This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

How do you say Schermerhorn? — Brooklynian

How do you say Schermerhorn?

abmindprof
abmindprof
edited November -1 in BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)

I'm a sociolinguist writing about NY English. I want to use the pronunciation of streets that are known to locals but less so to non-locals. Schermerhorn is perfect since I grew up in Queens and had no idea how to say it until I moved to Bklyn.

Ok, I've heard the first syllable pronounced as skim but I saw a post on another website claiming that the correct pronunciation is skerm but that some people say skrim. Now, there is no such thing as a correct pronunciation that is different from the ways people actually say things. So, I want to see what people actually say. How do you say the name of this street and subway stop?

Also, if you want, you can add how you say the first syllable of Boerum.

Comments

  • prodigalson
    prodigalson

    In Brooklyn it was always SKIMmerhorn.

    When I was growing up in East New York, streets like Schenectady and Schenck were pronounced SKAnectady and SKAnk avenues. And we always said ''avnuh'', not Avenue.

    Gotta love those old Dutch pronunciations.

  • prodigalson
    prodigalson

    As for Boerum just say Bo-rem.

  • jack krohn
    jack krohn

    I say Skimmerhorn and Bore-um.

  • stacey
    stacey

    ^^^^ This when I am talking slowly or at work.

    Skimmahawn when I am talking fast or with family and friends.

    I pronounce it Bore-um either way.

  • abmindprof
    abmindprof

    thanks, your guys' responses corroborate my intuitions. I just had this friend that insisted on saying birrum for Boerum. I wanted to see if he had any insider knowledge, but now I know he was just hypercorrecting. If anyone has any other interesting local Brooklyn pronunciations, I might put 'em in too.

  • idlewild
    idlewild

    I used to say Skimmehorn. Now, I pronounce it Skirmehorn. An remember, it's How-stin, not Hew-ston.

    Sincerely,

    A Native Son of Brooklyn...not Breukelen.

    Een Draght Mackt Maght!

  • abmindprof
    abmindprof

    Right, but everyone in NYC says Houston. Lots of people outside Brooklyn don't know how to say Skimmerhorn. Why would you change? Judging by the sig, you look like someone would want to sound like a Brooklynite? , not a noob transplant. :) (pls I'm only kidding, don't get mad)

  • idlewild
    idlewild

    If I understood what you're trying to say, then I could be mad, or not-mad. Otherwise, I'm just a tad baffled.

  • abmindprof
    abmindprof

    What I mean is if the local Brooklyn pronunciation is with skim, why would you change it to approach that of the pronunciation expected by outsiders who would depend on spelling?

  • squindar
    squindar

    the one I've been fascinated with lately is "DeKalb"...which in the subway seems to be becoming one word when spelled out on a sign, i.e. "Dekalb", previously was "DeKalb" -- even though the namesake is properly "De Kalb" as in "Johann De Kalb". And I think I've found at least three different local pronunciations for it: Brooklyn where it's "DEE-kalb", Illinois where it's "di-KALB" and Georgia where it's "dee-KAB"

    btw Breukelen is no more, as of today...they got consolidated out of their name.

  • abmindprof
    abmindprof

    I'll ask around about that. That's a good one. Let's see if people in Queens say it the same

  • dda
    dda

    my takes:

    - skimmerhorn (skimmahorn if you're my mother)

    - bore-um (said quickly as if it's only one syllable)

    - DEE-kalb (2 clear syllables)

    and one that drives me a little batty....

    cor-TEL-you

  • noisyjulianne
    noisyjulianne

    I am inclined to say Shermerhorn....but sometimes I say Skermerhorn.

    everyone I ever talked who lived in the hood before me said DEE kalb, and I like that.

    I also say cor TELL you.

    It's hilarious to hear HEWston like Texas, but that's like an initiation - once you've got that straight, you're on the path.

  • noisyjulianne
    noisyjulianne

    I am inclined to say Shermerhorn....but sometimes I say Skermerhorn.

    everyone I ever talked who lived in the hood before me said DEE kalb, and I like that.

    I also say cor TELL you.

    It's hilarious to hear HEWston like Texas, but that's like an initiation - once you've got that straight, you're on the path.

    BTW: Thanks for a fun thread!

  • lexie z
    lexie z

    I live off the C stop Kingston-Throop, which is pronounced Troop. Another one is Graham in Bushwick, Puerto-Ricans pronounce it Gra-Ham

  • oldsloper
    oldsloper

    Does anyone know why people in south brooklyn put an 's' at the end of a school number as in PS107s and MS51s?

  • idlewild
    idlewild

    To be honest, I don't know. And dats da truut of da mattuh.

  • mountebank
    mountebank

    Joralemon Street.

    Had two life long Brooklynites tell me different things.

    One said something like Jeral-a-mon and said that outsiders call it Jor-a-lemon. Then someone whose family goes back in the neighborhood says Jor-a-lemon is actually the way people in the neighborhood always pronounced it.

  • impress designs
    impress designs

    It's Skur-mur-horn, Jur-rah-leh-mun, Bo-rum.

  • idlewild
    idlewild

    Jellopuddingpops.

  • prodigalson
    prodigalson

    How do you pronounce Van Wyck =

    Van Wyke

    or,

    Van Wick

    ?

  • stacey
    stacey

    I say Van Wick

    But I have been told I have a heavy Brooklyn accent so I don't know which is the right way.

    Also I pronounce DeKalb Dee Kalb.

  • dda
    dda

    van wick. i've never heard it any other way.

  • prodigalson
    prodigalson

    I've always pronounced it 'van wick'.

    However, about the time I left God's Country to live in the Midwest people who had moved into NY would use 'wyke'. In fact, a friend who toured NYC about 20 years ago said he heard people using this pronunciation.

    Wick it is and should always be. Ditto for SKIMmerhorn (with the letters mer sounding more like muh).

  • robnyc
    robnyc

    Pronouncing it "Skimmerhorn" made total sense to me when I moved into the area because I had grown up near Schenectady NY.

  • gate27
    gate27

    i definitely say skermerhorn. hope that's right since i live there!

  • carp
    carp

    In the Russian neighborhoods we prefer

    Vahn Vick (if you still have some accent)

    and

    Nep-CHOON Avenue (even if you don't have a russian accent)

Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories