Does a woman's blouse rhyme with mouse?

[blibbertibs]

i'm trying to find the proper pronunciation for blouse.

[Jucius Maximus]

Rouse
Douse
Cows
House (the verb)

[CCCC3333]

yes

[Quiggie]

No, it rhymes with "goose".

[skyblue12]

No, it rhymes with "goose".

LOL.

what jucius said sounds right.

[brunes]

No, it rhymes with "goose".

What???? I can't imagine someone pronouncing blouse so that it rhymed with goose, they would sound like an idiot.

Blouse can either be pronounced so it rhymes with "louse", or so that it rhymes with "plows".

Goose rhymes with "moose". or "caboose". Totally different.

[kjs]

Blouse can either be pronounced so it rhymes with "louse", or so that it rhymes with "plows".

+1. I don't understand why everyone's voting no.

[45ED]

To get a little technical here...

From Mirriam-Webster dictionary:

Blouse (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Blouse)
Mouse (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mouse)
House (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/House)

If you visit each one of these links and look at the "Pronunciation" entry for each word, you will see that the pronunciation symbols are (roughly) the same. Meaning that each word is pronounced (roughly) the same. If the words were pronounced differently, they would have different symbols from each other.

To OP's question, yes, they are pronounced the same.

[45ED]

+1. I don't understand why everyone's voting no.

They might think that the "o" is silent and the "u" is a long vowel ("ooo" sound) rather than a short vowel.

[Ojam]

Wow, I can't believe so many voted no.

[Quiggie]

OP do NOT listen to these people saying it rhymes with mouse, they are just trying to make you say it like that so you look like a fool. I can't believe there are such evil people on RFD. :mad: It rhymes with goose.

[Jon Lai]

What???? I can't imagine someone pronouncing blouse so that it rhymed with goose, they would sound like an idiot.

Blouse can either be pronounced so it rhymes with "louse", or so that it rhymes with "plows".


+1. I don't understand why everyone's voting no.

I've always pronounced it to rhyme with "plows". I've never heard of anyone pronouncing it to rhyme with "louse", so voted no, because mouse rhymes with louse but blouse rhymes with plows in my books.

[brunes]

I've always pronounced it to rhyme with "plows". I've never heard of anyone pronouncing it to rhyme with "louse", so voted no, because mouse rhymes with louse but blouse rhymes with plows in my books.

You can pronounce it either way. Both are used, I have heard both.

[45ED]

OP do NOT listen to these people saying it rhymes with mouse, they are just trying to make you say it like that so you look like a fool. I can't believe there are such evil people on RFD. :mad: It rhymes with goose.

If OP looks like a fool for rhyming blouse with mouse, then so must all the folks who rely on dictionaries like the Merriam-Webster and Cambridge. :lol:

OP, two choices. Who you gonna believe: folks who think they're right with basic examples or two popular (re:well researched) dictionaries?

[originalnutta]

grouse

[Eyies]

Lol. Quality thread.

[najibs]

I went down her blouse
like a hungry mouse
while I double clicked her mouse

Is that enough rhyming for ya?

[originalnutta]

I went down her blouse
like a hungry mouse
while I double clicked her mouse

Is that enough rhyming for ya?

rhyming mouse with mouse is just crazy enough to work.

[najibs]

rhyming mouse with mouse is just crazy enough to work.

what if i added 'in her house' to the last line? :twisted:

[dighn]

Wow, I can't believe so many voted no.

RFD fails at English. Everyone knows this.

[45ED]

RFD fails at English. Everyone knows this.

Fifty-five percent of RFDers fail at English. The rest of us are doing just fine. :lol:

[najibs]

RFD fails at English. Everyone knows this.

that's cuz instead of 'blouse and house' they were probably pronouncing it 'browse and house' belly good engrish...:lol:

[dighn]

Fifty-five percent of RFDers fail at English. The rest of us are doing just fine. :lol:

55% is over half. Not good :lol:

Although a lot of RFDers probably aren't native English speakers (myself included), so it's excusable, I think.

that's cuz instead of 'blouse and house' they were probably pronouncing it 'browse and house' belly good engrish...:lol:

lmao

[Broseph]

Why does it have to be a woman's blouse? Why can't it be a man's blouse? The sexism in this world is appalling. :mad:

[45ED]

Why does it have to be a woman's blouse? Why can't it be a man's blouse? The sexism in this world is appalling. :mad:

From Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blouse):

The word blouse most commonly refers to a woman's shirt[1] , although the term is also used for some men's military uniform jackets.[2]

[najibs]

Why does it have to be a woman's blouse? Why can't it be a man's blouse? The sexism in this world is appalling. :mad:

blouse for a man just sounds gheyyyy.

[CSR]

BL-OUSE
vs.
B-LOUSE

[stealth]

No, it rhymes with "shoes".


And I dare you to go around walking around a mall saying it that way (except in Newfoundland or Quebec, where you'd probably fit right in). :)

[Rehan]

The 's' in blouse is pronounced just like the 's' in vase.

[Keelie]

Both ways.
Americans say it like 'mouse' Canadians do not.

[blibbertibs]

holy, it's almost 50/50. this discussion came up when my gf laughed at me when i said "blouse" like mouse, and told me it's "blouse" like cows. i thought she was correct because she's into fashion and i'm a geek, so i took her word for it. then yesterday, i heard two radio personalities say "blouse" like mouse, and the great debate was revived.

[M@rk]

Hmm that's weird... I've always heard people say it like "plows", never the other way (movies, friends, clothing store, etc.)

But apparently according to the references it should actually be "house" :confused:

[ukgirl]

I have an english accent so probably shouldnt even get involved as I will mess up the OP even more.

Blouse can be two pronunciations in England depending on how posh you are.

1) rhymes with plows/cows etc. (what most people use inc me)
2) rhymes with mouse (posh version, I think it sounds pretentious, it might not even be posh just trying to sound it.. dunno)

It all depends on how you pronounce the "se"

[ariell]

They might think that the "o" is silent and the "u" is a long vowel ("ooo" sound) rather than a short vowel.

What???? Who would pronounce it as blooose or bloooze???!!! And when is an o ever silent?? :confused:

[applecheeks]

I don't think it rhymes.

[45ED]

What???? Who would pronounce it as blooose or bloooze???!!! And when is an o ever silent?? :confused:

(raised eyebrow) ... don't look at me...

:arrowd: To answer your first question:
No, it rhymes with "goose".

As for the second, if a person is pronouncing the word as "bl-ooo-se", they are probably looking as if one vowel doesn't exist and the other vowel is pronounced as a long vowel. Though to be fair, I got my vowels mixed up - the "o" is pronounced as the long vowel, not the "u" - the "u" is silent for those who think blouse is pronounced as "bl-ooo-se".

[Mulder and Scully]

No, it rhymes with "moose."

[45ED]

It'll be interesting if some of you tried to be English teachers...

[najibs]

I don't think it rhymes.

fob

[Eyies]

No it rhymes with lose!

[gordholio]

It's not exact, but it's pretty close. You could use it in a song to basically rhyme.

[Jon Lai]

holy, it's almost 50/50. this discussion came up when my gf laughed at me when i said "blouse" like mouse, and told me it's "blouse" like cows. i thought she was correct because she's into fashion and i'm a geek, so i took her word for it. then yesterday, i heard two radio personalities say "blouse" like mouse, and the great debate was revived.

I pronounce it the way your gf pronounces it.

I'm starting to think whether or not it's a British accent thing...

[ariell]

(raised eyebrow) ... don't look at me...

:arrowd: To answer your first question:


As for the second, if a person is pronouncing the word as "bl-ooo-se", they are probably looking as if one vowel doesn't exist and the other vowel is pronounced as a long vowel. Though to be fair, I got my vowels mixed up - the "o" is pronounced as the long vowel, not the "u" - the "u" is silent for those who think blouse is pronounced as "bl-ooo-se".

Dude, as your profile suggests, you are lost. No one pronounces it as bloose. The 'rhymes with goose' comment was a joke. >:(

[45ED]

Dude, as your profile suggests, you are lost. No one pronounces it as bloose. The 'rhymes with goose' comment was a joke. >:(

And clearly you're forgetting that there is more than one variation of Canadian (spoken) English. The way we (Ontarians) speak is different than the way some Calgarians speak, which is different from the way Newfies speak (they, btw, have a variation of a Canadian English dictionary dedicated to Newfoundland English). Which means that, invariably, someone in Canada pronounces "blouse" as "bloose". It only seems like a joke because you don't know.

But I forgive you for not knowing that. ;)

Edit: As for the bloose/blouse/mouse thing for OP, there is no real one way of saying things, so folks are giving different personal uses. Most rhyme with mouse, some (somehow) rhyme with cows, and so forth.

[ariell]

And clearly you're forgetting that there is more than one variation of Canadian (spoken) English. The way we (Ontarians) speak is different than the way some Calgarians speak, which is different from the way Newfies speak (they, btw, have a variation of a Canadian English dictionary dedicated to Newfoundland English). Which means that, invariably, someone in Canada pronounces "blouse" as "bloose". It only seems like a joke because you don't know.


Thanks, I majored in linguistics so I'm aware of linguistic variation. He was asking for the correct pronunciation of blouse, not how some random person might pronounce it. But the fact that you're convinced that someone might actually pronounce it like bloose is entirely amusing.

[45ED]

Thanks, I majored in linguistics so I'm aware of linguistic variation. He was asking for the correct pronunciation of blouse, not how some random person might pronounce it. But the fact that you're convinced that someone might actually pronounce it like bloose is entirely amusing.

And that you're convinced that there is only one correct way a word may be pronounced is equally amusing.

I've never heard of the word pronounced in such a way that it rhymes with cows but it apparently exists. If this exists, then that someone might pronounce the word with a "ooo" sound is also real possibility, and not some stretch of the imagination. Just because some folks never heard a word pronounced a certain way does not make it incorrect - just different.

FWIW, the answer I gave is "correct" in the sense it's most common in Toronto, AFAIK. Even though this is the variation I hear most often, I acknowledge that someone's way of saying something is just as valid (correct) as my way.

But on that point, I guess we'll agree to disagree: seeing as there is a difference in opinion between two who have studied different but relevant aspects of language.

[ShadowVlican]

according to the Oxford English Dictionary:
bla?z

1. a. A light loose upper garment of linen or cotton, resembling a shirt or smock-frock; properly applied (as an alien term) to the well-known blue blouse of the French workman, but in England sometimes used loosely to designate more or less similar garments.ma?s
1. a. Any of numerous small rodents of the family Muridae (which also includes rats, voles, gerbils, etc.), which usually have a pointed snout, relatively large eyes and ears, and a long tail, and typically feed on seeds and fruit.
therefore the answer is YES

however because of CANADIAN RAISING (raising of the vowel before voiceless consonants), the answer becomes NO.

there are a variety of pronunciations ranging from mæ?s, m??s, m??s.

[ShadowVlican]

ok... seems like this forum doesn't allow for some IPA symbols... :lol:

[45ED]

ok... seems like this forum doesn't allow for some IPA symbols... :lol:

Lol, that's why I provided links to dictionary entries of standard (common/whatever) American English rather than CP'd them into the post - didn't know if it could take the symbols. Wanted to use OED links, but I figured some folks wouldn't be able to access the page (since an account would be required).

I thought of doing screen shots but, heck, too lazy for that. :D

[ariell]

And that you're convinced that there is only one correct way a word may be pronounced is equally amusing.


When did I say that there is only one correct way to pronounce a word??? :confused: As you pointed out way back on page 1, blouse can be pronounced either to rhyme with cows (i.e. /blauz/) or mouse (i.e. /blaus/). I'm just disagreeing that pronouncing it to rhyme with goose is a legitimate pronunciation.

[Indeed]

How many ladies in the house?

How many ladies in the house without a spouse?

Something in your blouse got me feeling so aroused.

[najibs]

How many ladies in the house?

How many ladies in the house without a spouse?

Something in your blouse got me feeling so aroused.

how many ladies in da house

not wearing a blouse?
:twisted:

[Quiggie]

Do you guys think you're funny? Because you're not...

[45ED]

How many ladies in the house?

How many ladies in the house without a spouse?

Something in your blouse got me feeling so aroused.

how many ladies in da house

not wearing a blouse?
:twisted:

When in doubt, rap. :D

[ShadowVlican]

Lol, that's why I provided links to dictionary entries of standard (common/whatever) American English rather than CP'd them into the post - didn't know if it could take the symbols. Wanted to use OED links, but I figured some folks wouldn't be able to access the page (since an account would be required).

I thought of doing screen shots but, heck, too lazy for that. :D
ah indeed.. fellow linguist i presume?

[gordholio]

Really, who cares.

[stealth]

Do you guys think you're funny? Because you're not...

Yes, such a deathly serious topic....:confused:
Lighten up.

[stealth]

The 's' in blouse is pronounced just like the 's' in vase.

And how is "vase" pronounced? Voz or Vace (like "face")? :razz:

[angekfire]

And how is "vase" pronounced? Voz or Vace (like "face")? :razz:

Or what about Vaze?

I always say it like Voz, but it makes me sound smart.

[Indeed]

And how is "vase" pronounced? Voz or Vace (like "face")? :razz:

I pronounce it just like "maize".

[Jon Lai]

I pronounce it just like "maize".

You're complicating things. "maize" is the same as "face".

[RaTeD]

blouse rhymes with arouse but not mouse

[Talamasca]

You're complicating things. "maize" is the same as "face".

Pronouncing "vase" like "maize" has more of a "z" sound ("vay-zz") than pronouncing it like "face", which has more of a "s" sound ("vay-ss").

I did a quick poll at work and the four of us are evenly split in how we pronounce "blouse". Two of us go with the "s" sound (rhymes with house) and the other two go with the more "z" sound.

[thelefteyeguy]

Wow, I can't believe so many voted no.

let this be a clear warning to all that want to conduct a legit survey on RFD :lol:

[goob3r]

Down by the bay....

[champlinD]

And I Say
WTF?

[B0000rt]

American vs British.

Americans will say Blouse like Mouse

British will say, Blouse like Cows

[ji2o0k]

it rhymes with blues....

maize = mase (da rapper!)