Chile

[Jonathan Lighter]

Back in my day (1950s), "Chile" was pronounced like "Chilly."

"Chilean" was pronounced as "chillyin." But since then "ChilAYan" has become
the media standard because it sounds more Spanishy. Sort of.

Similarly "Chilly" has become the media "Chee Lay" because it sounds more
Spanishy.

However, today I heard Tony Harris on CNN utter a new pronunciation that
sounds like an American trying to sound Spanishy no matter what: "ChillAY."

Like _Ole_!

JL
--
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org