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What is the correct pronunciation of the word “route”?

I always thought that the word route should be pronounced as ru:t (my english dictionary also says that). But I hear people say it as raut. What's the correct way? Or both are correct?

Community
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Max
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2 Answers2

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In US English, route is usually pronounced "root" in reference to a roadway, as in "Route 66." As a verb, e.g., "route the cables behind the monitor," you tend to hear "rowt." This is not a uniform distinction, nota bene.

The Raven
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    What about the -ing form? What's the usual way pronunciation for routing? Is it different for "I'm routing" and "Routing Problem"? – Max Jan 26 '12 at 13:29
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It is a pond difference - the UK pronunciation is ru:t, whereas the US pronunciation is raut.

However, it depends what you talk about. A router - as a part of a computer network - is pronouced with the ru:t start, whereas even in the UK, if it is a DIY power tool, it is pronounced raut.

Schroedingers Cat
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    Bit of a red herring that. What the power tool does is rout (pronounced raut everywhere); what the electronic gizmo does is route (something). – Tim Lymington Jan 26 '12 at 12:53
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    In the U.S., even people who pronounce the highway [ru:t] generally pronounce the piece of the computer network [rautɚ]. – Peter Shor Jan 26 '12 at 13:33