What is the right way to pronounce patina?

BJE

BJE

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Apr 12, 2006
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I have heard it pronounced two different ways. One is patt-ih-nah and the other puh-tina (like a girls name). How do you pronounce it. I prefer the first way myself. Any other ways you have heard it pronounced?
 
Are you sure you want to know?

The last time I learned the correct way to pronounce a commonly read word ("Camillus"), it caused my entire world to collapse...
 
The word "patina" is pronounced PAT'n-uh (although puh-TEE-nuh has come into common use in the U.S.), and comes from the Latin for "shallow dish". Figuratively, patina can refer to any fading, darkening or other signs of age, which are felt to be natural and/or unavoidable.
 
Webster's dictionary says it can be pronounced two ways:
pə-ˈtē-nə, ˈpa-tə-nə

They always list the most common form first. So the pronunciation with the accent on the middle syllable is most common.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patina
 
Most commonly you'll hear it as : "puh-teena"
 
And by the way Bob, how DO you pronounce Camillus?
 
Now the question is, do you get a better patina from cutting up tomatoes or tomatoes?
 
I've always said "Puh-tee-nuh", that's what my dad told me it was when I was a kid. He was a graphic designer - fancy term for starving artist - so I figure he probably knew how to say it. I've heard other pronunciations, though.

thx - cpr
 
Bob W said:
Uh, like this: "Camillus." But apparently the proper way is "Camillus." ;)
Click to expand...

I also discovered I had it wrong all these years. Maybe it regional. Hard to believe I was wrong. ;)

So do you pronounce, "The patina on my Camillus is from tomatoes and potatoes", or do you pronounce it "The patina on my Camillus is from tomatoes and potatoes" ?
 
If you stick your knife in tomatos or tomatoes, potatos or potatoes, you will get patinoes on your blade. No matter how you slice it.:D
 
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