• Astrophage@lemy.lol
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    38
    ·
    1 day ago

    It is NOT “habañero.” If you pronounce a “y” in the word, you’re commiting what’s called a “hyper-foreignism” where you over apply something you learned a foreign culture does.

    It’s just an N sound. Habanero.

    It’s not even my culture/language but damn this gets under my collar.

    • zaphodb2002@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      14 hours ago

      I have never heard someone say “habañero”, that’s hilarious. I live like 20 miles from the Mexico border though so most people speak at least a little Spanish.

    • southsamurai@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      1 day ago

      I think part of the problem is that it’s hit or miss whether or not it’s spelled/spoken with ñ or n, in advertising and labels. Here in the US anyway.

      What’s funny is that the ñ spelling and pronunciation has bled over into native spanish speakers. My friend’s husband is from Nicaragua, and his entire family pronounces it ñ. One of my neighbors though, from Guadalajara originally, it’s n only.

      I’d also say that habanero is ñ friendly. It looks like it should be pronounced habañero, unlike a fairly similar word, Enero. It’s easier to say habañero than eñero as well. The a leading into the n does that for some reason I can’t figure out.

      However! Pero and perro blows people’s minds. While I don’t hear it with native speakers, damn near everyone else I’ve run into pronounces them the same. I do, and I know better, because I can’t make my tongue work right.

      • Astrophage@lemy.lol
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        1 day ago

        That is how languages grow and change: by the native speakers collectively changing their minds. I’ll leave them to be the gate keepers. I feel strongly because I knew a family from a El Salvador that lived down the street from me growing up. They corrected me and I did not want to be wrong in front of them again. I wanted them to feel accepted. I still do.