Pronunciation of the word Psilocybe poll

[hyphaenation]

There is lots of differing opinion on the pronunciation of our beloved Psilocybe. I notice Paul Stamets makes a point of calling it Sil--oss--a-beee. I always reffered to it as sill--ooohh--sibe and thought it odd when spoken the other way. Now I have met several people using the "Stamets-style" term and have taken to using it myself.

Which way do you say it ?

1. Psilocybe: SIILLL - O - Sibe

2. Psilocybe: SILLL - OSSS-OH-BEE

3. neither of the above (will explain)

[dial8]

I voted for number one because it is the first way I began pronouncing it and it is still the most natural way for me, but, I use the other way quite frequently also.

[the_other_chap]

None of the above

Don't know if this is a UK thing, but:

"Sill-oh-sigh-bee"

I was at a Royal Mycological Society lecture in 1996 (part of their 100th anniversary celebrations) and that's the way the lecturer (he was the mycologist who advised the Metropolitan Police in shroom prosecutions!) pronounced it. To be fair, that's how I pronounced it before, but I guess that added a little validity

[hyphaenation]

from wikipedia for what its worth ...

The word psilocybe comes from the Greek words ψιλος + κυβη and literally means "bare headed", referring to the mushroom's plain cap. It may be pronounced with the accent on the first syllable (IPA [ˈsɪləˌsaɪbi]; MWCD [ˈsi-lə-ˌsī-bē]) or the second (IPA [saɪˈlɒsəbi]; MWCD [sī-ˈlä-sə-bē]). The final e is not silent. The marked difference between the Botanical Latin-based pronunciation (given here) and anglicized colloquial pronunciations (with a silent "e") is sometimes a source of confusion in oral communication about this genus.

[panic]

thats me colloquialed out! lol

[Nabby]

I watched a video of Paul Stamets recently and he pronounced it Sill-Oss-ibee.

[hungryjim]

'sigh-low-sibe

i was just thinking that, jim.

what about psilocin?

cybe like cyber

[Doctor D]

Hrm. I say sill-oh-sib, as in sill-OH-suh-bin and sill-OH-sin.

I've seen the 'correct' pronunciations before, but I've never made an effort to change my pronunciation accordingly.

For me, it doesn't really matter much, as the only person I will ever be talking to out loud about psilocybes (pronounce as you see fit) is myself.

[aliendave]

sill-os-o-bee cause that's the way rr taught us, but any good student of morphology or nomenclature will tell you there is no correct way to speak latin - it is not a "spoken" laguage - it's purpose is for scientific clarification.

[scientia]

Originally Posted by Doctor D

For me, it doesn't really matter much, as the only person I will ever be talking to out loud about psilocybes (pronounce as you see fit) is myself.

true that.

[MeltingRealityDrone]

My friend spicedoctor and I are always disagreeing on pronunciations of things, but I tend to just let it go because (po-ta-toe po-tae-toe) it doesn't truely matter (in my opinion).

[Agent 47]

Originally Posted by MeltingRealityDrone

My friend spicedoctor and I are always disagreeing on pronunciations of things, but I tend to just let it go because (po-ta-toe po-tae-toe) it doesn't truely matter (in my opinion).

Dude. (Po-tae-toe) is just weird.

[RockyRaccoon]

psilo (as in psilo) - cybe (as in cyborg)

but here's a breakdown from dictionary.com . it says the E is not silent .

http://www.reference.com/search?q=Psilocybe

sill - uh - sai -bee

[cds]

How do you pronounce azurescens and cyanescens?

A-zure-e-senz or A-zure-senz?

and

ky-N-a-senz or sie-N-senz or ky-inscense?


seriously, psilocybe is easy compared to those two, lol...

[RockyRaccoon]

Originally Posted by cds

How do you pronounce azurescens and cyanescens?

A-zure-e-senz or A-zure-senz?

and

ky-N-a-senz or sie-N-senz or ky-inscense?


seriously, psilocybe is easy compared to those two, lol...

well cyanescens is definitely from the root cyan , which is pronounce sai-anne .

[mydarling]

Originally Posted by hungryjim

'sigh-low-sibe

me too!
thought maybe i was pronouncing it wrong. people say i pronounce things funny a lot.

[cuts]

I pronounce it just as you put it, Sill Oh SI bin

[warriorsoul]

Originally Posted by aliendave

any good student of morphology or nomenclature will tell you there is no correct way to speak latin - it is not a "spoken" laguage - it's purpose is for scientific clarification.

Thats right..you can say it however you want as long as the intent is understood.

[shoe]

Originally Posted by the_other_chap

None of the above

Don't know if this is a UK thing, but:

"Sill-oh-sigh-bee"

I was at a Royal Mycological Society lecture in 1996 (part of their 100th anniversary celebrations) and that's the way the lecturer (he was the mycologist who advised the Metropolitan Police in shroom prosecutions!) pronounced it. To be fair, that's how I pronounced it before, but I guess that added a little validity

Also from the UK and thats how we all say it.

[farmerjohncc]

The use of SILL-OSS-OH-BEE
May lead to this PHIL-OSS-OH-FEE

Is there a separate YU-ND-MEE
Or are we a single ENT-A-TEE

When we perceive the REE-ALLAH-TEE
Our lives reveal HU-MANN-A-TEE

HA,HA,HA, HEE,HEE,HEE, HO,HO,HO
GOO, GOO, GA, JOOB