Monday, August 01, 2005

You say "tuh-MAY-tow." I say "tuh-MOT-tow." (But only bunnypants says "NOO-kyoo-ler.”)

If you've been paying attention in shul, you've noticed two common mispronunciationions of the first word in kaddish.

As it's written in the siddur, the word is "yis-GAH-dahl" Some people slip and say "yis-KAH-dahl" This, undoubtedly, is wrong.

There are some others who say "yis-GAH-dale." Though I've never seen the word written like this in a siddur, I'm reluctant to say it's wrong simply because it's so common.

Are there any grammarians in the audience who can provide an explanation?