You say "Pry-mark", I say "Pree-mark"

[Mel O'Drama]

How to pronounce the budget retailer's name has caused a basket-load of debate.

Some claim "Pry-mark" is an upmarket affectation. Others say "Pree-mark" is a northern thing.

But Primark have tried to settle the matter once and for all, writing on their website: "We like to use Pr-Eye-Mark."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40926473





Does anyone remember the Primark jingle from the Eighties? "Primark. Who-ooah. Only Primark."

If memory serves, in that advert it was clearly - and repeatedly - pronounced as "Pree-mark". Based on which I've always used that pronunciation.

They clearly can't make up their own minds how to pronounce it, so I'm calling them out and saying they're wrong. Or just the worst kind of snobs.

If I ever shopped there I'd boycott them. As it is I'll have to make do with using the classic pronunciation. It makes more sense to me anyway (who ever heard of a "pr-eye-ma" Donna?)



But how have you said it up until today?

 

[Sarah]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

I used to work in Primark in Northern Ireland and trust me EVERYONE in Ireland, North and South, including the staff who work in it, say PREE MARK.

I was horrified at some of the remarks on Twitter last night saying people who say PREE MARK are idiots. Newsflash - there is more to the UK than the mainland.

If PRY mark want to say PRY mark they need to let the rest of their workers know - yes N Ireland does exist!

But I doubt very much ANYONE in this country will change how they say it.

 

[Canon]

We say Penneys.

 

[Sarah]

We say Penneys.

No excuse for me not mentioning this @Canon - the whole debate has put me in a rage. Of course I've been to Penneys many times

 

[Alexis]

I call it that place I go to in the Autumn and Winter to stock up on acrylic jumpers that will be disposed of in the Spring.

 

[Sarah]

I also call it Mecca.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I assume "your" Penney's is different from our American department store, JC Penney? We often mockingly refer to it as "Jacques Pee-NAY" to give it an upscale sound, sort of like referring to Target as "Tar-ZHAY".

 

[Sarah]

I assume "your" Penney's is different from our American department store, JC Penney? We often mockingly refer to it as "Jacques Pee-NAY" to give it an upscale sound, sort of like referring to Target as "Tar-ZHAY".

Yes, it's different. I remember being left alone at the age of 14 in JC Penneys in California. I was so happy. It was like heaven.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Pree-mark for me and proud!

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I'm editing this thread as it's crying out for a poll. Let judgement commence.

I used to work in Primark in Northern Ireland and trust me EVERYONE in Ireland, North and South, including the staff who work in it, say PREE MARK.

Pree-mark for me and proud!

We often mockingly refer to it as "Jacques Pee-NAY" to give it an upscale sound, sort of like referring to Target as "Tar-ZHAY".

That reminds me of the British baked potato diner chain Spud-u-Like. Ever since Victoria Wood pondered over how to say the name I insist on pronouncing it the way she did: "Spud-ooo-lick-ay".

 

[Willie Oleson]

If there was a Primark in Holland I would also call it Preemark.
But if I were in England (visiting), and noticed a Primark, I'd think: there's a catch, it cannot be that simple.

 

[Emelee]

Never heard the word before, so going ONLY by looking at the spelled word, I would pronounce it pry-mark | prai-mark (similarly to words like primary and prime).
If it's pronounced pree-mark, then I would question why it's not spelled "premark" instead.

But hey, English is not my native language, so what do I know?!

 

[Willie Oleson]

then I would question why it's not spelled "premark" instead

Because that looks a bit like...that other word?

 

[Emelee]

Reading the BBC article that Mel posted above, I reacted to 2 other names that people have problems with...

• IKEA: if you follow the Swedes, it's "ee-kay-uh" not "eye-kee-ah". The word is made up of the initials of the founder's name and the village he grew up in.

• Another sports brand getting our tongues in a twist is Adidas. Named after its founder Adi Dassler (Adolf Dassler), it's A-di-das not a-DEE-das.

IKEA is pronounced [ee-kay-uh] in Sweden -- but when I say IKEA in an English sentence, I pronounce it [eye-key-ah]! I believe many Swedes change it to the incorrect pronounciation when speaking English. It's because we've heard it pronounced like that so often that we adopt it ourselves -- but only when speaking English!

ADIDAS; I know what the correct pronounciation is, but it just sounds too strange to say it!! I've said [a-DEE-das] my whole life, and it's the only pronounciation that I've ever really heard. So I continue using that. To heck with what it's supposed to be!

 

[Sarah]

Preemark, my Mecca of shops, are just trying to be posh because they are going global.

 

[Mo Mouse]

However it is pronounced, I usually buy your Christmas present there, Sar.

 

[Sarah]

However it is pronounced, I usually buy your Christmas present there, Sar.

It is my favourite store @Mo Mouse - much appreciated love.

 

[Mo Mouse]

I was thinking of getting you a pair of dungarees with "S" on then this year, Sar.

 

[Sarah]

I was thinking of getting you a pair of dungarees with "S" on then this year, Sar.

Aw how lovely thanks Mo. I am also a bit partial to Mickey Mouse, but in a strictly platonic way.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

IKEA is pronounced [ee-kay-uh] in Sweden -- but when I say IKEA in an English sentence, I pronounce it [eye-key-ah]! I believe many Swedes change it to the incorrect pronounciation when speaking English. It's because we've heard it pronounced like that so often that we adopt it ourselves -- but only when speaking English!

Many years ago a couple of visiting Norwegian friends briefly discussed the difference in pronunciation and it's kind of stuck with me as I assumed they were close enough to Sweden to be an authority on the matter. I've attempted to use the correct pronunciation but I've been defeated by some funny looks and I seem to have unconsciously settled on something in between the two ("ick-key-uh").

Actually, having just watched a couple of videos my pronunciation is pretty much the same as this chap's:

Maybe I am saying it correctly after all.