If it's a device for measuring something. like a refractometer, then it's pronounced mə-tər. If it's a unit of measurement, like a kilometer, then it's pronounced mē-tər. That's my rule.
i think it has some latin influence on that. in brazil we write and speak like miLímetro, cenTímetro, deCímetro and so, kiLômetro. thats in portuguese and i think spanish wont be much different
i'm Australian and i use both. i've never thought about it before so after mulling it over and considering all posible linguistic, scientific and ethical consequences, i think i'll continue to use both. thanks Phil.
All of you haters who keep saying that Americans spell things wrong, SHUT THE F*CK UP! We don't spell things wrong, just different. Who f*cking cares if its spelled "color" or "colour" or if its spelled "meter" or "metre"? It's the same word! But if I had to take sides, I'd say that if you think the British spelling is better, you're NUTS! At least we spell "gaol" as "jail" with a J! You know, how it's ACTUALLY PRONOUNCED! Just lay off! I personally don't say that you guys spell it wrong.
You make a good argument, and while I can't disagree with your central point, there are so many things that Americans like to spell and pronounce incorrectly. So, I am going to hold on to my kilOmetRE for as long as I can spell it correctly :P
Totally agree with what you're saying Phil. I'm from Britain and our traditional pronunciation is with stress on the first syllable but we're increasingly hearing people - especially the younger generation - put stress on the second syllable which is totally wrong. At least the BBC advice stress on the first syllable. Great video to put the argument across!
By the way; by coincidence I happened to listen to an episode of Neil deGrasse Tyson's talk show this morning (he talks too much and doesn't let you get to the point, *sigh*) and you were a guest. If you really love well-constructed time-travel tales, check out Futurama - Bender's Big Score, it'll bend your mind!
Listen dude, I think the entire country weighs more in the balance than the ONE United-Statesian that understands the metric system.
Just kidding, Phil. You're right and all but EVERYONE in Canada says it that way and if that's what you have to put up with to get people to accept SI units, then so be it.
Im so happy an American realises how easy the metric system actually is. Why is the US so scared of it?!?! If they took 5 minutes of their time to look at it, they would have the greatest mathematical realisations of their entire lives. The metric system was created to standardise and simplify things, heck China which pre-dates the USA by millennia uses the metric system.
@fundles420 Hahaha, WHAT!?!? Dont get me wrong I loved my travels to the states. People always told me Americans were loud and brash, which i discovered to be the opposite. Dont worry bud i don't hate the US :D Its a measurement system and im just saying you guys are hindering yourselves with an old system. Using fractions is hard, i hated them in school and i wasn't alone, the metric system eliminates complexity. I hope i don't land up in guantanamo for mocking the imperial system :D
Hmmmm pot calling the kettle black maybe? We'll fix our pronunciation when you fix...YOUR WHOLE SHITTY SYSTEM. Temperature is difficult, my ass. How to do you get from Celcius to Kelvin? How do you get from Farenheit to Kelvin? What does water freeze or boil at in Celcius vs. Farenheit?
The vid gets a "dislike" from me for the general arrogance of assuming that the American pronunciation is the one and only way of saying things. I like the American accent, but the arrogance of this video of assuming that the American way is the ONLY way is what gives Americans a bad name. I know not all Americans are like THIS one, but eh.. There you have it.
- I am neither American nor Canadian and therefore impartial! =D
ACTUALLY, THE REAL REASON FOR WHY THEY SAY KILOMETER LIKE THAT IS BECAUSE IT HAS AN "O" BEFORE THE "METER". THATS WHY ITS THERMOMETER, NOT BECAUSE IT MEASURES THERMS, BUT BECAUSE IT HAS AN "O". IF THERE WAS AN "O" IN DECAMETER, MAKING IT DECOMETER, WE WOULD PRONOUNCE IT LIKE THERMOMETER. SO, YOU'RE DEAD WRONG SIR.
Ok, so this is not exactly a new video I just stumbled upon, but I have to agree with BadAstronomer. I'm Norwegian and your way of saying 'kilometer' is exactly like we do in Norway and Scandinavia. (The exception being the pronounciation of the K, but that's another story all together!)
Oh, btw the Celcius isn't that hard at all. Water freezes at 0 and boils at 100! Piece of cake! ;)
Was it a conscious decision in the development of these terms of distance/pressure that separated the emphasis of syllables? Then there's 'speedometer' the gauge of speed, which also has the emphasis on the middle syllable. But I doubt it's pronounced that way because of some organizational rule, but more because "Speed-O-meter" just sounds dorky. Kill-O-meter sounds dorky to me in the same way, although none of the others do. Kill-OM-eter just seems to flow better.
to change the system in the us now would be utter chaos everyone would be confused and everyone would be lost and speeding and going slow and measuring things wrong ... lol ok maybe not but the general public would freak out .. and in measuring things i use metrics but i use both ... no reason to rant on how the us is just accept that its different and just go with it instead of saying we need CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE ! maybe we wouldnt be in the issues we are in ... that and kill the idiots O.O
It's because the English people (yes, American's are included here) are diametrically opposed to the metric system (and a lot of other SI units it seems :P).
That's why we Dutch don't have this problem of pronunciation. Kilometer. Kilo and meter. Simply go 'kilo meter' and eliminate the pause between words :P
Depends where you go in Canada I s'pose... You go to Nova Scotia, you hear them mostly, still, talk in Imperial. When they do, you'll hear "kill-om-eter"... I've never been to the rest of Canada because I don't have family in any other Provinces. When you hear them say Miles ("Myills")... It sounds like "Malls"... :D... Note any Americans who're watching this, you know you're talking to a Nova Scotian when you hear someone say a sentence with "some" in it... "It's SOME cold old!"
Here, in Brazil, we use the metric system too! But here the accent is on the 3rd (from right to left) syllable. We use an "acute accent" to differenciate. Km is "quilómetro" (in portuguese). As well: "centímetro", "nanômetro" (nanometer - this is a circunflex accent). Then, we say Km as like the canadians: Kill-Ometer, something like that :)
Hey there mister man. Your argument makes sense. I don't have anything to back up my point of view but I disagree. I guess its just a preference for me. Balls. lol It bothers me that I think you're right. I just don't like it.
Commenting on a 2 year old video. Is there a measurement for how futile that is?
Ok well I've got one for "you all" it's not pronounced "ya'll"...lol I've always called it kill-o-meter, its usually older folk here in Canada that pronounce it the other way. P.S. Where can I go to ask Phil some astronomy questions if anyone knows.
@TheCuriosity1 Actually, both of you - @TheBadAstronomer - and you, are right AND wrong. While "Kilometre" is the original spelling (British), "kilometer" is the American version of spelling. Also - @TheBadAstronomer is using American pronunciation, while to us, the Canadian pronunciation is closer to what we use - not quite there, but close. =)
The metric system was created by scientists, and the other system was taken from measuring the foot of some king because he ordered so. Therefore they have "feet", "inches" , "yards", "miles", etc. and everything is ruled by the king's foot.
Hey Phil, until your country actually gets out of the dark ages and actually uses the Metric System, don't tell us how to pronounce our words. We don't tell you how to spell colour or neighbour.
@robloid Just because the American system is backwards doesn't mean yours has to be as well. The SI is supposed to be about consistency and science, so the kil-O-metre pronunciation is only natural.
@Quasi84 - Be that as it may I still have never heard anyone pronounce color or neighbor the way it is spelled - if so then they would sound like cull-OR or nay-BOR. It sounds more like CULL-ur and NAY-bur, like in the word velour.
I'm anal about consistency too Phil... I agree with you on the pronunciation of kilometer, even though i sometimes still pronounce it the other way. I even tried to convince all my friends that it should be "twenty-ten" and not "two-thousand ten". Even "twenty-oh-nine" instead of "two-thousand-nine"
LOL! Love the rant, but since when was English consistent in how it pronounced or wrote words though (e.g. bough, trough, through, rough, though, all pronounced different even though they all have "ough" endings). I just figured our way of saying kilometer (accent on second part) was because of French influence.
@danieljand Actually French Canucks say it kee-lo-MET, with the accent on the very last syllable, and they don't even pronounce the -RE at all, which OBVIOUSLY IS WRONG. Anyway, but yeah, I agree with you, TheBadAstronomer is making sense, but *English* makes no sense anyway, so I'mma ignore him and keep saying it the RIGHT way :)
Well done, Phil. I get after my fellow Canadians about this one, too, and have used most of the arguments you give - including the "kil-OM-eter" which measures "kils." :-) I also ask folks, "do you say mil-IM-eter or cen-TIM-eter?" (I'm an active amateur astronomer in the Ottawa-area, BTW.)
@T0B0KKE We drive on the left cos its the only true way ;-) No but seriously I think that most countries that drive on the right had to convert to get there - we just haven't.
Something to do with Napoleon, swords, carriage whips, etc.
Miles is a non issue here too. Use of metric is actually illegal on roads (except for weight - lets face it a UK ton is about the same as a euro tonne) and length/width can optionally have metric as a secondary or not at all. We're an island. Whatharm does it do
Hypothetical rant - We have 2 languages, maybe the second pronounciation originates in Quebec? Here in BC, we do say Kilometer....Or maybe its an eastcoast westcoast difference? Either way I'm biased to my country and really dont care how it gets said, both are fine by me ;)
@TayraD Nope...en français, it's "kilomètre", strong stress on the third syllable and lesser stress on the first syllable. It's basically impossible to pronounce it with stress on the second syllable, it just...doesn't work in French.
@pooryorick99 I'm not sure about Québec French, but in France French, there's no stress at all. Not just in the word, but in the whole language, we don't stress words :P
@Naixn Ah yes you're absolutely right- I should've been more specific. Québec French has a very distinct cadence to it. In the extreme, you basically just hit every other syllable. My European French (France and Belgium) tell me that's the hardest thing about the accent for them to understand. Though, full disclosure, I'm a native English speaker- I just learned French from Quebeckers.
Ah, TBA, but I believe you're forgetting something. What's the plural of moose? Not meese. This is English. What is English without the plethora of exceptions to just aboot every rule there is. I've always said kuh-LA-mu-ter. But then again, it's a SPEC-tro-mee-ter, not spec-TRAH-mu-ter (ok, I'm kidding, but still). This is not the language to argue about the consistancy of rules as proof, eh? :D.
I'll come to you for tips on astronomy, but you really should leave the study of words and their history to the professional etymologists .
The Oxford dictionary appears to back you up - if you are British. However, here in the English-speaking Occident, we must look to Mr. Noah Webster, who shows that you are incorrect. Both pronunciations are "venerable" in North American English, with the stress on the "o" being preferable or more common. It's been that way since 1847 C.E.
I hear you, Phil. I do this myself (and, since I am Canadian, I suppose it's only natural). I've tried to change. "Kilogram" and "kilometer", the prefixes should sound the same, I tell myself. Unfortunately, it never sticks. At least I don't say "nucular". I think I should get a point for that so I'll end up breaking even, having lost a point for my uncontrollable mispronunciation of "kilometer".
How people pronounce things is what you worry about when you've never touched a woman...
Do you also say "tach-o-meter" for your tachometer in your car???? No you don't you fuckhead.
** I would also like to adapt the first insult to include " man" to account for differing sexual orientations... I'm Canadian and we're quite politically correct too **
@marcusjack you made his point for him, you know that don't you? Emphasis on the first syllable for units of measurement, emphasis on the second for the tools doing the measuring.
I say "kill-ah-met-er" because it sounds like a larger unit to me, because when I hear the "meter" part pronounced like "meater" it makes me think of millimeters and centimeters, which suggests something relatively small. The "kill-o-meater" version makes me underestimate the distance represented.
@Fibr3Optix Actually the most scientific temperature measurement method is the Kelvin. It is also considered the metric system and is a SI unit. It uses absolute zero as zero (absolute zero is the point when the atoms of a matter no longer has any vibrations that can create heat, hence the term absolute zero). The rest of the readings behave exactly like Celsius.
So 273K is water freezing temperature and 373K is water boiling temperature.
DIE!!! No I must admit the metric system is easy but I don't like it because if we converted to the metric system here in england then we would get 5ml less beer per pint and beer means everything.
I would have blured your face because there are alot of angry brits around who would like your head.
im sure everyone in canada knows how to correctly pronounce "kilometer" but because of our upbrining and what not we say kilOmeter instead of KILometer, its just accent man, why you make a big deal over it i will never understand.
I've wondered about my pronunciation; I'm a "kilOMeter" sayer. But it's merely habit for me. Kingsley Amis, in "The King's English", explains that the Romans had at one time a "kilOMeter". It was a walled enclosure used to count 1000 soldiers! Fantastic counterexample, I think. Love the videos, and your appearances on SGU and elsewhere.
Of course it's pronounced Kilo-meter as you say. We educated Canadians all pronounce it that way because we understand what the word means.
We also never say ATM machine, PIN number, VIN number or any of the other things people love to screw up because they are sheep and have no idea what the things they say actually mean...
yes, you are right... i'm from Romania, we also use the metric system... we pronounce kilo just as you suggested.. we just pronounce meter different. But, in kilometer, the accent is always on the first part of the word ... you are right :)
The most recent official brochure about the International System of Units (SI) was written in French by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM: Bureau international des poids et mesures), in 2006. An English translation is included to make the SI standard "more widely accessible".[8] The UK English spelling is preferred among the majority of the English-speaking world apart from the United States.
only thiing is you speaking ENGLISH meaning that we have no acsent meaning the way we say it or as you would say KILL-o-metre is correct because thats how we say it and because english is my language and i have no acsent its the right way to say it is kill-om-it-er
Even though I don't like to say the word his way, "I don't wanna, that's just the way I do it" is not a cogent argument. He makes a very good case, and can back it up. Your argument has nothing to back it up but habit.
it should be KILL-o-meter and not kill-AW-meter because you say KILL-o-watts not kill-AW-watts and you say KILL-o-liters (wow thats a lot) not kill-AW-liters
Temperature in Celsius is almost the same as Kelvin, same variation and stuff
The difference is that Kelvin is based on the absolute zero and Celcius is based on the Freezing and Boiling temperatures of the water...
I was studiying farhenheit i thougt it was a bit random the base of it... blood temperature and the temperature of the axiles of the Fahrenheit's wife...
lol i've got news for you buddy, britain colonised america, you wouldn't even be over there if it wasn't for the british. do you think white people are native to north america :P i think not
Actually, the French, Spanish, and Germans were over here to. Your inflated British ego might cause you to forget that sometimes, but England had the smallest amount of America out of anyone.
Then America came around and took your ego to a whole new level -- slapp in some apple pie (dutch), statue of liberty (french), cowboys (spanish), and native lands, and we have stolen from every culture that came over here.
So basically, America took everything from the world and made it better.
I do not have an inflated British ego! Do you think I believe I live in the greatest nation? absolutely not! What i don't like is Americans telling me how they think our language should be spoken. English people have spoken this language for centuries. If American's want to spell or pronounce it differently that is up to them. I just don't like being told that we are using our own language incorrectly. It's obvious by now that American-English and English are two separate languages now.
Uh, no. The British did not just sit down in Parliament one day and hash out the English language. It gradually evolved and developed over a long period of time from something else. At one time, the whole language would have been spelled differently and, at the time, would have been considered 'correct'. But those spellings no longer hold as the language has shifted. The omission of letters, such as color/colour is just one 'mutation' in the fluid nature of language.
we in belgium say it sorta like the "kill-o-meter", only we pronounce the "meter", with a longer "eee" sound.
meter comes from the word "to measure" (translated to english), and the way some pronounce it can just be related to an older way of accentuating the word. but your way is the most correct for the english language.
Here in Ontario, I was taught that it was pronounced kill-o-meter back in Grade 4. I've ever since been annoyed when people say Kil-om-oter. Drives me nuts.
damn, I love you? I'm an American and I always pronounced it kilo-meter when I was in school, but always got corrected and encouraged to say it the alternate way. Looks like I was right, in your face metric noob teachers!
Meh... everybody knows that grammar rules don't follow a scientific method or logic. Both pronounciations are correct, that's the concept of what they call an "accent" =p
If it's a device for measuring something. like a refractometer, then it's pronounced mə-tər. If it's a unit of measurement, like a kilometer, then it's pronounced mē-tər. That's my rule.
dudev 2 days ago
Can't divide by 10 argh can't gnrhg do it too gnrhg hard.
baldurus1 2 weeks ago
i think it has some latin influence on that. in brazil we write and speak like miLímetro, cenTímetro, deCímetro and so, kiLômetro. thats in portuguese and i think spanish wont be much different
PlatSoul 1 month ago
I agree however, we say it the way we do because it's like a short cut. a smoother way to say such a commonly used word. Tomato Tomoto
Momentimum 3 months ago
i'm Australian and i use both. i've never thought about it before so after mulling it over and considering all posible linguistic, scientific and ethical consequences, i think i'll continue to use both. thanks Phil.
DyslexicBibliophile2 4 months ago
All of you haters who keep saying that Americans spell things wrong, SHUT THE F*CK UP! We don't spell things wrong, just different. Who f*cking cares if its spelled "color" or "colour" or if its spelled "meter" or "metre"? It's the same word! But if I had to take sides, I'd say that if you think the British spelling is better, you're NUTS! At least we spell "gaol" as "jail" with a J! You know, how it's ACTUALLY PRONOUNCED! Just lay off! I personally don't say that you guys spell it wrong.
skyblue9696 5 months ago
@skyblue9696 Rome -Roma does not really matter
Haukthefurry 3 months ago
You make a good argument, and while I can't disagree with your central point, there are so many things that Americans like to spell and pronounce incorrectly. So, I am going to hold on to my kilOmetRE for as long as I can spell it correctly :P
zooey6 5 months ago
Totally agree with what you're saying Phil. I'm from Britain and our traditional pronunciation is with stress on the first syllable but we're increasingly hearing people - especially the younger generation - put stress on the second syllable which is totally wrong. At least the BBC advice stress on the first syllable. Great video to put the argument across!
function8key 5 months ago
You are very demeaning. i love it.
drmoroe30 5 months ago
Let's not forget about jiggawatts. (Which is how many scientists actually pronounce it.)
NetRolller3D 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
If you're interested, I just posted a video called "how to pronounce kilometer".
tcurtis2000 7 months ago
By the way; by coincidence I happened to listen to an episode of Neil deGrasse Tyson's talk show this morning (he talks too much and doesn't let you get to the point, *sigh*) and you were a guest. If you really love well-constructed time-travel tales, check out Futurama - Bender's Big Score, it'll bend your mind!
Progman3K 7 months ago
Listen dude, I think the entire country weighs more in the balance than the ONE United-Statesian that understands the metric system.
Just kidding, Phil. You're right and all but EVERYONE in Canada says it that way and if that's what you have to put up with to get people to accept SI units, then so be it.
Progman3K 7 months ago
Im so happy an American realises how easy the metric system actually is. Why is the US so scared of it?!?! If they took 5 minutes of their time to look at it, they would have the greatest mathematical realisations of their entire lives. The metric system was created to standardise and simplify things, heck China which pre-dates the USA by millennia uses the metric system.
imortalsappy 7 months ago 2
@imortalsappy Please bomb us were all a bunch of fucking idiots. Please.
fundles420 6 months ago
@fundles420 Hahaha, WHAT!?!? Dont get me wrong I loved my travels to the states. People always told me Americans were loud and brash, which i discovered to be the opposite. Dont worry bud i don't hate the US :D Its a measurement system and im just saying you guys are hindering yourselves with an old system. Using fractions is hard, i hated them in school and i wasn't alone, the metric system eliminates complexity. I hope i don't land up in guantanamo for mocking the imperial system :D
imortalsappy 6 months ago
I want a killometer to measure my kills.
Nails077 7 months ago
Hmmmm pot calling the kettle black maybe? We'll fix our pronunciation when you fix...YOUR WHOLE SHITTY SYSTEM. Temperature is difficult, my ass. How to do you get from Celcius to Kelvin? How do you get from Farenheit to Kelvin? What does water freeze or boil at in Celcius vs. Farenheit?
abberantgeck0 7 months ago
The vid gets a "dislike" from me for the general arrogance of assuming that the American pronunciation is the one and only way of saying things. I like the American accent, but the arrogance of this video of assuming that the American way is the ONLY way is what gives Americans a bad name. I know not all Americans are like THIS one, but eh.. There you have it.
- I am neither American nor Canadian and therefore impartial! =D
agpleez 8 months ago 2
@agpleez Well he called Canada American's hat so you can see where he comes from.
aar0n262 7 months ago
Funny.
ParrhesiaJoe 8 months ago
you forgot nanometer, nan-O-meter
JAndrioli 8 months ago
Oh, and for all you americans, its New-Found-Land, not New-Finland
bluenoseguitarman 8 months ago 2
Meh, its just the way we say things up here. We don't harass new englanders for calling a Harbor a HaaBaa right?
bluenoseguitarman 8 months ago
The lazy Australia tongue prefers ki-lom.
subsynchronous 8 months ago
We don't call it a Speed-O-Meter.
We don't call it a Therm-O-Meter.
We don't call it a Tac-O-Meter.
It's Sped-ahh-met-er,
It's Therm-ahh-met-er,
It's Tac-ahh-met-er,
And...
It's Kill-Ahh-met-er
bjorno 8 months ago
@bjorno His end point was the fact that everything you listed there is a tool or instrument, not the measurement the instrument are used to display.
2 groups, 2 different pronunciations. You are mixing them like every other water head in these comments.
kbtwinkietwins 8 months ago
@bjorno No, he explains why you're wrong in the video that you apparently did not watch.
Diabolikal49 8 months ago
I don't really mind if it is pronounced differently, as long as you get the units correct it doesn't really matter.
mousaey 9 months ago
ACTUALLY, THE REAL REASON FOR WHY THEY SAY KILOMETER LIKE THAT IS BECAUSE IT HAS AN "O" BEFORE THE "METER". THATS WHY ITS THERMOMETER, NOT BECAUSE IT MEASURES THERMS, BUT BECAUSE IT HAS AN "O". IF THERE WAS AN "O" IN DECAMETER, MAKING IT DECOMETER, WE WOULD PRONOUNCE IT LIKE THERMOMETER. SO, YOU'RE DEAD WRONG SIR.
urgatorbait549 9 months ago 5
On behalf of everyone in the world, minus Americans. This is how we react to the imperial system. 2:44
Fibr3Optix 9 months ago
A better comparison would be with kilogram or any other unit. Noone would say kill-o-gram. Thats messages you send people before killing them.
MikaelLAOhman 10 months ago
@MikaelLAOhman I say Kill-o-gram. Nobody would say noone.
bobthelantern 8 months ago
A better comparison would be with kilogram or any other unit. Noone would say kill-o-gram
MikaelLAOhman 10 months ago
Yep Phil, Got it!
metalmilitia1977 10 months ago
Just to PISS YOU OFF, I will now start saying "cen-TIM-e-ter". (It does sound cool, try it.) ;)
Simple metric conversion- Double it and add 30. So a 6 pack is like, 32 metric beers, eh.
GoblinXXX 10 months ago
53 people study the english language more than phil. if it were kilimeter, he would be correct.
sethmusic 10 months ago
meter is the correct spelling in America.
metre is used in other places.
firefight33 10 months ago
I support your grand cause about the kilometer and thank you for explaining where the odd pronounciation came from :P
OmegaDude22 11 months ago
genius.
lexen 1 year ago
Ok, so this is not exactly a new video I just stumbled upon, but I have to agree with BadAstronomer. I'm Norwegian and your way of saying 'kilometer' is exactly like we do in Norway and Scandinavia. (The exception being the pronounciation of the K, but that's another story all together!)
Oh, btw the Celcius isn't that hard at all. Water freezes at 0 and boils at 100! Piece of cake! ;)
theoldbat40 1 year ago
Was it a conscious decision in the development of these terms of distance/pressure that separated the emphasis of syllables? Then there's 'speedometer' the gauge of speed, which also has the emphasis on the middle syllable. But I doubt it's pronounced that way because of some organizational rule, but more because "Speed-O-meter" just sounds dorky. Kill-O-meter sounds dorky to me in the same way, although none of the others do. Kill-OM-eter just seems to flow better.
BronzeDragonrider 1 year ago
to change the system in the us now would be utter chaos everyone would be confused and everyone would be lost and speeding and going slow and measuring things wrong ... lol ok maybe not but the general public would freak out .. and in measuring things i use metrics but i use both ... no reason to rant on how the us is just accept that its different and just go with it instead of saying we need CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE ! maybe we wouldnt be in the issues we are in ... that and kill the idiots O.O
acrock21 1 year ago
In the UK it's pronounced like this:-
MILE.
Think of "my" and "Isle" morphing together. Very easy.
Stimpy130368 1 year ago
It's because the English people (yes, American's are included here) are diametrically opposed to the metric system (and a lot of other SI units it seems :P).
That's why we Dutch don't have this problem of pronunciation. Kilometer. Kilo and meter. Simply go 'kilo meter' and eliminate the pause between words :P
tiaxanderson 1 year ago
Depends where you go in Canada I s'pose... You go to Nova Scotia, you hear them mostly, still, talk in Imperial. When they do, you'll hear "kill-om-eter"... I've never been to the rest of Canada because I don't have family in any other Provinces. When you hear them say Miles ("Myills")... It sounds like "Malls"... :D... Note any Americans who're watching this, you know you're talking to a Nova Scotian when you hear someone say a sentence with "some" in it... "It's SOME cold old!"
Ian74263 1 year ago
But what if I do want to measure kills? :P
DarthQuola 1 year ago
Here, in Brazil, we use the metric system too! But here the accent is on the 3rd (from right to left) syllable. We use an "acute accent" to differenciate. Km is "quilómetro" (in portuguese). As well: "centímetro", "nanômetro" (nanometer - this is a circunflex accent). Then, we say Km as like the canadians: Kill-Ometer, something like that :)
mvszao 1 year ago
Man what a rant. Potayto Potahto.
NuclearDuckie 1 year ago
Comment removed
frankjohnson123 1 year ago
KILometer, KILometer, KIILoomeeteer! Got it? :D
torokati44 1 year ago
Hey there mister man. Your argument makes sense. I don't have anything to back up my point of view but I disagree. I guess its just a preference for me. Balls. lol It bothers me that I think you're right. I just don't like it.
Commenting on a 2 year old video. Is there a measurement for how futile that is?
To top it off, I'm attaching a video response.
Gump1147 1 year ago
Ok well I've got one for "you all" it's not pronounced "ya'll"...lol I've always called it kill-o-meter, its usually older folk here in Canada that pronounce it the other way. P.S. Where can I go to ask Phil some astronomy questions if anyone knows.
KeithArnotBurr 1 year ago
you spelled it wrong. It's kilometre.
TheCuriosity1 1 year ago 20
@TheCuriosity1 Actually, both of you - @TheBadAstronomer - and you, are right AND wrong. While "Kilometre" is the original spelling (British), "kilometer" is the American version of spelling. Also - @TheBadAstronomer is using American pronunciation, while to us, the Canadian pronunciation is closer to what we use - not quite there, but close. =)
agpleez 8 months ago
@TheCuriosity1 In Canada it's spelled kilometre but in the US it's spelled kilometer. US doesn't use the French spelling
organpage 5 months ago
The metric system was created by scientists, and the other system was taken from measuring the foot of some king because he ordered so. Therefore they have "feet", "inches" , "yards", "miles", etc. and everything is ruled by the king's foot.
azenenc 1 year ago
Hey Phil, until your country actually gets out of the dark ages and actually uses the Metric System, don't tell us how to pronounce our words. We don't tell you how to spell colour or neighbour.
robloid 1 year ago 9
@robloid Just because the American system is backwards doesn't mean yours has to be as well. The SI is supposed to be about consistency and science, so the kil-O-metre pronunciation is only natural.
frankjohnson123 11 months ago
@robloid The French told you how to spell colour and neighbour.
Quasi84 7 months ago
@Quasi84 The Brits, actually. But we love the French all the same.
You know, not everyone is a condescending little shit like you, so that's not the insult you intended it to be.
xlibra15 7 months ago
@xlibra15 I don't try to be condescending. You just talked out of your ass, so I just felt like feed a troll.
Quasi84 7 months ago
@Quasi84 That was my first comment on this vid. This is my second.
xlibra15 7 months ago
@Quasi84 - Be that as it may I still have never heard anyone pronounce color or neighbor the way it is spelled - if so then they would sound like cull-OR or nay-BOR. It sounds more like CULL-ur and NAY-bur, like in the word velour.
robloid 7 months ago
@robloid shut up
AContusionInside 6 months ago
@robloid Actually, some of you do tell us how to spell colo(u)r or Neighbro(u)r.
PykohYT 2 months ago
I'm anal about consistency too Phil... I agree with you on the pronunciation of kilometer, even though i sometimes still pronounce it the other way. I even tried to convince all my friends that it should be "twenty-ten" and not "two-thousand ten". Even "twenty-oh-nine" instead of "two-thousand-nine"
pkboomer 1 year ago
Stop killing meters...
Its actualy Kilo Meter... Keylo....
Noogymonster 1 year ago
You're absolutely right. But I'm saying kil-OM-eter anyway. :D
lotrfreak2010 1 year ago
This might be the first time I've ever totally disagreed with Dr. Plait! I'm not even Canadian, but it's Kil-a-mter! Says me.
rockyhorror42 1 year ago
We know. But we're not saying it that way. You're right but you're also wrong. You don't have to say it as often as we do.
At least we know to pronounced Nuclear NU-clear.
geoff394 1 year ago
LOL! Love the rant, but since when was English consistent in how it pronounced or wrote words though (e.g. bough, trough, through, rough, though, all pronounced different even though they all have "ough" endings). I just figured our way of saying kilometer (accent on second part) was because of French influence.
danieljand 1 year ago
@danieljand Actually French Canucks say it kee-lo-MET, with the accent on the very last syllable, and they don't even pronounce the -RE at all, which OBVIOUSLY IS WRONG. Anyway, but yeah, I agree with you, TheBadAstronomer is making sense, but *English* makes no sense anyway, so I'mma ignore him and keep saying it the RIGHT way :)
eriseriseriseriseris 1 year ago
Sure, and we use the MEE-tric system here too. :)
maliciousmath 1 year ago
dialect?
plastikmaiden 1 year ago
Well done, Phil. I get after my fellow Canadians about this one, too, and have used most of the arguments you give - including the "kil-OM-eter" which measures "kils." :-) I also ask folks, "do you say mil-IM-eter or cen-TIM-eter?" (I'm an active amateur astronomer in the Ottawa-area, BTW.)
LibertasAutMors 1 year ago
Temperature= 0 degrees equals FREEZING point and 100 degrees = BOILING point. Its a perfect 25 over here today.
WTF7176 1 year ago
No! it is Klicks!
bmecher 1 year ago
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America's hat? Seriously? Could you be any more offensive? What a prick.
fertilizerspike 1 year ago
Wouldn't it be KEElometer?
unclejimbo888 1 year ago
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wouldn't it be KEElometer?
unclejimbo888 1 year ago
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unclejimbo888 1 year ago
But what about "prefer". You don't say "pre-FER-ab-ly" you say "PRE-fer-ab-ly". It changes. Just like "kil-LO-met-er" changes from the others.
adelsaint 1 year ago
Why do Americans use the Imperial System?? I mean... British use meters why don't americans just drop miles once and for all?
T0B0KKE 1 year ago
@T0B0KKE - Hmm best you come over and look at our road signs before you revert your quote about the British!
Stimpy130368 1 year ago
@Stimpy130368 You still use the imperial? -_-
One thing I like about British is driving in the left roadway... But seriously?? Miles??
T0B0KKE 1 year ago
@T0B0KKE We drive on the left cos its the only true way ;-) No but seriously I think that most countries that drive on the right had to convert to get there - we just haven't.
Something to do with Napoleon, swords, carriage whips, etc.
Miles is a non issue here too. Use of metric is actually illegal on roads (except for weight - lets face it a UK ton is about the same as a euro tonne) and length/width can optionally have metric as a secondary or not at all. We're an island. Whatharm does it do
Stimpy130368 1 year ago
You can pronounce it both ways. It's great to be a Canadian, isn't it? :o)
Evie45 1 year ago
Hypothetical rant - We have 2 languages, maybe the second pronounciation originates in Quebec? Here in BC, we do say Kilometer....Or maybe its an eastcoast westcoast difference? Either way I'm biased to my country and really dont care how it gets said, both are fine by me ;)
TayraD 1 year ago
@TayraD Nope...en français, it's "kilomètre", strong stress on the third syllable and lesser stress on the first syllable. It's basically impossible to pronounce it with stress on the second syllable, it just...doesn't work in French.
pooryorick99 1 year ago
@pooryorick99 I'm not sure about Québec French, but in France French, there's no stress at all. Not just in the word, but in the whole language, we don't stress words :P
Naixn 1 year ago
@Naixn Ah yes you're absolutely right- I should've been more specific. Québec French has a very distinct cadence to it. In the extreme, you basically just hit every other syllable. My European French (France and Belgium) tell me that's the hardest thing about the accent for them to understand. Though, full disclosure, I'm a native English speaker- I just learned French from Quebeckers.
pooryorick99 1 year ago
I would be OK with widespread bad pronunciation if it meant ditching the "Imperial system"...
scopeeyevideo 1 year ago
wWAHahaha....I LIKE YOU!! 10/10
Naton 1 year ago
Canadian here.
I AGREE! Thank you! I live here so I hear it all the freakin time.
adamgomori90 1 year ago
well both ways of saying it are right, none of them is wrong, it depends on how you say it.
selraith123 1 year ago
Two words: Bollocks.
Sorry, one word was sufficient in the end.
ttdantt10384 1 year ago
Ah, TBA, but I believe you're forgetting something. What's the plural of moose? Not meese. This is English. What is English without the plethora of exceptions to just aboot every rule there is. I've always said kuh-LA-mu-ter. But then again, it's a SPEC-tro-mee-ter, not spec-TRAH-mu-ter (ok, I'm kidding, but still). This is not the language to argue about the consistancy of rules as proof, eh? :D.
Ripley747 1 year ago
how do you pronounce "Kilogram"? would it be KILLogram, or kilLOgram?
frozenfred 1 year ago
Potato PotAHto! At least we know how to use the metric system :)
xeric77 1 year ago
Your pronunciation is closer to how the Scandinavian pronounce it. It sounds weird with an English 'sound' though...
MizarX3 1 year ago
Phil,
I'll come to you for tips on astronomy, but you really should leave the study of words and their history to the professional etymologists .
The Oxford dictionary appears to back you up - if you are British. However, here in the English-speaking Occident, we must look to Mr. Noah Webster, who shows that you are incorrect. Both pronunciations are "venerable" in North American English, with the stress on the "o" being preferable or more common. It's been that way since 1847 C.E.
SpamDeleted 1 year ago
Sorry, but until you start using it you're not allowed to define how it's pronounced :)
felixmeister 1 year ago
I hear you, Phil. I do this myself (and, since I am Canadian, I suppose it's only natural). I've tried to change. "Kilogram" and "kilometer", the prefixes should sound the same, I tell myself. Unfortunately, it never sticks. At least I don't say "nucular". I think I should get a point for that so I'll end up breaking even, having lost a point for my uncontrollable mispronunciation of "kilometer".
S2VpdGgA 1 year ago
kill-o-mee-ter?
tach-o-mee-ter?
dih-vine-ih-tee?
nay-shun-uhl?
cone-ic?
kuh-law-meh-tur is a perfectly reasonable pronunciation. English with Latin roots is still English.
DS127 1 year ago
How people pronounce things is what you worry about when you've never touched a woman...
Do you also say "tach-o-meter" for your tachometer in your car???? No you don't you fuckhead.
** I would also like to adapt the first insult to include " man" to account for differing sexual orientations... I'm Canadian and we're quite politically correct too **
:o)
marcusjack 1 year ago
@marcusjack you made his point for him, you know that don't you? Emphasis on the first syllable for units of measurement, emphasis on the second for the tools doing the measuring.
You dumb cunt.
bgarrigus 1 year ago
You are of course assuming that the English language must make sense...ooops...;p
DJB1981 1 year ago
keelometer lol
Nogert 1 year ago
You made some good points. I have always said kill-o-meter.
Loki95531 1 year ago
true :) i love the metric system... how do you convert farenheit to celcius??? without using google or a converter???
rafukireyes 1 year ago
@rafukireyes You can calculate it using the following formulae
Degrees Fahrenheit = ((9 x [degrees Celsius]) / 5) + 32
Converting this gives you:
degrees Celsius = (5 x ([degrees Fahrenheit] - 32)) / 9
Have fun. :)
fffan2003 1 year ago
I say "kill-ah-met-er" because it sounds like a larger unit to me, because when I hear the "meter" part pronounced like "meater" it makes me think of millimeters and centimeters, which suggests something relatively small. The "kill-o-meater" version makes me underestimate the distance represented.
Tyrannobeast 1 year ago
Hey Phil - we use it so if we say it's kill-a-meter we're right.
As for understanding temperature in metrics what's so hard?
at 0 C - Water Freezes
Closer to 0 its cold. Farther from 0 it's warm. What's so hard?
In the states what's considered the freezing point? 32F. WTF 32? Huh? did you guys just pick a random number.
Metric rules.
Fibr3Optix 1 year ago
@Fibr3Optix Actually the most scientific temperature measurement method is the Kelvin. It is also considered the metric system and is a SI unit. It uses absolute zero as zero (absolute zero is the point when the atoms of a matter no longer has any vibrations that can create heat, hence the term absolute zero). The rest of the readings behave exactly like Celsius.
So 273K is water freezing temperature and 373K is water boiling temperature.
Legola87 1 year ago
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Hey, i'm 14 years old and i enjoy watching your videos. They're really informative and easy to understand (Except the Lagrange-point one).
Keep up the Good work!
Greetings from the Netherlands
senaat1 2 years ago
It's much easier - and less contentious - to pronounce it 'mile' ;-) ;-) ;-) Thank God for the imperial system !
Stimpy130368 2 years ago
@Stimpy130368
heh funny
wondering tho what will disapear first.. god or the imperial system...
WinterWezo 1 year ago
It's God's measurement system :-) If either disappear then there will be armageddon. Just don't say "The end is nigh" !!
Stimpy130368 1 year ago
Well, you don't say kilAWatt, do we?!? So other than obviously having too much time on your hands, I think you're correct.
wa8ycd 2 years ago
we use the metric system in morocco and it's so much easier
ma356289 2 years ago
fun argumentation but in fact he's wrong. Originated from greek the emphasis is on KI and ME. kilometer would make : short long short long
JamesDanelle 2 years ago
DIE!!! No I must admit the metric system is easy but I don't like it because if we converted to the metric system here in england then we would get 5ml less beer per pint and beer means everything.
I would have blured your face because there are alot of angry brits around who would like your head.
alex471996 2 years ago
im sure everyone in canada knows how to correctly pronounce "kilometer" but because of our upbrining and what not we say kilOmeter instead of KILometer, its just accent man, why you make a big deal over it i will never understand.
gweegwee3 2 years ago
I get the point, phil. But why make a fuss if you understood what they were "mispronouncing"
1800ghostdance 2 years ago
Shatner is Canadian?!?!
draconiandevil01 2 years ago
you know it!
1800ghostdance 2 years ago
Nobody really uses decameter as far as I know, but nice video anyway :)
Shortymort 2 years ago
I've wondered about my pronunciation; I'm a "kilOMeter" sayer. But it's merely habit for me. Kingsley Amis, in "The King's English", explains that the Romans had at one time a "kilOMeter". It was a walled enclosure used to count 1000 soldiers! Fantastic counterexample, I think. Love the videos, and your appearances on SGU and elsewhere.
Beingwith 2 years ago
WOW!!!! HAHAHA! A little obsessive are we?
xPHOENIX269x 2 years ago
i use the metric system in britain i used to say kilometer the bad way but now i just say 'clicks'. its so much shorter
Sunadun 2 years ago
10 MILLIMETERS = 1 CENTIMETER
10 CENTIMETERS = 1 DECIMETER
100 CENTIMETERS = 1 METER*
10 DECIMETERS = 1 METER*
10 METERS = 1 DECAMETER
1000 METERS = 1 KILOMETER**
100 DECAMETRES = 1 KILOMETER**
From lowest to highest
UneX100 2 years ago
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thebogrolls 2 years ago
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Splaterson92 2 years ago
metrick systemruulz
atsuktuvas2 2 years ago 16
Of course it's pronounced Kilo-meter as you say. We educated Canadians all pronounce it that way because we understand what the word means.
We also never say ATM machine, PIN number, VIN number or any of the other things people love to screw up because they are sheep and have no idea what the things they say actually mean...
MrJdwarner94 1 year ago
yes, you are right... i'm from Romania, we also use the metric system... we pronounce kilo just as you suggested.. we just pronounce meter different. But, in kilometer, the accent is always on the first part of the word ... you are right :)
supremeon1 2 years ago
The most recent official brochure about the International System of Units (SI) was written in French by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM: Bureau international des poids et mesures), in 2006. An English translation is included to make the SI standard "more widely accessible".[8] The UK English spelling is preferred among the majority of the English-speaking world apart from the United States.
mosty85 2 years ago 3
nope Kil-OM-etre
and yes its spelt metre, not meter
mosty85 2 years ago
only thiing is you speaking ENGLISH meaning that we have no acsent meaning the way we say it or as you would say KILL-o-metre is correct because thats how we say it and because english is my language and i have no acsent its the right way to say it is kill-om-it-er
MrCondings 2 years ago
Your way is probably the correct way, but the Canadian way is just easier to say IMO
and the metric system is best for temperatures, celcius is awesome! Ha I hate km anyway, in England it's still miles and mph :)
AxxeMaster 2 years ago
leave us canadians alone, we pronounce it that way
joe133322 2 years ago 10
@joe133322
Even though I don't like to say the word his way, "I don't wanna, that's just the way I do it" is not a cogent argument. He makes a very good case, and can back it up. Your argument has nothing to back it up but habit.
BronzeDragonrider 1 year ago
it should be KILL-o-meter and not kill-AW-meter because you say KILL-o-watts not kill-AW-watts and you say KILL-o-liters (wow thats a lot) not kill-AW-liters
JordanMaster22 2 years ago
you should see how its pronunced in the arab world (or me when speaking arabic) : keel-oh-mitr :P
in any event, this is a good explanation as to pronunciation. +5
Albukhshi 2 years ago
LOL
FTP2480 2 years ago
oh and also...
Even here in Brazil we speak wrong, just like the canadians, but in portuguese (of course)
But its kinda strange to speak Quilométros (theres no accent on the "MÉ"), KilomEter,
Its much easier to speak Quilômetros (the "^" makes a closed nasalated sound) that sounds like the canadian KilOmeter
jabacoco 2 years ago
Well I think the imperial system is hard 0.o
Temperature in Celsius is almost the same as Kelvin, same variation and stuff
The difference is that Kelvin is based on the absolute zero and Celcius is based on the Freezing and Boiling temperatures of the water...
I was studiying farhenheit i thougt it was a bit random the base of it... blood temperature and the temperature of the axiles of the Fahrenheit's wife...
0º Celcius - Water Freezes
100º Celcius - Water Boils...
Simple as that
jabacoco 2 years ago
well, in britain we say keelo and keelometer too, at least, I do :P
keewa 2 years ago
Also -- we in Canada spell it "kilometRE" not "kilometER"
eozoon 2 years ago 2
You also spell it "colour" not "color."
My point? Canadians can't spell.
vagitoe 2 years ago
we can spell, we spell it the canadian way
joe133322 2 years ago 3
'colour' is the correct spelling. that's how its spelt in england, and last time i checked we invented the language
mosty85 2 years ago 7
Yeah, but we took it from you when we saw how badly you were butchering it.
vagitoe 2 years ago
lol i've got news for you buddy, britain colonised america, you wouldn't even be over there if it wasn't for the british. do you think white people are native to north america :P i think not
mosty85 2 years ago 2
Actually, the French, Spanish, and Germans were over here to. Your inflated British ego might cause you to forget that sometimes, but England had the smallest amount of America out of anyone.
Then America came around and took your ego to a whole new level -- slapp in some apple pie (dutch), statue of liberty (french), cowboys (spanish), and native lands, and we have stolen from every culture that came over here.
So basically, America took everything from the world and made it better.
vagitoe 2 years ago
I do not have an inflated British ego! Do you think I believe I live in the greatest nation? absolutely not! What i don't like is Americans telling me how they think our language should be spoken. English people have spoken this language for centuries. If American's want to spell or pronounce it differently that is up to them. I just don't like being told that we are using our own language incorrectly. It's obvious by now that American-English and English are two separate languages now.
mosty85 2 years ago
I swear, it's like you people speak a whole nother language -- it's so hard to read such hogwash.
vagitoe 2 years ago
@vagitoe and then butchered it beyond all comprehension.
Unlike us Aussies who refined and expanded it.
We're talking about beer right?
felixmeister 1 year ago
@mosty85
Uh, no. The British did not just sit down in Parliament one day and hash out the English language. It gradually evolved and developed over a long period of time from something else. At one time, the whole language would have been spelled differently and, at the time, would have been considered 'correct'. But those spellings no longer hold as the language has shifted. The omission of letters, such as color/colour is just one 'mutation' in the fluid nature of language.
BronzeDragonrider 1 year ago
vagitoe: That's because we spell in English, not American ;-P I've never understood what you yanks have against a perfectly good u
APerson79 2 years ago 2
Where I'm from (Horsefly, Birtish Columbia ((That's in Canada)) ) we say KEEL-o-meter :/
TheSpazzofMuffins 2 years ago
I pronounce it "shilo-meter" (with the latin e and roling r), or IPA: [ʃilometer]. Probably because I'm Norwegian.
EasytoonGuy 2 years ago
hahaha XD
agvbpqervbbufv 2 years ago
The word meter has a 't' in it Phil! When you pronounce it as 'meder' you're not helping your case...
comface 2 years ago
said either way, at least the world knows what it is!!
4youramusement 2 years ago
we in belgium say it sorta like the "kill-o-meter", only we pronounce the "meter", with a longer "eee" sound.
meter comes from the word "to measure" (translated to english), and the way some pronounce it can just be related to an older way of accentuating the word. but your way is the most correct for the english language.
SprynxFusion 2 years ago
Hey Phil!
Here in Ontario, I was taught that it was pronounced kill-o-meter back in Grade 4. I've ever since been annoyed when people say Kil-om-oter. Drives me nuts.
delocon 2 years ago
Remind me never to use the term klicks in front of you. =)
Mostlyharmless1985 2 years ago
Yay for the metric system!
andytom 2 years ago
KILOMETER!!!
Tupezki 2 years ago
It's weird to say it the right way because so many people have the pronunciation wrong. ugh...
Opiedid 2 years ago
damn, I love you? I'm an American and I always pronounced it kilo-meter when I was in school, but always got corrected and encouraged to say it the alternate way. Looks like I was right, in your face metric noob teachers!
supra3point0 2 years ago
I knew where you were going in part2 in the middle of part 1 :)
I love when actual scientist get passionate about details. hehe
muckerfooker 2 years ago
i thought this was going to be about death thus kill o meter
fuzzcow 2 years ago
Meh... everybody knows that grammar rules don't follow a scientific method or logic. Both pronounciations are correct, that's the concept of what they call an "accent" =p
igoronline 2 years ago 2