Pronounciation of "Lee"

[Stephen]

At the risk of sounding like a landlubber, I want to clarify something:

"Lee" is pronounced "Loo." Right?

Thus,
"a leeward shore" is pronounced "a looward shore,"
"helms a-lee" as "helms a-loo," and
"leeboard" as "looboard"?

What about "leeway"?

I'm studying for my Captain's license and, in all the materials I have consulted, have seen no mention of the proper pronounciation of "lee."



sailing@star.net

[Ed Roberts]

At the risk of sounding like a landlubber, I want to clarify something:

"Lee" is pronounced "Loo." Right?

Thus,
"a leeward shore" is pronounced "a looward shore,"
"helms a-lee" as "helms a-loo," and
"leeboard" as "looboard"?

What about "leeway"?

I'm studying for my Captain's license and, in all the materials I have consulted, have seen no mention of the proper pronounciation of "lee."

Hi Stephan,
I started by checking American Heritage Dictionary. For LEEWARD it offers first "lee-ward" and second "loo-ward". Nowhere else is the "loo" pronunciation offered. Although by no means a widely experienced sailor, I have been around the water a lot and done a good deal of maritime reading. The only time I have heard LEE pronounced "loo" is in the combination, LEEWARD. In all other uses it remains "lee." I would like to offer my own personal guess at why this is true.
To say "lee" you must put your mouth into a wide smile. To then say "ward" you must change that radically to a whistling position. This is a very awkward transition, and almost forces you to modify "lee" into the much more comfortable "loo."
I would be inclined to use "loo'ard" with your sailing companions, but "leeward" in writing and more formal situations, like exams.
Incidentally, I think the customary usage is "lee shore" rather than "leeward shore."
Good luck on your upcoming exam.
Ed



edwardroberts@sprintmail.com