#PEEcanPie
Is it 'PEE-can' pie or 'puh-KAHN' pie? | The Tylt
Is it 'PEE-can' pie or 'puh-KAHN' pie?
There's no question that pecan pie is one of the country's favorite fall desserts. Whether it's served with chocolate or caramel, à la mode or "à la bourbon," pecan pie is a gift. Yet, it is also a source of great contention. When you ask your family member at the Thanksgiving table if they would like a slice of pecan pie, do you pronounce it "PEE-can" or "puh-KAHN"?
Real-time Voting
Is it 'PEE-can' pie or 'puh-KAHN' pie?
#PuhKAHNPie
When you see a bag of nuts labeled "Pecans," do you immediately think, "Yes, today I would like to snack on some PEE-cans." Absolutely not. The nut is pronounced "puh-KAHN." Therefore it should be pronounced as such in any other context—pecan pie, butter pecan ice cream, sugar-coated pecans—the pronunciation is the same through and through.
It doesn't matter if you're from the north, south or midwest. The dictionary says "pi-kahn" (listen for yourself). End of amazing-dessert story.
Sacrilege! Since when is everything in this world black and white? Forget the dictionary's phonetics; there are some things that are simply felt. Hearing someone say "Would you like a slice of 'puh-KAHN' pie?" is like hearing nails against a chalkboard—the ensuing cringes almost ruin the appeal of the dessert...almost.
According to The Washington Post's Steven Petrow:
A whopping 45 percent of Southerners say 'PEE-can,' while nearly 70 percent of those living in the Northeast do, too.
There you have it. The "PEE-can" pronunciation is nearly in the majority across the eastern United States, at least. There's no need to put limits on the humble pecan. The word can be pronounced in a number of ways depending on the context—a poetic reflection of the versatility of the nut itself.
Our team asked around:
