How do you pronounce it?

[WickedTouch]

I like accents and generally the differences in how people speak and pronounce different words. I've heard different ways to pronounce the word ticklish, and I was wondering what the more common way is for those on the forum. For a lot of Ticklephile's, even saying the word in any of its forms is difficult or embarrassing. To a lot of us, the word has a lot of power. Maybe the way you say it is more intentional for that reason. Maybe you've never thought about it until now, and need to slowly hear yourself say it before responding. Either way, I'd like to know how you personally say it.

Note: for the purposes of this poll, consider the "a" in the "tick-ah-lish" answer to be a flexible vowel that encompasses any of: Tick-ah-lish, Tick-i-lish, Tick-uh-lish, or Tick-eh-lish.

 

[SBMcGraw]

"Ticklish" has only two syllables: "tick" and "lish".

 

[WickedTouch]

"Ticklish" has only two syllables: "tick" and "lish".

That's correct, but the standard syllablization and prescribed pronunciation are often not how people actually speak due to accents and regional dialects, which is what I'm asking about here (how someone says it rather than how it is supposed to be said).

 

[LerLee]

"Ticklish" has only two syllables: "tick" and "lish".

Not necessarily correct. I wasn’t sure so I looked this up. Ticklish can be pronounced in different ways. Kind of like clitoris.

 

[Deleted member 293394]

It depends on the context.
if I'm saying in a context unrelated to teasing or anything, Tick-el-ish
if it's more friendly, cute teasing, or if I'm responding to ler, ticka-lish.
if it's a more serious teasing, tick-lish; has a like, cowboy vibe to it.

 

[WickedTouch]

It depends on the context.
if I'm saying in a context unrelated to teasing or anything, Tick-el-ish
if it's more friendly, cute teasing, or if I'm responding to ler, ticka-lish.
if it's a more serious teasing, tick-lish; has a like, cowboy vibe to it.

Oh, that's so interesting how it's context dependent for you. I'll have to look for that in my own patterns more...I'm sure I vary it at times, but not sure when or how.

 

[Deleted member 289867]

I'm a 1 or 3. I wonder if this word holds the same power in other languages.

 

[WickedTouch]

I'm a 1 or 3. I wonder if this word holds the same power in other languages.

Yeah, I've wondered the same thing. I've definitely seen examples of people saying the word in their native language to threaten someone else and getting a reaction out of them, but it's so hard to know how much the sound of the word itself feels to a native speaker, and how it comes across with any deeper language specific implications. I'm trying to think of what it is about the word in English that hits me so hard sometimes. Sure it's the learned association of what the word means and implies, but even how it sounds, with its sharp consonants, makes my skin shiver. It's much like how the word "tack" just sounds sharp or harsh to me, but in a more subtle way.

 

[marzbarz]

You missed "tigglish." The ungodly effort to soften the consonants that make it uncomfortable to say.

 

[WickedTouch]

You missed "tigglish." The ungodly effort to soften the consonants that make it uncomfortable to say.

Ah, I vaguely remember considering that when I made the poll, but couldn't decide how I felt about it, since it does seem to most often be an intentional aversion to how someone would otherwise naturally pronounce it. So if someone naturally does pronounce it that way (is that a common thing?) I suppose it fits into "other." But I do love that even the word and how it sounds can affect someone so much. I think it's cute when a woman can't even handle enunciating the word without triggering some response within herself.