Ayuh

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

CordialJim

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2014
90
591
Maryland, USA
I'm working my way through Dreamcatcher (finally) and that word has popped up again... "Ayuh". It is in seemingly every single Stephen King novel that I have read (which is almost all of them). I know it means "yes", but I've never given much thought as to how it is pronounced (I've never been to Maine, or even New England for that matter). But now I simply must know its correct pronunciation. Is it "A-YAH", or "EYE-YAH", or "A-HUH"?

Thanks
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
BT108.jpg
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine

That was a great explanation and example for how to pronounce it. My grandfather was the implosion pronouncer. ;-D

I'm working my way through Dreamcatcher (finally) and that word has popped up again... "Ayuh". It is in seemingly every single Stephen King novel that I have read (which is almost all of them). I know it means "yes", but I've never given much thought as to how it is pronounced (I've never been to Maine, or even New England for that matter). But now I simply must know its correct pronunciation. Is it "A-YAH", or "EYE-YAH", or "A-HUH"?

Thanks

This isn't used as much anymore by Mainers as people might think based on the books. I was born in Maine and have now lived most of my life here but it's not something I've ever used in conversation unless I'm consciously saying it--just as I never use ain't. How Mainers pronounce it can depend on what part of the state they live in as those on the Coast (Downeasters) have a different inflection than those from far northern Maine (The County). It's more likely to be used in more rural areas and of those in the baby boom generation and older.
 

CordialJim

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2014
90
591
Maryland, USA
Thanks guys. That was how I pictured it being pronounced in my mind.

This isn't used as much anymore by Mainers as people might think based on the books. I was born in Maine and have now lived most of my life here but it's not something I've ever used in conversation unless I'm consciously saying it--just as I never use ain't. How Mainers pronounce it can depend on what part of the state they live in as those on the Coast (Downeasters) have a different inflection than those from far northern Maine (The County). It's more likely to be used in more rural areas and of those in the baby boom generation and older.

Interesting. Thanks Ms. Mod. So that begs the question, "How do Downeasters pronounce it?" I feel a re-read of Dolores Claiborne coming on. ;)
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Thanks guys. That was how I pictured it being pronounced in my mind.



Interesting. Thanks Ms. Mod. So that begs the question, "How do Downeasters pronounce it?" I feel a re-read of Dolores Claiborne coming on. ;)
Or better yet, watch the movie as they did a great job with that one. The dialogue coach went to a bar (if I remember correctly) somewhere Downeast and taped the locals talking to get it right for the actors.
 

Shoesalesman

Well-Known Member
Aug 12, 2010
1,814
4,093
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I'm not dissing this thread or anyone, but in this age of the Internet, when this kind of stuff comes up while you are reading, why don't you just Google it? It's all out there if you search. Just wondering... :watermelon:

That's a fair comment. When I'm reading, the computer and phone are off. I mean to look it up later or the next day, but by the time I get around to it I've forgotten or am busy with something else. :joyous:
 

Mr Nobody

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2008
3,306
9,050
Walsall, England
I'm not dissing this thread or anyone, but in this age of the Internet, when this kind of stuff comes up while you are reading, why don't you just Google it? It's all out there if you search. Just wondering... :watermelon:

A part of my mind usually goes 'Hm. Look that up later'. Then I carry on reading and either forget about it by the time I'm done, or remember I was supposed to be looking something up but have no damn clue what it was. :umm:
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
A part of my mind usually goes 'Hm. Look that up later'. Then I carry on reading and either forget about it by the time I'm done, or remember I was supposed to be looking something up but have no damn clue what it was. :umm:
I think my penchant for looking things up immediately comes from the type of work I do where I am constantly proofing, fact-checking and questioning things. That's one reason I love the Kindle so much; the built-in dictionary is such an amazing tool. Just highlight the word in question and the the definition pops up.
 

Mr Nobody

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2008
3,306
9,050
Walsall, England
I think my penchant for looking things up immediately comes from the type of work I do where I am constantly proofing, fact-checking and questioning things. That's one reason I love the Kindle so much; the built-in dictionary is such an amazing tool. Just highlight the word in question and the the definition pops up.

I'll use that if I come across a word I either don't know or have become hazy about (i.e. words you've encountered before, but not very often and/or aren't in such common usage), but if I'm reading for pleasure I don't like to break the flow by looking up trivialities or fleeting ideas. If I'm proofing or editing, then yeah, a few windows are always open. (I prefer working with a couple of smallish windows rather than a maximized screen with several tabs. Fortunately, the screen's quite wide anyway so I can keep the doc itself on one side in 90% view size.)
 

CordialJim

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2014
90
591
Maryland, USA
I'm not dissing this thread or anyone, but in this age of the Internet, when this kind of stuff comes up while you are reading, why don't you just Google it? It's all out there if you search. Just wondering... :watermelon:

Fair question. Years ago, when I first came across the word (via Uncle Stevie), there was no "Google". I just read the word as it was spelled and moved on. I didn't think much of it until I read Dreamcatcher recently (not sure why). I was going to Google it, but then thought it would be more fun, and probably more informative, if I posted about it in here. If I had just Googled it I wouldn't have known that Downeasters pronounced it differently. So sometimes Google is not always best. Sometimes the forum is best. ;)