Southern pronunciation of "lever" and "either

[alby3]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum, a Westerner born and bred, but I've got grandparents from the north (Michigan) and grandparents from the South (Arkansas).

I've got a question about whether a Southerner--from Mississippi in particular--would say LEEV-ur or LEV-ur and EETH-ur or EYE-thur?

What do you say?

Thanks!

Alby

[Slava]

I can't answer for Mississippi, but as a transplanted Nashvillian in Upstate NY, I'd go for both pronunciations. I can see myself using both, depending on the situation and the sentence structure.

There are those out there that would drop the final "r," though.

Where be our "Suthreners" to answer this one?

[Perry]

I grew up in Michigan (but haven't lived there since 1976). I say lee-vur. But I also say lev-er-uge. I don't know if this is just me, or typical for Michiganders.

[Slava]

I grew up in Michigan (but haven't lived there since 1976). I say lee-vur. But I also say lev-er-uge. I don't know if this is just me, or typical for Michiganders.

I wonder how the Michigeese pronounce things, too.

[skinem]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum, a Westerner born and bred, but I've got grandparents from the north (Michigan) and grandparents from the South (Arkansas).

I've got a question about whether a Southerner--from Mississippi in particular--would say LEEV-ur or LEV-ur and EETH-ur or EYE-thur?

What do you say?

Thanks!

Alby

Mississippi born, now living in a neighboring state...you hear it both ways by natives and imports alike.

Most commonly heard LEEV- and EETH--.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

[Stargzer]

In thinking about it, I tend to say "LEE-ver" if it's a control of some sort ("Pull back on the LEEver to put the snow-blower in gear."), but "LEH-ver" I'm talking about the bar used with a fulcrum to move something large or heavy ("Get me a 4-by-4 to use as a LEHver to pull this stump out.").