How is pho really pronounced?

[Benjamin Barrett]

I've pronounced it every way I can think of, but I don't get the pun.

I have seen UnPhogettable here.

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

On Oct 18, 2012, at 3:10 PM, Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU> wrote:

>
> Another option is suggested by the name of a Vietnamese joint near the linguistics department at Yale, Pot au Pho.  But I expect that's the only evidence for a mid-front rounded vowel, and the pun would work just as well (or poorly) if it's really either /f@/ or /fo/.
>
> LH
>
> On Oct 18, 2012, at 4:24 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>
>> Both Wiktionary and the OED give f + schwa for the pronunciation of "pho" (Wiktionary actually gives a turned "v"). That matches what I have learned from a Vietnamese acquaintance and from a Vietnamese restaurant menu in Reno.
>>
>> Because of what I've been taught, that's how I pronounce it, but that's not what I hear from Americans, which is "foh."
>>
>> Which pronunciation is actually used?

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