere@reddit

Same. "This is a dead end you're going to have to turn. Either you're going to go left or right but either way you must turn." In my head I said it different ways.

[-]

xqueenfrostine@reddit

This. I also do the same with “aunt.” No clear rhyme or reason for when I ahnt vs ant, and I use them about equal amounts.

[-]

XShadowborneX@reddit

Me ee-ther. Eye-ther way.

[-]

iCameToLearnSomeCode@reddit

Ee-ther way

eye-ther or

[-]

Fenrir1020@reddit

I do this with a couple words. Data and route are the ones that immediately come to mind.

[-]

bratkittycat@reddit

I do this with caramel and pecan.

[-]

Mundane-Caregiver169@reddit

Same

[-]

TrashPandaNotACat@reddit

Same here. I also do similar with neither.
Niyther one of them came to work today.

Which one of these do you like? Neether one.

[-]

lifebeyondzebra@reddit

Yup! This

[-]

EvaisAchu@reddit

Same. Whichever sounds best in the moment

[-]

Raibean@reddit

This is the right answer

[-]

buffdawgg@reddit

Either way

[-]

JonathanEde@reddit

Or either way.

[-]

atropos81092@reddit

Either?

Neither?

Let's call the whole thing off!

[-]

justbreathe5678@reddit

But if we call the whole thing off then we must part

[-]

BookLuvr7@reddit

And oh, if we have to part, well that might break my heart.

[-]

theEWDSDS@reddit

So if you like pajamas, I like pajamas

[-]

WaldenFont@reddit

You like bananas, I like bananas

[-]

silverfoxbuttslut@reddit

Came to say this... Harry Connick Jr. version, also "Oysters, Ersters, ..."

[-]

lloydthelloyd@reddit

Who the hell says ersters?

[-]

spookybatshoes@reddit

Some people in New Orleans do. And Mr. Connick Jr. grew up here.

[-]

silverfoxbuttslut@reddit

Definitely a New Orleans things.

[-]

Dear-Ad1618@reddit

There is an accent in Baltimore, MD in which oyster is erster, and oil is erl. You’re welcome hon.

[-]

thebrokedown@reddit

I’m assuming it’s one of the several New Orleans-based patois. Yat?

[-]

BookLuvr7@reddit

That came from a song that was written by Ira Gershwin after a debate with his wife Lenore about how to pronounce potato and tomato.

[-]

Requilem@reddit

I prefer just saying tater.

[-]

atropos81092@reddit

It most certainly was!

My favorite recording is the duet between Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

[-]

Casingdacat@reddit

And I love the Astaire/Rogers version of “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” from “Shall We Dance”.

[-]

ididreadittoo@reddit

Potayto potahto tomayto tomahto

[-]

Appropriate-Lie-5834@reddit

niggerw with hard r

[-]

lloydthelloyd@reddit

Im sorry, im afraid i just cant see the problem wirh this relationship.

[-]

GSpotMe@reddit

lol lol

[-]

growing_fatties@reddit

I bet you also pronounce data weird.

[-]

cownan@reddit

And gif the wrong way.

[-]

ELMUNECODETACOMA@reddit

"Gif" uses the same sound as "gigawatt", which doesn't confuse anyone unless you're Doc Brown

[-]

BrotherNatureNOLA@reddit

The wrong way to pronounce that is the right way. Just don't get meme wrong.

[-]

JonathanEde@reddit

Well, one is Data’s name; the other is not.

[-]

Fuzzy_Jaguar_1339@reddit

Data are my favorite Star Trek character.

[-]

AnitaIvanaMartini@reddit

Hahahaha

[-]

michelle427@reddit

I read this somewhere, so I’m not sure how accurate it is but I think it’s interesting and kind of sweet if it is true……. Data’s name never said how to pronounce it in the pilot’s script. Who ever said the name first in the read through was the way it was said.

It could have been said Da-ta if someone said that way. Instead it was Day-tah because of who said it first.

We say Day-tah more and is the common pronunciation now, because of Data in TNG. It use to be more common to pronounced it Da-ta before.

I heard that somewhere.

[-]

216life@reddit

Double consonant short vowel, single consonant long vowel. It's data

[-]

JonathanEde@reddit

You’re putting me on.

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Fuzzy_Jaguar_1339@reddit

They're data.

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growing_fatties@reddit

You're data.

[-]

Cynicastic@reddit

"people translated as data"

\I'm old, I can remember quotes from TV shows 40 years ago, but not the password I created this morning.

[-]

Catadox@reddit

I absolutely pronounced these too comments differently in my head.

[-]

OPsDaddy@reddit

Tomato tomato.

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_DoctorLady@reddit

“It’s spelled the same way on the cahd, Jimmy”

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Mundane-Caregiver169@reddit

I spell it with a ‘p’

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Cold_Barber_4761@reddit

I thought the p was silent?

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skookum-chuck@reddit

Haha I read that as tomato tomato how funny

[-]

scotchirish@reddit

eIther one works

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HottDoggers@reddit

Either/Or

[-]

garbageman2112@reddit

Correct

[-]

Wedgero1@reddit

Depends how Hoity-toity I want to be

[-]

NickCharlesYT@reddit

Either or

[-]

Unlikely-Tone-6269@reddit

Yes

[-]

Rudagar1@reddit

*either

[-]

-The_Sharmat-@reddit

Take my upvote dammit.

[-]

Mike_in_San_Pedro@reddit

I use them both! And there's no rhyme or reason that I can discern.

[-]

kalelopaka@reddit

Both, depending on context mostly.

[-]

Oomlotte99@reddit

Both.

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EpiZirco@reddit

Depends upon my mood.

[-]

probridgedweller@reddit

ither way

eether or

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juniperwool@reddit

ē

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ATWTMVTVFTV198913@reddit

Depends on my mood and what the conversation entails.

[-]

EBweB76@reddit

E

[-]

KiraDog0828@reddit

Yes

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Disastrous_Ad1260@reddit

I always said Ee-ther and Eye-thur Or. Like I learned two separate words depending one whether you use OR with it. Big "Oh" when I learned both pronunciations were acceptable. Go find that "let's call the whole thing off" song and play it for her

[-]

Ok-Equivalent8260@reddit

Both ways lol

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Ginger630@reddit

Hard ee

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pawsplay36@reddit

eat her

Just kidding. I hardly know her!

[-]

citydreams46927@reddit

I use both now that I think about it.

I would say "either one” like “eye-ther”

But “either this or that” I said “ee-ther this or that”

And now the more I look at the word "either” it looks more and more foreign to me haha

[-]

youareallsilly@reddit

For whatever reason “I-thur” sounds pretentious to me

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P00PooKitty@reddit

Both

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ejfordphd@reddit

I say I-thur. I am descended from New Englanders. They say “awnt” instead of “ant,” too.

[-]

FrankiesMom6@reddit

Both

[-]

EveningSad6288@reddit

Eh, ee-ther eye-ther

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Leucotheasveils@reddit

We say long e or long i. But yeah, either way works.

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cherry_monkey@reddit

Looking up the etymology, I think it should be a long "I" sound. But either way works

[-]

thomsenite256@reddit

Both unfortunately. I might use eether. I could say I-thur one. Basically it seems to depend on what words it falls between.

[-]

9human-being@reddit

Depends on the sentence

[-]

BalloonHero142@reddit

It depends on the context.

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JulesInIllinois@reddit

Both. Does not matter.

[-]

EllspethCarthusian@reddit

I use both. Just like I use both pronunciations of pecan (the nut is peh-can, the pie is pee-can).

[-]

CubedMeatAtrocity@reddit

Hard I for me

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Expensive-Day-3551@reddit

Depends what I’m saying. I don’t like him eethur. I-Thur you tell her or I will tell her.

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CosmicWy@reddit

I didn't know we use hard to describe vowels when we have long and short descriptors.

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maggy_boi_x@reddit

I pronounce it ee-thur, as do most people i know. I've got British and Austrailian friends who pronounce it I-thur, though.

[-]

Pleasant_Pen8744@reddit

There's a pretty famous song based on just this premise.

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2PlasticLobsters@reddit

I use them interchangably.

[-]

aceoforder00@reddit

I use both, depending on.... Nothing else except the words around it and what my brain wants to use at that point in time, for that sentence, tbh

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comfy_rope@reddit

Eat Her

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Suppafly@reddit

Usually hard E, except for the phrase 'either or' or if I'm trying to sound fancy.

[-]

Queasy-Flan2229@reddit

Either, neither, both, depends on the day. 🤔🤔 or maybe it depends on the accents of the people talking around me? I've lived lots of places and notice I will, for example, say "y'all" and so forth when I'm around Southerners.

[-]

jellybeantetra@reddit

Exclusively "ee-thur". The other pronunciation feels a bit pretentious to me.

[-]

hardatlunch_1981@reddit

I completely agree. I've noticed almost everyone around me pronounces it the pretentious way nowadays, though :(

[-]

ELMUNECODETACOMA@reddit

Pretentious? Moi?

[-]

tiger_guppy@reddit

Yes. Ee-thur and nee-thur. There is literally no situation I will use the eye-thur or nye-thur pronunciation.

[-]

Acrobatic-Key-127@reddit

I use it when I want to sound pretentious, or authoritative.

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EatTheir_FacesOff@reddit

Yes! Same here.

[-]

garrett_w87@reddit

Same. Though I’ve heard plenty of people around me use it.

[-]

PartyCat78@reddit

I-thur

[-]

LordofDD93@reddit

I-ther way, you’re gonna have to choose between ee-thur the first pronunciation or the second, you clearly can’t use both /s.

[-]

Gertrude_D@reddit

I honestly pronounce it both ways and I don't know what my internal rule is for chosing.

[-]

YourDearOldMeeMaw@reddit

its ee-ther or, but its ei-ther way

[-]

too_too2@reddit

I was watching Schitt’s creek while reading this comment and Alexis just confirmed “ee-ther or” AS I was reading this.

[-]

MrStubo@reddit

I always say eye-ther at the beginning of a sentence or clause but ee-ther in the middle. But it’s more a pattern than hard rule

[-]

Candid-Ability-9570@reddit

I’m the opposite! How funny!

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MundaneHuckleberry58@reddit

It’s dependent on the next vowel sound (the first of the next word).

[-]

charlieq46@reddit

Pure vibes

[-]

ThePurityPixel@reddit

"chosing"? 😳😬

[-]

PureMichiganMan@reddit

It’s like saying either data or data

[-]

TK8674@reddit

Same, but I think my internal rule is casual vs formal. I’m not positive, but trying to think of each in a sentence, that feels like the difference

[-]

ATaxiNumber1729@reddit

That is true for me too

[-]

dobie_dobes@reddit

Same.

[-]

QueenInYellowLace@reddit

Yep. No idea why it varies.

[-]

Live-Flower9917@reddit

Saaame

[-]

shammy_dammy@reddit

Both.

[-]

mutontette@reddit

I seem to alternate between the two at random.

[-]

EffieBoohoo@reddit

I more often use Ee-thur but have been known to use both pronunciations

[-]

meowpitbullmeow@reddit

Yes.

[-]

Illustrious_looser@reddit

Hard E

[-]

The_Circus_Life_206@reddit

I say both

[-]

MallUpstairs2886@reddit

Literally whichever comes out at the time.

[-]

Practical-Ordinary-6@reddit

Instead of terminology in English for that is long E and long I. People will recognize those terms and not recognize hard E and hard I.

You might not think they are completely logical terms but they are descendants from past usage that everyone recognizes still today.

[-]

punkshoe8@reddit

This is why I always thought, but recently I had to email a professor where I work to ask how he pronounces his name and he said “with a soft A.” I had no idea what that meant. Apparently some people out there are learning “hard” and “soft” vowels, but I learned “long” and “short.”

[-]

Valuable-Usual-1357@reddit

Yeah ‘hard e’ sounds like a euphemism for a slur lol

[-]

ELMUNECODETACOMA@reddit

Was going to say "hard" isn't a term to describe vowels but it is a term to describe consonants...

[-]

Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit

People will recognize those terms and not recognize hard e and hard i.

Because those aren’t terms to describe vowels.

[-]

awake-lettuce0823@reddit

it depends entirely on a rigid but baseless set of syntax rules too idiosyncratic and complicated to express accurately. I will always pronounce each of them the same ways under the same circumstances without thinking about it

[-]

Candid-Ability-9570@reddit

I do it differently based on where it is in the sentence.

At the beginning = eether. Eether way, I’m happy.

At the end = I-thur. I’m happy I-ther way.

Don’t ask me why. Didn’t realize it until just now.

[-]

theproestdwarf@reddit

I use both and it tends to depend on how the word or after is pronounced, but I don't have a hard rule for it now that I think about it.

Like I'll use eye-thur when the word before or after starts or ends with an ee sound. But if I say "I'm not going there, either," it'll be ee-ther.

Now I'm thinking way too hard about this.

[-]

guildedpasserby@reddit

Situational

[-]

WinterBourne25@reddit

I think it depends on context, because I use both.

[-]

EastAd7676@reddit

“I-thur”, but this may be because I was raised in a bilingual (German/English) area of the Midwest. In German, the vowel combination of “ei” is always pronounced as “I”. Learning to read and spell in English in elementary school was interesting. Just MO.

[-]

ReticentBee806@reddit

Ē

[-]

Calm_Drummer2591@reddit

Both ways.

[-]

holymacaroley@reddit

I usually

[-]

Weary-Passion5346@reddit

When pronouncing “either”, do you use a hard E (ee-thur) or hard I (I- thur)? Either!

[-]

BoldBoimlerIsMyHero@reddit

hmm, depends on the sentence. I use either and either interchangeably.

[-]

hakohead@reddit

Those are both correct pronunciations. I think I use either one. Usually just depends on how it flows with the sounds around it for me.

Ex.
"Me neither." (nee-ther)
"That's neither here nor there." (ny-ther)

[-]

boneyjoaniemacaroni@reddit

There’s a whole song about this lol

[-]

warp10barrier@reddit

I’ve never said “me neither” in my life, it just sounds wrong. I always say “Niether do I” or “Nor I”

[-]

hakohead@reddit

Interesting! I would never say “Nor I” unless I was trying to make a joke or something

But yeah, it’s def not wrong grammatically by any means. “Neither” (not + either) is just the negative version of “too”. I wonder why it sounds wrong to you

[-]

warp10barrier@reddit

I think it’s probably because I always say NI-thur. if you pronounce it “NEE-thur” it sounds a bit better but not by much.

[-]

SheShelley@reddit

Thank you for saying me neither instead of me either. I think me either is a regional thing but it always makes me think of a little kid!

[-]

LeGrandePoobah@reddit

You probably think that because little kids who don’t speak English well say either when they should say neither.

[-]

SheShelley@reddit

Yeah pretty much

[-]

Time-Defiance@reddit

That example is so true. I have never thought of that because I don’t think I would say “me nythur”. 😂😂😂😂

[-]

logaboga@reddit

Either is the only word I’m aware of where people use both of the pronunciations. It really depends on the sentence

[-]

StandOld1094@reddit

I don’t want I-thur one of those.

I don’t want to go out E-thur.

I know I’m weird.

It’s like DA-ta or Day-ta.

Send me the DA-ta. Do you have the Day-ta on that?

I know I’m weird.

[-]

Outrageous-Let4612@reddit

I'm southern so hard I comes out when I'm mad, otherwise hard e. For example, "If I-THUR of y'all thought that was a good idea, then I guess yer elevator dun go all the way to the top does it?" Or if for whatever reason a restaurant doesn't have Dr. Pepper I gotta ask "Do y'all have sweet tea or lemonade e-thur?"

[-]

Outrageous-Let4612@reddit

I'm southern so hard I comes out when I'm mad, otherwise hard e. For example, "If I-THUR of y'all thought that was a good idea, then I guess yer elevator dun go all the way to the top does it?" Or if for whatever reason a restaurant doesn't have Dr. Pepper I gotta ask "Do y'all have sweet tea or lemonade e-thur?"

[-]

curiousleen@reddit

I use either or either depending on the mood of my mouth and mind.

[-]

Puffy-Cat-194@reddit

I tried both ways, and it seems that I am pronouncing eye-thur at the beginning of sentences and ee-thur at the end.

[-]

D3Bunyip@reddit

yes (both)

[-]

Live-Medium8357@reddit

both. Depending.

[-]

BusyMap9686@reddit

Either either depending on the rest of the sentence.

[-]

bdrwr@reddit

Both?

[-]

redvinebitty@reddit

ee-thur, I-thur is Germanified from the royals

[-]

Efficient_Hyena_7476@reddit

Americans usually say eether. Brits normally say i-thur.

[-]

Requilem@reddit

Depends, if it is a casual conversation hard E, if it's a professional conversation typically hard I.

[-]

TheJivvi@reddit

Either

[-]

Iowa50401@reddit

Yes.

[-]

tonna33@reddit

I say it with the hard I. I-thur. But everyone else I know says E-thur.

I'm not sure why I'm different, but that's not so unusual for me.

[-]

Weak_Fudge5040@reddit

eethur

[-]

Honest-Government967@reddit

Both.

[-]

Ayla1313@reddit

I use both depending on contex.

[-]

Effective-Ladder9459@reddit

Depends on the sentence I'm saying.

[-]

DemonaDrache@reddit

Either works for me. Seriously though, I use both pronunciations depending on my mood.

[-]

TillikumWasFramed@reddit

Seem to switch between both.

[-]

InksOwl@reddit

Depends purely on context for me. Similar to route. Never with pecan(pee-can) and caramel(care-a-mel).

[-]

Mymren@reddit

E

[-]

void_method@reddit

Either, either. Potato, potato.

[-]

FatHighKnee@reddit

Both. The E version if im just chatting unprofessionally. Ill switch to the I version if im trying to sound official or intelligent 😁

[-]

Only_Presentation758@reddit

I say ee-thur but either way is correct. It varies regionally like “vase,” “advertisement,” “Caribbean” and many other words.

[-]

sr1sws@reddit

I tend to use either pronunciation. It kind of depends on context. Likewise with neither.

[-]

HerkeJerky@reddit

I for longer sentences, always at the start of the sentence. E for short sentences or responding to someone.

[-]

common_grounder@reddit

Both. Depends on the situation.

[-]

SevenBlade@reddit

Sometimes both in the same sentence.

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BatterUp1600@reddit

Eeether

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bizoticallyyours83@reddit

Ee-thur

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NoFleas@reddit

I say both either and either, depending on context

[-]

MiddlePop4953@reddit

Depends on what part of the sentence it falls in. Hard "I" when it's towards the beginning of the sentence, hard "E" when it's at the end.

[-]

tinydotbiguniverse@reddit

Both but hard I if I’m feeling refined or fancy

[-]

14Rage@reddit

Either one.

[-]

Able-Seaworthiness15@reddit

They're both correct. Same with neither. And pecan.

[-]

Simple_Performer_242@reddit

https://youtu.be/Y6ReXgTCZfo?si=eCOCiFgTCKu9-ZUB

[-]

PoissonSumac15@reddit

Either or

[-]

gadboys@reddit

I-thur this or that.

I'll take e-thur

E-thur is fine

[-]

zymurginian@reddit

I've heard it both ways.

[-]

TsundereLoliDragon@reddit

You heard about Pluto?

[-]

DSquizzle18@reddit

Both

[-]

shoff58@reddit

Neither

[-]

MathObserver@reddit

I alternate between the two (read the novel "Hellspark" for the reference).

[-]

ThePurityPixel@reddit

Long e or long i, whichever I feel in the moment

[-]

Rather_be_on_a_trail@reddit

Usually ee-ther, but I don’t think it’s weird to say it the other way.

[-]

CB_Chuckles@reddit

I use both interchangeably.

[-]

Great_Chipmunk4357@reddit

I once researched this. The "ee" pronunciation is the original, and the "eye" pronunciation was a later affectation. Further evidence on the "ee" side is that only German pronounces "ei" as "eye." Since when do we pronounce English vowels like German?

[-]

SteveArnoldHorshak@reddit

EE. In the US at least the other one sounds so pretentious.

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emmnowa@reddit

...either way

[-]

cmhoughton@reddit

Perhaps oddly, I pronounce it both ways… I think that’s because my mom did it one way (eye-ther) while dad said it the other, (ee-ther). I also pronounce ‘envelope’ sometimes as on-velope and sometimes as en-velope.

Mom’s grandparents were English, who she spent a lot of time with growing up, and Dad’s English-Welsh-Scottish roots went back a lot further…. My great-grandparents must have used the eye-ther/on-velope pronounciations…

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EliseV@reddit

I interchange them without thinking about it.

[-]

bellatrixdemigod@reddit

I think I switch every time and I am very aware and uncomfy about it (KS)

[-]

Personal-Road-8162@reddit

I-thur

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flippythemaster@reddit

I tend to say “I-thur” if I open a sentence with it and “ee-thur” if it’s in the middle of the sentence

[-]

SteveSteveCleveSteve@reddit

Either if in the first half of the sentence, either if it’s the second half of the sentence.

[-]

Fire_Mission@reddit

Hard E

[-]

_WillCAD_@reddit

For that you deserve a laurel... and Hard-E handshake.

[-]

skudbeast@reddit

Whoa, whoa, whoa...... Whoa.

[-]

Acrobatic-Key-127@reddit

Dude’s from Georgia, what’d you expect?!

[-]

Fire_Mission@reddit

Can you read? Just following their example.

[-]

ChestSlight8984@reddit

Could be worse. Could always be Texas. Could always be Texas...

[-]

Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit

That’s… not a vowel description.

[-]

TheGreatPatriot@reddit

Eye-ther, because after living in Germany -ei will never make any other sound in my head.

[-]

_WillCAD_@reddit

I use both, depending on context.

For "either/or" situations, I typically say EE-ther.

For "I didn't do that, either" situations, I typically say EYE-ther.

I don't know why I do it this way, and it has no linguistic backing of any kind. For all I know, I may be the only person in the English-speaking world who does it this way. But it's just how I roll.

[-]

Certain_Accident3382@reddit

This is one of those words that changes pronunciation based on its usage in the sentence. Like the/The (thee/thuh) can refer to to a generalized item (thee object) or a specific of a generalized item (Thuh Object).

Context changes where the stress is placed in the word, even if its the same word with the same meaning, creating a different sound.

[-]

worrymon@reddit

Both

And I do the same for neither/neither.

[-]

Strict_String@reddit

Neither

[-]

Unlucky-Captain1431@reddit

Neetha

[-]

Casingdacat@reddit

I prefer to use the long form vowel “I”, not ‘e”, when pronouncing that first syllable.

[-]

ReferenceCreative510@reddit

"I-ther this or that", and "EE-ther or".

[-]

The9IronMan@reddit

Nay-thur.

[-]

needlesofgold@reddit

Yes

[-]

pinaple_cheese_girl@reddit

Eeeether or, ithur one.

[-]

Naddyman2005@reddit

either

[-]

I_Owe_Suzanner@reddit

Both ways. I can't explain how or when we use each form. Probably not the answer you're looking for, sorry

[-]

StinkieBritches@reddit

I say either, but two of kids say either because they're just pompous like that.

[-]

InSkyLimitEra@reddit

Interesting that for most they’re interchangeable. I think I almost exclusively use the hard E.

[-]

Lucky_Ad2801@reddit

Both ways are acceptable.You will be understood either way

[-]

Capital-Designer-385@reddit

I-ther unless using the phrase “E-ther or”

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b0ingy@reddit

neither

[-]

MissDisplaced@reddit

It’s funny but both ways depending on the sentence. I tend to favor the “ee-thur” pronunciation though.

[-]

Dalton387@reddit

Former.

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Comfortable-Bike9080@reddit

lol it depends on my mood haha

[-]

helikophis@reddit

Both ways; it depends on prosody & other context

[-]

warp10barrier@reddit

I-thur and NI-thur

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PghSubie@reddit

Maybe 70/30 for ee-ther over eye-ther

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Traditional_Entry183@reddit

EE-ther at the start of a sentence. I-ther at the end of a sentence.

[-]

sabatoa@reddit

I do both and I honestly don't know why I go one way to the other

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Mysterious-Ruby@reddit

Ee-thur. However I grew up in the Midwest but have spent 25 years in the South, so honestly I don't know if that's the Southern way or the Midwestern way.

I also say pa-CON when talking about the nut, but PEE-can if they are in the pie. Lol

[-]

tiimsliim@reddit

Either one way or the other, depending on conversation.

[-]

Zahrad70@reddit

Let’s call the whole thing off.

[-]

Spirited_Gap2347@reddit

Depends on the sentence.

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MisabelWearsNikes@reddit

Hard E

[-]

BeBe_Shifts@reddit

I do both

[-]

Accomplished_Will226@reddit

EE thur

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woodwork16@reddit

Either or, depends on the situation.

[-]

skilletjlc4@reddit

Ee thur

[-]

Great_Value_Trucker@reddit

Both

[-]

No-Fix-614@reddit

Both are correct, people just default to whichever sounds more natural in their accent.

[-]

Alternative-Law4626@reddit

Both are acceptable.

[-]

Kendota_Tanassian@reddit

Both. Eethur this or that, but i-thur one or the other.

I'm not consistent.

[-]

san_souci@reddit

I use both. When using the phrase “either you will or you won’t “ I use an “I” sound. But if I am responding “Either one is fine” I use the “E” sound. I can’t explain why.

[-]

Quirky-Invite7664@reddit

Both

[-]

ntdavis814@reddit

It depends on my mood or where I put it in the sentence.

[-]

Jackalope_Sasquatch@reddit

It's strange --- 90% of the time I'm ee-ther but once a while I'll come out with aye-ther. No idea why.

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MicheleAmanda@reddit

Sometimes one, sometimes the other.

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MotherOf4Jedi1Sith@reddit

The same way I pronounce neither.

[-]

Decent_Historian6169@reddit

Usually e but it depends on the context. No I can’t really remember a specific example but with certain other words it changes to an i pronunciation

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MiketheTzar@reddit

There are more than that. You forgot the soft ER (ee-Tha)

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SapienWoman_@reddit

I use the hard I but you don’t have to.

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Nercow@reddit

Yes

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BeanieSam@reddit

Either or

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Abitruff@reddit

They sound the same when I say it in my accent, ahhhh

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FarFarAway7337@reddit

Most hard E, but on occasion hard I.

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UnableLocal2918@reddit

For me it is wierd

For objects you choose ee-thur a or b

For actions you do i-ther this or that.

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Trinx_@reddit

"E-ther or" or "I-ther one"

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KaiTheG4mer@reddit

I do both depending on which sounds best when spoken, which sometimes means using both in the same conversation lmao

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L_knight316@reddit

Either or

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From_Ice_To_Salt@reddit

It depends on where it is in the sentence.

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thattalldude@reddit

Depends on the sentence.

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donnacus@reddit

I do both. I have no idea which I will use at any given moment. If pressed, I would say I probably use ee-ther slightly more frequently.

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Kyauphie@reddit

Usually eye-thur.

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fragrant_flare7260@reddit

Hard I

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slopeclimber@reddit

Why are you calling them soft and hard I? What about them is either??? I swear non-linguistic people will use "soft" and "hard" to mean literally anything

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BonezOz@reddit

Either or

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fuzzyizmit@reddit

It is a bit odd for me. If I say it once in sentence, it is "eether". If I say it twice it is "eether" and the second on is "i-ther".

"Eether this, i-ther that"

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AnitaIvanaMartini@reddit

I say either. In my head either just sounds wrong, So either works.

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BigBlaisanGirl@reddit

Either or.

It really depends on what sounds best in the sentence. There's no set rule. We'll understand either way.

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BadgerGirl92@reddit

I say it both ways depending on context. Merriam-Webster lists both pronunciations as acceptable.

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michelle427@reddit

I actually switch it up. Sometimes I say ‘Ee-ther’ sometimes I say ‘I-ther’

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steeperturtle@reddit

I-thur at start of a sentence/comment. Ee-thur if mid sentence seems to be what my brain thinks

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EvilCallie@reddit

Either, based solely on the vibes of the moment

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jaanku@reddit

Either or

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cmiller4642@reddit

I say then both interchangeably

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Even-Breakfast-8715@reddit

Yes

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Own_Psychology_5585@reddit

Both ways

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AtrumAequitas@reddit

Yes.

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taranathesmurf@reddit

Ee there

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RattusNikkus@reddit

ee-thur one, I-thur or.

[-]

FatAssDon_72@reddit

Both, depending on the syntax.

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Coolsvillepolicedept@reddit

Either (hard E) follows a consonant, either (eye-ther) follows a vowel Ex: either (e-ther) thing Either (eye-ther) option

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PureMichiganMan@reddit

Ee-thur, maybe occasionally an i-thur. some words like that I use the two pronunciations interchangeably.

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PiedPorcupine@reddit

I-ther when I want to feel smart Ee-ther when I want to feel like I'm not trying to be smart

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Jessgitalong@reddit

“Ee” at the end of a sentence. Every time. Variable otherwise.

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Kayki7@reddit

To be honest, it depends on how I’m using the term. I generally choose which version sounds better with the rest of my sentence lol.

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Lulusgirl@reddit

It depends on what I'm saying. I learned words by hearing them read to me. Every night was storybook time, I grew up on the Little House books.

[-]

LogicalUpset@reddit

Yes

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starbuildstrike999@reddit

Both but entirely context dependant. Pronunciation depends on where it is in the sentence.

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Tasia528@reddit

If we wanted to be purist about it (and I know nobody does, but this is one of those rare opportunities to show off my linguistics degree), we would look at the way it’s spelled.

English is a Germanic language. In German, “ei” is pronounced as a long I. The long E sound is written “ie.”

So a purist would say it should be pronounced with the long I.

[-]

Angsty_Potatos@reddit

Both

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MuseoRidiculoso@reddit

Both at different times, and I don’t know why. So it’s probably something that a linguist could explain. Haha!

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RustyRayWay@reddit

It depends entirely on the rest of the words in the sentence

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Anderkine@reddit

Depends on how I am feeling at the moment.

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Emergency-Office-302@reddit

Hard E. I think it’s mostly regional.

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HooksNHaunts@reddit

The one that sounds right.

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LongHaulinTruckwit@reddit

For me, it's context.

EE-ther this or that I-ther of us

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Fuckspez42@reddit

I use both, depending on how they sound in the sentence.

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Wen60s@reddit

I mostly use the long “e” sound.

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Tinsel-Fop@reddit

Almost always ee-. I used to say it the other way more often, decades ago. I think I changed because the I sound is more likely to be perceived as stilted, haughty.

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tmorse85@reddit

I use them interchangeably.

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AggravatingBobcat574@reddit

Ee-ther, and née-ther

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my_clever-name@reddit

ee

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Wurfelrolle@reddit

ee-thur is strongly dominant in my region.

I-thur is the proper pronunciation.

[-]

IrememberXenogears@reddit

depend on context

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1337b337@reddit

Imagine learning English and finally figuring out homographs, then finding out about ee-thur and aie-thur.

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Pitiful_Bunch_2290@reddit

Yes 😂

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beamerpook@reddit

Eye-thur

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Front_Possibility471@reddit

Didn’t think I’d have to scroll this far to find my ppl!! I also say au-nt instead of ant when regarding my fathers sister

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beamerpook@reddit

Sorry, Ant for me too. Although I will say Aunt-ty

[-]

pfffffttuhmm@reddit

It depends on phonetic context. What the sounds around it influence the targeted sound. In other words, whichever one sounds nicer.

[-]

MeggiePool-pah@reddit

Depends

[-]

ididreadittoo@reddit

Either, either, neither, nor

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C8H10N4O2_snob@reddit

Depends on the sound before it.

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Regular_Yellow710@reddit

Eye-ther.

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LeGrandePoobah@reddit

Like so many others, I have used both….but predominately I use a hard E.

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SnarkyBeanBroth@reddit

Does it matter? Can't you two just pronounce it differently? Both are correct.

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LMrningStar@reddit

ee-thur

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IPreferDiamonds@reddit

ee-thur

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murderthumbs@reddit

I grew up in the Washington DC area (mid Atlantic) and will say it both ways but can’t think of any reason (word order or grammar driven) why. There are probably regions that say one way and other that says other.

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camarhyn@reddit

I match the pronunciation of whoever I am speaking with (based off past discussions with the person) or I go with whichever is most common in that area. If I don't know I default to I-thur.

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caseygwenstacy@reddit

Hard i

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Practical-Gur-6577@reddit

I say either one tbh. depends on the vibe

[-]

Serious-Mongoose-387@reddit

what’s really weird is my wife and i both grew up saying and continue to say it the ee way, but our teenage daughter has always said it the eye way. we asked her why, and where she got it from, and she has no idea. probably peppa pig or something.

[-]

bellegroves@reddit

Either/either. Same with neither and neither.

[-]

warrenjt@reddit

Interchangeably with no particular logic whatsoever.

[-]

Afraid_Equivalent_95@reddit

I've heard both pronunciations, so I use "E" for regular tones and "I" when I wanna place emphasis on the word

[-]

_Internet_Hugs_@reddit

Both. Ee-ther is when talking about options. Eye-ther is when taking about hypotheticals.

"I don't care, ee-ther one is one with me."

"Eye-ther that or we're all in big trouble."

Don't ask me why there's a difference, I have a weird accent.

[-]

Miss_Might@reddit

Both.

[-]

Far-Building3569@reddit

Eeeeeeether

[-]

SupKilly@reddit

Yes.

[-]

GreenBeanTM@reddit

Yes

[-]

1Negative_Person@reddit

Eye-thur

[-]

xyranys@reddit

Depends on the day. Sometimes its an "ee"-day, sometimes its an "I"-day

[-]

djmcfuzzyduck@reddit

Either for question and Either for a statement.

[-]

Nickvv52@reddit

I usually say eethur

[-]

wowthatscooliguess@reddit

Depends on how fancy I'm feeling.

[-]

Nadeoki@reddit

"Ee-thur"

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scarlettohara1936@reddit

Nee-thur

[-]

Loisgrand6@reddit

Hard E. I’m in Virginia. My friend in Kentucky uses a hard I

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Duffy_Do@reddit

I've always focused on the E rather than the I.

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TheVentiLebowski@reddit

Except after C.

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Duffy_Do@reddit

E before I except after Y.

I before E except after C.

:)

[-]

Devono_knabo@reddit

I say ee-thur but honestly people say both. I know folks that say I- thur and folks like me that say ee-thur.

[-]

juliefromva@reddit

Let’s call the whole thing off.

[-]

No_Literature_1922@reddit

Love the reference

[-]

Miriyl@reddit

Since op probably won’t know it, here’s the reference.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J2oEmPP5dTM

[-]

Silver_Archer13@reddit

For me, it depends on context.

[-]

No_Literature_1922@reddit

I almost always say ee-ther. Eiy-ther is used sparingly, in kind of a jokey way I feel?

[-]

JakovYerpenicz@reddit

Boffum

[-]

No-You5550@reddit

I use (I- thur) I'm from deep south.

[-]

donuttrackme@reddit

Either way, depending on the sentence and subject.

[-]

petrichorb4therain@reddit

I can use E-ther one. But I do appreciate the option of I-ther.

[-]

Nkengaroo@reddit

I flip flop between them

[-]

AirDog3@reddit

Long e.

[-]

Slight_Literature_67@reddit

I use both pronunciations.

[-]

BaseClean@reddit

It's very regional. And sometimes i randomly switch it up 😂

[-]

IceAcceptable2971@reddit

Hard e

[-]

ObjectiveElefant@reddit

I think I-ther sounds better. That being said, I said E-ther because that’s how I was taught. Considering changing it to the fancy way, will update.

[-]

BlueCollarBlue@reddit

I used to have a friend who did the i-thur thing, trying to sound proper then, would butcher other words like pacificly, supposebly…

[-]

What_is_rich@reddit

I say ee-thur at the beginning of a sentence and eye-thur when the word occurs midway or at the end. I don’t know why I do that, but I’ve noticed myself pronouncing the word that way within the last 5 years of my 60 years of speaking.

[-]

scipio0421@reddit

Hard E, unless I'm refering to something I just heard in a British accent.

[-]

Odd-Artist-2595@reddit

I pronounce it with the long I, but many others use the long E. People tend to “correct” others as to the pronunciation of various words, but I’ve never heard anyone object to either one of these pronunciations. They’re both okay. Use whichever one you prefer and switch them up as you choose.

[-]

iloveyourlittlehat@reddit

I definitely say eye-ther when it’s the first word in a sentence. Other than that I think I say ee-ther most of the time? It really depends on the cadence of the sentence.

[-]

Calaveras-Metal@reddit

Both. It depends on the cadence of speech. Sometimes EEEther fits, sometimes EYE there is more gooder.

[-]

the_gray_crow@reddit

Hard to say…but either (I-thur) way, I can hear myself using either (EE-thur) pronunciation.

[-]

monsoonsiren@reddit

I

[-]

Budgiejen@reddit

Hard I

[-]

FrostyVariation9798@reddit

Honestly, I also use both. Depends on the sentence.

[-]

LabInner262@reddit

Depends on who I’m talking with and the context sometimes one way, sometimes the other. Either is correct.

[-]

FirstBornAthlete@reddit

Whatever you want

[-]

Rock-Wall-999@reddit

Yes, either

[-]

cometparty@reddit

Usually hard E. Texas.

[-]

Different_Cherry8326@reddit

Either.

[-]

famousanonamos@reddit

Either either or either, either one works.

[-]

havnotX@reddit

Either or. Depends. Either he or Either I.

[-]

johnnybluejeans@reddit

This is one of those questions where I honestly have no idea how I say it. Just like coupon.

[-]

humble-meercat@reddit

Changes depending on the sentence it’s in…

[-]

IJustWorkHere000c@reddit

Eether

[-]

Chrisismybrother@reddit

Whichever.

[-]

FreeStateOfPortland@reddit

Depends.

[-]

DanceOfThe50States@reddit

I once was in a workshop of a musical presentation of Gertrude Stein's 1939 book The World is Round. Meant as a children's book but Stein was too much of a cubist and mathematician of words to write something simple. Well anyway: There's a whole part with a lot of "either or" and "neither nor" and the director and writer had to have a whole sit down to decide how it was pronounced. Looking within the text, and the repetition in the section of the word "Lion" they concluded it was nye and eye to match the flow and meter.

[-]

Bored66666@reddit

ee-thur

[-]

scro-hawk@reddit

Hard I

[-]

Nameless_American@reddit

Yes.

[-]

Over_Cake9611@reddit

Eethur or. Ither this way or that.

[-]

Legitimate_Team_9959@reddit

This whole thread is like a warm hug to the insanity of the English language, and now I'm singing Gershwin, so thanks for that comment too

[-]

ijustwantdonutsok@reddit

I switch it up to keep people on their toes

[-]

GSilky@reddit

Whichever flows best.

[-]

misagale@reddit

Depends on the sentence context.

You can (I-thur) go or stay.
He ee-thur does it or he’s fired.

[-]

Crazy_Raven_Lady@reddit

Hard E. I seriously don’t think I’ve ever heard it spoken any other way.

[-]

katerwise@reddit

depends on my mood

[-]

Raymond_R_@reddit

Ay-yuh-thur, personally 🥹✌️

[-]

No-Article7940@reddit

Either Ither, neither Nither 😉

[-]

RatonhnhaketonK@reddit

Either or

[-]

Eened@reddit

Ee-thur is how I say it

[-]

Openly_Unknown7858@reddit

Doesn't really matter unless you say the phrase "either or", in which case it would sound weird to say "EE-thur"

[-]

Jagg811@reddit

Ee. I don’t know anybody who says it with I.

[-]

easypea99@reddit

I believe in eye-ther superiority but my regional dialect disagrees

[-]

Constellation-88@reddit

Whichever one I feel like in the moment. It’s neither nor to me.

[-]

MyTherapistSaysHi@reddit

I say “me neether” and “eye-ther way”

[-]

knowlessman@reddit

Either.

[-]

SummitJunkie7@reddit

I pronounce it both ways, depending on the usage... depending on what, exactly? I'm not sure.

[-]

_HeyGFY_@reddit

In conversation, it's E. If I'm doing voice to text, it's I. It defies logic, but that's the way I roll.

[-]

KLoSlurms@reddit

Usually if the next word starts with a vowel I’ll see Eye-ther.

[-]

OK_Stop_Already@reddit

both, depending.

[-]

BottleAggravating979@reddit

Both.

It is the old to-MAY-to, to-MAH-to situation.

The difference being I have said eethur, ithur way - especially like in the sentence here where my brain said both.

I have never said toMAHto in my entire life. But I know it is out there. Lurking.

[-]

ASingleBraid@reddit

E

[-]

wonkow@reddit

Baldurs Gate 3

[-]

Not_An_Isopod@reddit

Both

[-]

Firm-Plantain8151@reddit

I say Ee-ther way, but I-ther or... IDK why.

[-]

Ok-Race-1677@reddit

Either. But also either or.

[-]

Snoo57672@reddit

Either

[-]

BigEnd3@reddit

I've learned of this phenomenon where I pronounce a word dependent on the previous or following word. Kinda a an in pouncing a word or telling an anecdote.

I don't even know my own rules or how I got them. I think my Mum just taught me.

[-]

introspectiveliar@reddit

If this is the only thing you and your girlfriend are at odds over - I predict a long and happy life.

[-]

asexualrhino@reddit

Either works

[-]

miketugboat@reddit

It's like Aunt, it kind of depends on the following word. I don't think about it, it just happens.

"Eether or", or for instance "ayether we do it this way or that way"

From Maryland and have never noticed how Americans say it

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ShyElf@reddit

This is one of many words in English which has a significantly different pronunciation when it's stressed. They aren't taught, so people don't realize they're different until it's pointed out.

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chaamdouthere@reddit

Both but I say ee-thur more often.

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Pointe97@reddit

I say it differently depending on how I’m using it/the phrasing.

Like, I say “e(I)ther way”, but I also say “(E)ither/or”

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Eastern-Regret-1500@reddit

Depends how fancy I want to sound

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infinitefacets@reddit

Either or (Ee-ther) but Either way (I-ther)

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Atlas7993@reddit

Honestly, ee-thur generally, but if I'm trying to make a point I punctuate it with I-thur

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Happy_Confection90@reddit

Both, but with a hard e much more often

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DrBlankslate@reddit

Both.

And the term is long I/E, not hard I/E.

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dccabbage@reddit

Mine is probably dependent on the rhythm and cadence preceeding.

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ADH-Dad@reddit

Depends on the words on either side.

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BayAreaPupMom@reddit

Before this thread, I never realized how many words I pronounce differently based on context! So interesting!

No wonder people will say English is so hard to learn as a non-native speaker!

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StandardMonth2184@reddit

Either or either depending on whether I'm feeling dapper.

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ParrotheadTink@reddit

Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahtoe, let’s call the whole thing off 🎶

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JUiCY_oX@reddit

I pronounce it both ways, but I lean more towards the hard E pronunciation most of the time

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thirdeyefish@reddit

Hard I. As in island. Because that is the sound that vowel combination makes.

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securityburger@reddit

If it’s at the beginning of the sentence, I-thur. if it’s in the middle, ee-thur

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Harp_167@reddit

I use both

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trace501@reddit

I do either

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animeistheog@reddit

I guess it can depend but I say eether and I feel like most people around me do as well

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PersimmonGlum6536@reddit

Speech pace and importance of what I'm conveying.

If me and and a friend are making plans over a call about where to grab lunch: "Yeah Applebee's or Chili's, ee-thur or".

In a serious conversation, where I'm making a clear distinction between something: "If this person lied, i-thur they're too embarrassed or they're..."

If I gotta talk quick hard E, slow and pointed gets the hard I

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dby0226@reddit

Yes

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undercoverballer@reddit

I definitely do ee-ther for either/or or neither/nor. I do I-ther in other situations.

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notsosecretshipper@reddit

I say it both ways, an equal amount. Sometimes one way just fits better with the other words in the sentence I'm using it in.

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Sea-Independence1089@reddit

Both worth, but I use I-thur because that's my preference, along with ni-thur.

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nowhereman136@reddit

Same as "neither"

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Much_Substance8167@reddit

I randomly swap between either or them, and there appears to be no rhyme or reason.

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alphaturducken@reddit

Weirdly enough, if it's in the front half of the sentence, I use i-thur and if it's the latter half, ee-thur. No idea why.

"I-thur Mel or me could go do that, it doesn't matter to me" or "You could send Mel or me, doesn't really matter, ee-thur one is fine."

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mxunsung@reddit

ee-thur

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SheShelley@reddit

I just now read it with the long ee sound so I guess that must be how I say it

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Bubbly_Daikon_4620@reddit

Both. Multi American accents here.

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Hitthereset@reddit

Depends on usage... it's "ee-thur" one but "I-thur" way.

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Time-Defiance@reddit

Ee-thur 99%. I live in the Midwest.

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dobie_dobes@reddit

Yep. Also midwestern. I use both and hear both almost equally.

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EMAW2008@reddit

I say neither ee-thur nor eye-thur. But rather this one or that one or one of the two.

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idreaminlowercase@reddit

Hard E

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RedditWidow@reddit

What confuses me is that it's not ay-thur, like the "ei" in neighbor or weight

There's no reason to be at odds, both are acceptable pronunciations in US dictionaries, but I've heard anecdotally that nee-ther is more popular in the US and ny-ther in the UK

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Purple-Measurement47@reddit

haha, either of them, whichever sounds better in the moment

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dobie_dobes@reddit

Both. Or either! Lol

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TheEyebal@reddit

Depends on the context of the sentence

E(ee)ither I am staying or going

When pronouncing “e(i-thur)ither”, do you use a hard E (ee-thur) or hard I (I- thur)?

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Humble-Pineapple-329@reddit

Both depending on the circumstance.

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Majestic-Lie2690@reddit

Both depending

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Benchod12077@reddit

E

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216life@reddit

How about harass?

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Straight-Clue8864@reddit

Neither

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CreelCrush@reddit

Depends on the context. I-thur has an intensity ee-thur lacks.

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Traditional_Trust_93@reddit

Depends on the context really.

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Lillie-Bee@reddit

Or nEither or neIther

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Algae_Mission@reddit

Either or.

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Sunshineboy777@reddit

For me it depends. Sometimes I say it Ee other times it's I.

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iceph03nix@reddit

Yes

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MadDadROX@reddit

Potato

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Dawashingtonian@reddit

iv never thought about it but i say both. it must depend on what words i said before or after or something.

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Calm_Violinist5256@reddit

it's with the long e sound. "when two vowels go walking the first one does the talking".

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Spiritual_Finish_337@reddit

Ee-ther is American ai-ther is British But many use both

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dontforgettowriteme@reddit

Questions like these always cause me to have an identity crisis lol. Who am I?? How do I say it? I've forgotten how words are formed. lol

All that to say... usually "ee" but sometimes "eye?"

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Low_Plastic363@reddit

Neither. Or neither.

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FNG1033@reddit

I’ve heard it both ways

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motherlymetal@reddit

It depends on the usage.

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broke_fit_dad@reddit

Æther. Ather

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LowKeyBussinFam@reddit

Hard E is correct. Hard I you will hear typically from uneducated southern folks.

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Lilylake_55@reddit

Both. No particular reason, that’s just the way it is.

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RoflMyPancakes@reddit

Either. Depends on the situation.

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Minute-Frame-8060@reddit

I think I always do EEE-ther. At least reading it in my head. Lots of people here seem to be reporting that they way they say it depends on something unknown. I'll have to pay better attention when speaking now.

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laurcone@reddit

Ee-thur, typically. Ill only say "i-thur or" for that context

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gmanose@reddit

Potato, potahto, tomato, tomato….lets call the whole thing off

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Coldnorthcountry@reddit

Potato

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squarebodynewb@reddit

Both

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DrBoots@reddit

Oddly enough both depending on context and I don't think I could properly explain why.

It's either (Eye-Thurr) one thing or another.

But either (Ee-Thurr) one is fine.

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PatternIllustrious54@reddit

Either

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thrwwy2267899@reddit

Depends on if I wanna be fancy or not lol I-thur= fancy

E-thur normal, basic conversation lol

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Round-Lab73@reddit

Both are valid, but I personally use the E sound

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Low-Restaurant8484@reddit

Bkth, but ee-thur more then i-thur

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RIPdon_sutton@reddit

I before e except after c

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subliminalFreq@reddit

Eye-thur

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Time_Waister_137@reddit

For me, ee-thur can be a one word answer. Eye-thur obligates an entire sentence,

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shoresy99@reddit

Neither.

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sittingonmyarse@reddit

Usually E-thur

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SirFelsenAxt@reddit

Either or

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Zigglyjiggly@reddit

I'll either use either or either.

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DankBlunderwood@reddit

I've heard some people say eether/eyether or neether/neyether. That's kind of how I feel about the word. Whichever escapes the tongue in the moment.

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comrade_zerox@reddit

Both, and I couldn't tell you woth any certainty why I would pick one or the other at any given point

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No_Cartographer5955@reddit

With a hard E.

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stilllost12@reddit

Either either

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ndubitably@reddit

Ay-thur

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SmoovCatto@reddit

you say either and I say either

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PuppySnuggleTime@reddit

Both

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Crazycatlover@reddit

Hard I if followed by "or." Otherwise hard E.

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PhyterNL@reddit

Oh I'm the worst about this.

"eether we go or.."

"ayther you go or.."

"choose eether one.."

"ayther one looks good to me.."

But if I'm ending a sentence it's ALWAYS "ayther"

"I didn't think it was a strong case either."

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jeff1074@reddit

Depends on the sentence structure. In the post I read it with a Hard E.

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ncsuandrew12@reddit

Either or.

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LocationTechnical862@reddit

I use I-thur if I'm in a fancy restaurant

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Ok_Remote_1036@reddit

Yes

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Lumpy_Branch_552@reddit

Eeee

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LibrarianofBabel1127@reddit

I use both. For example, I use (I) "either" when saying "either blank or blank" and (EE) "either" when saying "I do not do blank, either." I'm sure there are exceptions; in any case, there's no rationale for it --I just pick whichever sounds right to me, even when I'm writing.

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