I have, for years now, always been pronouncing the word cache as kaysh. I have encountered a few people over the years who pronounced it more like cash or even cashay and worse (catch?), and more often than not, I have brought them into the fold - so to speak - by convincing them that kaysh was correct. However, after something close to an argument with a female colleague, we decided to set the matter at rest by doing some research. Desafortunadamente, (and to my keenly felt embarrassment) I lost :/
The correct pronunciation of the word cache is cash. It's been hell trying to continually correct myself :(
Comments
Phonics
Simple phonics rules would suggest the correct pronunciation should be Kaysh.
When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. Examples: "fat, bed, fish, spot, luck".
When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long. Examples: "make, gene, kite, rope, use, taste, and baste".
Thanks! Your loss is my win.
Thanks! Your loss is my win. I have to show this to my brother.
The correct pronunciation is still 'cash', in both hemispheres
I first came across the word during a required reading of a Louis L'Amour western in high school in NZ in the 70s. Our French Canadian teacher, who taught both English and French advised us that the correct pronunciation was "cash" - in both languages.
At University in the early 80s my major was Computing, and the correct pronunciation used by all was "cash". At that time we had lecturers from the US, Europe, Australia, and NZ while many had also studied in the US as computing was still in its infancy.
I first heard the pronunciation "kaysh" during a seminar at a local conference circa 1990 by local Macintosh guru John Holley, who somehow had brought this strange pronunciation back from the US where he often frequented.
As a patent attorney and writer of technical documents/specifications I am required to have a reasonably high technical literacy, and deal regularly with experts from multiple disciplines. My observation as a whole is that while most people in the computer hardware industry are expert in their field, they are not my first choice to turn to should I require advice on grammar or pronunciation - somewhat akin to going to your butcher for medical advice.
After being corrected many times by computer industry workers that the correct pronunciation is supposed to by 'kaysh' I investigated the matter in detail. According to authoritative sources, the correct pronunciation is 'cash' - in NZ English, Australian English, US English, Canadian English, British English, European French, and Canadian French. And from my own experience, it was also called 'cash' by the pioneers and early workers in the Computer industry.
Informative comment, thanks
Informative comment, thanks :) Could you please also provide information on these authoritative sources?
Thanks!
Cashe
Years ago, there was a perfume called Cashe.
They always pronounced it Cashay.
I hate it when someone on the news calls it Cash.
You will find in American
You will find in American dictionaries that it is pronounced cash. Everyone in my office (in Australia) pronounces it kaysh, as do all my friends. I think it's just an Australia pronunciation.
I was taught in Australian
I was taught in Australian high school computing classes to pronounce it as cash. That said, I'm now a programmer and everyone else in the office pronounces it kaysh.
That would also probably
That would also probably explain where I'd got it from.
Another Australianism (I think) is that I used to pronounce the letter H as "Haitch" rather than "Aitch". Rather odd.
We'll that's a load of crap.
We'll that's a load of crap. It is pronounced "aitch" in australia as well. I remember very early on when learning the alphabet mum would always correct me lol I'm living in canada now and hear haitch here more often than aitch.
I believe cache is
I believe cache is pronounced "kaysh" in Australia