Titanium

[Khandro]

Would you pronounce its first syllable as in 'titanic', or as in 'titter' ?

[dannyk13]

Titanic

[Lie-in King]

As 'titanic'

[mikey4444]

Tie tane e um.

[Prudie]

titter

[goodgoalie]

Titter

[jim360]

Either.

[bhg481]

titter

[JJ109]

titter

[Prudie]

is that eether or eyether Jim?

[jim360]

Could be either of those too :P

[aelmpvw]

titter

[mikey4444]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium

[dannyk13]

[jim360]

On the other hand:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/titanium

[mikey4444]

Danny....and others....I have never heard titanium pronounced any differently than what you have shown in that Youtube clip.

At least not in British English....Americans may do it differently, like they do with Aluminium.

[jim360]

This is odd, because -- as my link says -- "Tyetanium" is listed as the American pronunciation.

Perhaps it used to be, and the "titter" version is the older British one. Myself, I would have said "as in 'titanic'" but there you go.

Language is flexible.

[mikey4444]

Jim....I first became aware of Titanium in my Chemistry lessons, back in the mid 60's, and the Teachers all pronounced it as in the youtube link.

At the same time, my Geology Teacher first told us how to spell Pterodactyl, by explaining that the P was silent.....as in P in Bath !

[vetuste_ennemi]

If the pronunciation were based on its etymology the "i" would be short as in "titter".

[dannyk13]

I have a metal plate in my wrist and the surgeon told me it was tie tay nium

[mikey4444]

Danny....I wouldn't argue with your Surgeon. My brother had a titanium plate fitted, instead of part of his cranium and we now all call it his titanium cranium !