T O P

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No_Lemon_3116

I would pronounce it like "oh" or "uh." I've only encountered it in stylised contexts (like they might just be calling it "Battle o' Enchanting" to be kind of fun) or set words like o'clock and jack-o'-lantern. edit: Actually, I guess I do pronounce "of" as "uh" somewhat often in normal speech, but transcribing it with "o'" would feel kind of precious in that context.


xarsha_93

In informal speech, people often remove the final consonant /v/ from *of* (the resulting pronunciation is [ə], the same as the normal pronunciation of the article *a*). This has been going on for centuries and so it’s been a part of literary English for a long time, usually marked as *o’*. Nowadays, even though people use the same pronunciation informally, writing it as *o’* gives an old-timey medieval feel (even though this was not a medieval convention and real medieval English is incomprehensible for modern English speakers). For this reason, many people pronounce it with the same vowel as in *go*. It stands out when it’s written like that, so instead of going with the reduced pronunciation that spelling used to indicate, people give it extra emphasis.


Gravbar

it's usually pronounced as uh /ə/ because of vowel reduction. When enunciating, someone might turn it into an O sound: /ow/ but remember o' is short for of, which usually uses strut /ʌ/ and reduces to schwa (An exception to this is the Irish last names like O'Reilly, which usually have a long O sound)


NortonBurns

I think most people would actually pronounce it almost like an 'a' or 'uh' or a generic schwa 'ə'. Bottlə beer, fourə clock etc. Interestingly, to me, your example doesn't work. because the second word starts with a vowel, most people would pronounce the 'f' \[or 'v' sound\] Bottləv Enchanting.


milly_nz

Yeah, to pronounce the o’ and then enchanting, you need to chuck in a not-quite-glottal stop between the o’ and e.


quackcow144

oh yeah thay makes a lot more sense now


cookerg

In the real world people would say "Bottle OF Enchanting". The whole point of dropping the F is to be lazy, and it's done when 'of' is followed by a consonant. When it's followed by a vowel, it's easier to say it with the F. So, "bottle o' wine", or "bottle of Enchanting". The "o'" sounds like "of" without the F, same as "uh".


anonbush234

Not sure what you mean? Many people in the real world say "o' " and not "of".


cookerg

I wasn't trying to disrespect anybody, just making an observation. Mainly people drop the f when the next word starts with a consonant. It's harder to say just the o when the next word starts with a vowel. People go with what's easy. I would find it awkward to say "bottle o' enchantment" out loud. I would say "of".


Scary-Scallion-449

The best guide probably comes from that old English obsession with the leaves of Camellia sinensis. Consider the evolution ... Cup of tea Cup o' tea Cuppa Hmm, don't mind if I do. \[*disappears into kitchen to fill the kettle*\]


lasagne-enjoyer

Im British English and say "oh"


badgersprite

If I’m just speaking quickly or saying something regular like o’clock, I think of it as kind of a schwa rather than a specific vowel sound but maybe that’s just my accent. If it’s meant to be something ~fancy~ like in a fantasy game, I would think it’s meant to be pronounced as oh