Pronunciation: “bete noire”

When you dislike someone intensely, you can refer to him/her as your bete noire. These are mostly people that annoy you greatly. The word can be used with objects as well.

*Rajeev’s bete noire is attending weddings.

The first word is pronounced like “bet”; the “n” is like the “n” in “net”, “nip” and “nest”. The sound that follows the “n” is like the “w” in “water”, “was” and “wet”. The vowels are pronounced like the “a” in “ask”, “task” and “mask”. The “r” is silent, and the main stress is on “noire”. This is one way of pronouncing the word.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 06, 2004

Brouhaha

The word comes from the French “brouhaha” meaning “noisy chattering”. The word became popular in English after the Second World War. Nowadays, the word is normally used in informal contexts to mean a commotion or an angry complaint about something.

*There is a report on the recent brouhaha over the non-payment of the bonus.

The first syllable “brou” is pronounced like the word “brew”, and the “a” in the following two syllables sounds like the “a” in “art”, “part”, and “cart”. The British put the stress on the first syllable, while the Americans place it on the second.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 16, 2004

Is it OK to say “Happy bon voyage”?

When you wish someone “bon voyage”, you are wishing the individual a good journey. There is no need to say, “Happy bon voyage”. If you want to use the word “happy”, then simply say, “Happy journey”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 26, 2004

What is the expansion of e.g?

It comes from the Latin “exempli gratia” which means “for example”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 5, 2004.