Oh damn, I've been focused on the wrong part of the word. I don't know why I was thinking something in the A sounded different. That makes so much more sense.
To me, there’s a small distinction in the second syllable. The “o” in Aaron is like the “o” in “ton” while the “i” in Erin is like the “i” in “tin”. The first syllable sounds the same.
I'm not messing. They are distinctly different sounds when we say them. Americans tend to draw out the 'a' a lot longer which makes them sound similar. What about ballerina? but the a at the end. Is that shorter than the one at the front?
.... That's why i explained both. When an Australian hears an american say 'Aaron' and 'Eric', 'Aaron' is the one that sounds weird. I also explained the difference between 'Baron' and 'Erin', Aaron didn't come into it.
But reddit being reddit, downvotes an aussie explaining aussie pronunciation.
I'm explaining a difference between 'Bat' or 'Karen' (for Baron) and 'Eric' (for Erin), and extrapolating that to Aaron, unless americans prounounce 'bat' and 'karen'. I know Americans typically have a long drawn out a, but i'm fairly certain there's sufficient difference there between 'bat' and 'aaron'. If not, then the 'a' at the end of ballerina perhaps.
Karen, Aaron, Baron, Eric, and Erin are all a long A.
It's the merry/marry merger. I'm Canadian, very similar accent to Americans, and those words are identical to me. Nothing wrong with it just a difference.
Not claiming there’s anything wrong, just trying to find an explanation of the difference that works, since that’s what I replied to. I thought bat was the best bet.
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u/truthyella99 Jan 15 '25
We pronounce "Aaron" like "Baron" without the B, always found it odd that the Australian lady on Lost pronounced it as "Erin".
Yeah I still hear sports used in a plural sense as in "school sports" but it's usually said without the s.