A Minor, yet noticeable thing...

[muy_thaiguy]

British folks and Aussies tend to say 'mum' while people in North America (Canada included) say 'mom.' Why is this?

[The1exile]

Because that's the way it's always been?

[muy_thaiguy]

Because that's the way it's always been?

I somehow doubt that.

[0ojakeo0]

i used to say mom alot but now i saw mum

[Guiscard]

Because, although the spelling probably should be 'mOm', from 'mOther', the correct pronunciation is 'mUther' so we say 'mUm'.

And, as usual, Americans bastardise the tongue.

[The1exile]

Because that's the way it's always been?

I somehow doubt that.

Well when I say "always" I mean no-one here says "mom". Just sounds weird to me.

Now doubtless there used to be a time when instead of saying "mum" people said "mother darling" but meh.

(I say "mor")

[DaGip]

British folks and Aussies tend to say 'mum' while people in North America (Canada included) say 'mom.' Why is this?

It depends...I usually say Ma. But most Americans say Mom...but I often hear little kids (especially when their mother leaves the house and they get scared) say Mum!

I think the linguistic variation stems from perhaps a combination of both Ma and Mum...so you actually get Mahm. But some Americans call their mother Mum...I do on occasion, but mostly I say Ma.

Do Brits say Ma? If they do, then Mom probably stems from combining Ma and Mum, I think.

[Kaplowitz]

i usually just say "GET ME FEWD BITCH!"

[muy_thaiguy]

Because that's the way it's always been?

I somehow doubt that.

Well when I say "always" I mean no-one here says "mom". Just sounds weird to me.

Now doubtless there used to be a time when instead of saying "mum" people said "mother darling" but meh.

(I say "mor")

Well, "mum" sounds weird to me, know one here in the States I know has ever said it (in real life). I, and the people that I know all say "mom" or "mother," none say "mum".

[graeme89]

Some Brits say Ma, in Scotland and Ireland its maw.

[0ojakeo0]

Because that's the way it's always been?

I somehow doubt that.

Well when I say "always" I mean no-one here says "mom". Just sounds weird to me.

Now doubtless there used to be a time when instead of saying "mum" people said "mother darling" but meh.

(I say "mor")

Well, "mum" sounds weird to me, know one here in the States I know has ever said it (in real life). I, and the people that I know all say "mom" or "mother," none say "mum".

i say mum

[Anarkistsdream]

I always say "Hey, Bitch!"

[Gypsys Kiss]

I always say "Hey, Bitch!"

before or after she slaps you?

[btownmeggy]

Because that's the way it's always been?

I somehow doubt that.

Well when I say "always" I mean no-one here says "mom". Just sounds weird to me.

Now doubtless there used to be a time when instead of saying "mum" people said "mother darling" but meh.

(I say "mor")

My mom's in my cell phone as "Mumsy Dearest", but I call her Mom, and when I was a little kid Mama.

[FiveThreeEight]

Because, although the spelling probably should be 'mOm', from 'mOther', the correct pronunciation is 'mUther' so we say 'mUm'.

And, as usual, Americans bastardise the tongue.

I think the way Americans speak the English language is due to the fact that there are so many people from different societies that have resided in the US. It actually bothers me that we don't have uniform pronunciations for each letter, like the Spanish language does. I think it would make learning to read easier, and would bother me much less, which is VERY important.

[F1fth]

Uniform pronunciation in English? Why? Granted, it's a little confusing, but once you become acquainted to the language, there seems to more method to the madness. I rarely ever mispronounce words in context.

Plus, something like the word 'societies' would be pronounced either so-see-it-ees, or so-sy-it-eyes. The second way would make it sound like it had a -ize or -ise suffix which would be even more confusing.