reservoir.

[Benjamin Barrett]

I definitely hear wah in voir dire, boudoir, film noir savoir faire
and memoir. This could just be limited to my family, though. (Here
in Seattle for about 100 years).

Benjamin Barrett

> -----Original Message-----
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf Of ANNE V. GILBERT
>
> > Lots of us recognize syllable-end ~oir as requiring the
> 'wah', 'wahr'
> > pronunciation, not so much as faux French, but as a
> real English rule.
> There
> > are not too many words with this, but voir dire,
> boudoir, film noir,
> savoir
> > faire, memoir, and avoirdupois come to mind.

> I guess these pronunciations must depend on the part of
> the country you come
> from or live in now.  Because I've *never* heard the
> "wah" ending for any of
> these words around here. . . . Of course my experience is
> limited, but
> that's another story.
> Anne G