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I pronounce 'ei' in 'either' like in German (so, like 'I' in English: /aɪ/). This is natural for me.

But I've heard people pronouncing it as 'eee' (/iː/), so which version is correct? Or maybe both are correct?

Void
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FolksLord
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4 Answers4

26

Both are correct.

Ee-ther /ˈiːð.ə(ɹ)/ tends to be more common in the United States, but it would not be wrong to use aye-ther /ˈaɪð.ə(ɹ)/.

Whichever way you choose to pronounce it, you should not have trouble being understood.

waiwai933
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    +1. note that if an american says /ˈaɪð.ə(ɹ)/ it sometimes is rejected as phony or trying to be british. – hunter Dec 17 '13 at 17:08
  • @hunter: +1 for your comment. Do most British people use /ˈaɪð.ə(ɹ)/? – Safira Jan 05 '14 at 23:23
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    I actually pronounce it both ways, depending on the situation. "You'll have to either do this or that" I would use the long i ("eye"), but "I would accept either one" I would use a long e ("ee"). Weird, I know. – Wayne Feb 13 '14 at 21:01
  • @Wayne Yes exactly - I can't think of another word where I'll slip between such distinct pronunciations so fluidly. It *is* weird. – SusanW Mar 07 '21 at 18:15
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This is a classic case of dialects.

Both pronunciations are correct, however the one a person uses depends on their upbringing, their region and their preference.

Liam W
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    If your native language is English, it all depends on where you grew up. If you're learning to speak English, try to remember to use the same pronunciation for "neither". – barbara beeton Jan 23 '13 at 21:30
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    I don't think this is really a matter of *dialect* (or upbringing). Vast numbers of native speakers (myself included) use both forms, and would be hard-pressed to even guess which one they use more often. – FumbleFingers Jan 27 '13 at 22:27
  • I deliberately and consciously say *Ee-ther* (and *nee-ther*) just as I deliberately always pronounce *often* as *offen.* I was taught in 6th grade how to pronounce *often,* and that's how I've always pronounced it, despite the numbers of people around me who "mispronouce" it. –  Oct 12 '14 at 23:43
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Just to add a bit to the answers already given,

'Most' native speakers tend to pronounce 'either' [ˈaɪðə] in sentences like 'either this or that'. And pronounce it [ˈiːðə] in 'I don't either' constructions. But then again, it varies from speaker to speaker. Both of them are correct and perfectly natural.

However, [ˈiːðə] is increasingly common.

Void
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    In [this video](https://youtu.be/66aG5P0kQpU?t=1101) at 18:21, the BrE speaker says: "... we don't say **[ˈaɪðə]** of these **[ˈiːðə]**...". – Void Dec 02 '20 at 19:51
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I think the British use ei-ther as the pronunciation, and the Americans use eee-ther.

I use UK English, but I use both forms occasionally.

cst1992
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