The Clematis Pronunciation Debate

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Posted by @grannysgarden on
Since this is Celebrating Clematis Week, I thought I would pose a question to all regions that grow and love the plant. How do you pronounce the word "clematis"?

Note: I am not asking for the correct pronunciation, but the one you use, whether it be the one described in the dictionary, or the one popularly used in your location, if different.

For the sake of simplicity, I will number the two main pronunciations I am familiar with.

1. KLEM-uh-tis
2. Kle-MAT-is

The second pronunciation is the one that is used most frequently in this area by a multitude of gardeners. I have used both pronunciations at different times only to be corrected by a gardener that has grown the plant for ages and just wants to keep me from embarrassing myself. I have used the popular pronunciation here and have gotten smiles, although I still don’t know whether they were smiling because I was pronouncing the word incorrectly or because I was finally getting it right.

Gardeners from different locations either stand firmly behind the dictionary’s pronunciation or use the local form and contend that the dictionary does not grow the plant and therefore could not be expected to know the correct way to pronounce it.

After recently being visited by a gardener from the Midwest and noticing that their pronunciation was similar to the local one, I became curious. Is this is a regional thing or is it more widespread? I would like to know where you are from and how the word "clematis" is pronounced in your area.

Thumb of 2015-06-08/grannysgarden/9521e6

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Kalanchoe by orchidgal Jun 18, 2015 10:34 PM 1
2. Kle-MAT-is by TBGDN Jun 15, 2015 9:54 AM 86
Clems and peonies and weigela by TiaLee Jun 15, 2015 8:54 AM 1
Pronunciation by robertdug Jun 15, 2015 1:44 AM 0
The way I say it by Freedombelle Jun 14, 2015 1:49 PM 0
It doesn't matter how you pronounce it, just grow them by Jasmin Jun 14, 2015 11:44 AM 2
1. Klem-uh-tis by barbralove Jun 14, 2015 2:37 AM 1
And then there's peeOWNee. by SmartSeeds Jun 13, 2015 9:44 PM 2
Untitled by donnabking Jun 13, 2015 7:52 AM 1

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