Why is “threshold” pronounced “thresh-hold”?












5














Why is threshold pronounced "thresh-hold"?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    Usually it isn't, though the difference is minimal unless someone speaks very slowly. But my pronunciation would not include an extra "h".
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:50






  • 1




    In my accent I certainly do pronounce an extra "h". Perhaps the question is in which accents do speakers pronounce the word "threshold" with an extra h? New York / Brooklyn accent speaking here.
    – zombiebeethoven
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:52






  • 4




    I think you have it backwards, since speech is primary. And there can seldom be an answer as to why we spell things as we do.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:54






  • 3




    It looks like a compound word. "thresh" + "hold". So some people pronounce it like that. (Etymologically, it appears that it's thresh + something, but nobody is sure what the something is.)
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:03








  • 1




    Spike: Are you expecting it to be pronounced 'thress- hold'? As @tchrist said, language is first what is spoken, then later what is written. Spelling is a poor representation for spoken language; it is an attempt to record speech. Speech isn't an attempt to represent written words.
    – Mitch
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:15
















5














Why is threshold pronounced "thresh-hold"?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    Usually it isn't, though the difference is minimal unless someone speaks very slowly. But my pronunciation would not include an extra "h".
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:50






  • 1




    In my accent I certainly do pronounce an extra "h". Perhaps the question is in which accents do speakers pronounce the word "threshold" with an extra h? New York / Brooklyn accent speaking here.
    – zombiebeethoven
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:52






  • 4




    I think you have it backwards, since speech is primary. And there can seldom be an answer as to why we spell things as we do.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:54






  • 3




    It looks like a compound word. "thresh" + "hold". So some people pronounce it like that. (Etymologically, it appears that it's thresh + something, but nobody is sure what the something is.)
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:03








  • 1




    Spike: Are you expecting it to be pronounced 'thress- hold'? As @tchrist said, language is first what is spoken, then later what is written. Spelling is a poor representation for spoken language; it is an attempt to record speech. Speech isn't an attempt to represent written words.
    – Mitch
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:15














5












5








5


1





Why is threshold pronounced "thresh-hold"?










share|improve this question















Why is threshold pronounced "thresh-hold"?







pronunciation orthography






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Apr 4 '14 at 14:14









RegDwigнt

82.6k31281377




82.6k31281377










asked Apr 4 '14 at 12:39









uSeRnAmEhAhAhAhAhA

12815




12815








  • 1




    Usually it isn't, though the difference is minimal unless someone speaks very slowly. But my pronunciation would not include an extra "h".
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:50






  • 1




    In my accent I certainly do pronounce an extra "h". Perhaps the question is in which accents do speakers pronounce the word "threshold" with an extra h? New York / Brooklyn accent speaking here.
    – zombiebeethoven
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:52






  • 4




    I think you have it backwards, since speech is primary. And there can seldom be an answer as to why we spell things as we do.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:54






  • 3




    It looks like a compound word. "thresh" + "hold". So some people pronounce it like that. (Etymologically, it appears that it's thresh + something, but nobody is sure what the something is.)
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:03








  • 1




    Spike: Are you expecting it to be pronounced 'thress- hold'? As @tchrist said, language is first what is spoken, then later what is written. Spelling is a poor representation for spoken language; it is an attempt to record speech. Speech isn't an attempt to represent written words.
    – Mitch
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:15














  • 1




    Usually it isn't, though the difference is minimal unless someone speaks very slowly. But my pronunciation would not include an extra "h".
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:50






  • 1




    In my accent I certainly do pronounce an extra "h". Perhaps the question is in which accents do speakers pronounce the word "threshold" with an extra h? New York / Brooklyn accent speaking here.
    – zombiebeethoven
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:52






  • 4




    I think you have it backwards, since speech is primary. And there can seldom be an answer as to why we spell things as we do.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 12:54






  • 3




    It looks like a compound word. "thresh" + "hold". So some people pronounce it like that. (Etymologically, it appears that it's thresh + something, but nobody is sure what the something is.)
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:03








  • 1




    Spike: Are you expecting it to be pronounced 'thress- hold'? As @tchrist said, language is first what is spoken, then later what is written. Spelling is a poor representation for spoken language; it is an attempt to record speech. Speech isn't an attempt to represent written words.
    – Mitch
    Apr 4 '14 at 13:15








1




1




Usually it isn't, though the difference is minimal unless someone speaks very slowly. But my pronunciation would not include an extra "h".
– Terpsichore
Apr 4 '14 at 12:50




Usually it isn't, though the difference is minimal unless someone speaks very slowly. But my pronunciation would not include an extra "h".
– Terpsichore
Apr 4 '14 at 12:50




1




1




In my accent I certainly do pronounce an extra "h". Perhaps the question is in which accents do speakers pronounce the word "threshold" with an extra h? New York / Brooklyn accent speaking here.
– zombiebeethoven
Apr 4 '14 at 12:52




In my accent I certainly do pronounce an extra "h". Perhaps the question is in which accents do speakers pronounce the word "threshold" with an extra h? New York / Brooklyn accent speaking here.
– zombiebeethoven
Apr 4 '14 at 12:52




4




4




I think you have it backwards, since speech is primary. And there can seldom be an answer as to why we spell things as we do.
– tchrist
Apr 4 '14 at 12:54




I think you have it backwards, since speech is primary. And there can seldom be an answer as to why we spell things as we do.
– tchrist
Apr 4 '14 at 12:54




3




3




It looks like a compound word. "thresh" + "hold". So some people pronounce it like that. (Etymologically, it appears that it's thresh + something, but nobody is sure what the something is.)
– Peter Shor
Apr 4 '14 at 13:03






It looks like a compound word. "thresh" + "hold". So some people pronounce it like that. (Etymologically, it appears that it's thresh + something, but nobody is sure what the something is.)
– Peter Shor
Apr 4 '14 at 13:03






1




1




Spike: Are you expecting it to be pronounced 'thress- hold'? As @tchrist said, language is first what is spoken, then later what is written. Spelling is a poor representation for spoken language; it is an attempt to record speech. Speech isn't an attempt to represent written words.
– Mitch
Apr 4 '14 at 13:15




Spike: Are you expecting it to be pronounced 'thress- hold'? As @tchrist said, language is first what is spoken, then later what is written. Spelling is a poor representation for spoken language; it is an attempt to record speech. Speech isn't an attempt to represent written words.
– Mitch
Apr 4 '14 at 13:15










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















5














If people are pronouncing it that way, it might be one example of the spread of literal pronunciation in the last few decades. This is a trend where, contrary to traditional practice, people are pronouncing certain words as if every syllable needs its proper exposure.



One example is accent which until very recently would be pronounced acc'nt - that is, with the second syllable unstressed, a nothing-syllable, the way we (still) pronounce decent. But nowadays it's more commonly heard as a spondee, which is the technical name for a word with two equally stressed syllables. So it comes out almost as if it's two separate words, ax and ent.



More examples:



Philharmonic. Radio announcers traditionally suppressed the "h" in what is an unstressed syllable: philermonic. But now, as often as not, it's restored: phil-harmonic, as if it's two words.



Tortoise: traditionally tortus, increasingly tortoyse. Because, presumably, it accords with the way it's spelt. So, like accent, it's turning into a word with two equally stressed syllables, a spondee.



Maidstone. The traditional pronunciation, Maidst'n, still holds sway (I think), but increasingly Maid-stone is being heard.



So it might be that thresh-hold is a symptom of the same thing. The word's spelling is derived from two words joined together, but the second "h" is missing, probably because that reflected the standard pronunciation of former times: thresh'ld. But if you restore it in the spoken word, you're actually pronouncing a letter that isn't there.






share|improve this answer

















  • 2




    Aw come on, you’ve got to be kidding about the tortoise: it mustn’t rhyme with turquoise but with porpoise.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:04










  • @tchrist: Not the best example, I have heard porpoise pronounced poor poise rather than porpus.
    – TimLymington
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:10










  • Oh, yes. I forgot about porpoise. That too.
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:26






  • 1




    @TimLymington Those people should be identified before they are allowed to mate …
    – David M
    Apr 4 '14 at 16:07






  • 2




    The word not derived from thresh + hold; it just looks like it is.
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 20:14



















1














German s is never pronounced as 'sh' it's mostly the 'z' sound in English, except for end of syllable, when it's pronounced 's'. Only ss or ß are always pronounced as 's', whereby ss shortens the vowel while ß does not.
Here the ethymology of threshold:
Old English þrescold, þærscwold, þerxold, etc., "door-sill, point of entering," a word of uncertain origin and probably much altered by folk-etymology.



The first element probably is related to Old English þrescan (see thresh), either in its current sense of "thresh" or with its original sense of "to tread, trample." The second element has been much transformed in all the Germanic languages, suggesting its literal sense was lost even in ancient times. In English it probably has been altered to conform to hold.



Liberman (Oxford University Press blog, Feb. 11, 2015) revives an old theory that the second element is the Proto-Germanic instrumental suffix *-thlo and the original sense of threshold was a threshing area adjacent to the living area of a house. Cognates of the compound include Old Norse þreskjoldr, Swedish tröskel, Old High German driscufli, German dialectal drischaufel. The figurative use was present in Old English.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.


















  • In many accents of German (including the one typically taught to English speakers), the letter "s" represents /ʃ/ ("sh") in syllables starting with "st-" and "sp-", except for in some loanwords. E.g. der Stein, das Spiel. This is thought to perhaps be a remnant of an earlier distinction between between laminal and apical sibilants, with the original "s" sounds being apical and the "z" sounds (both the affricate and the fricative that is currently spelled as ss/ß) derived from assibilation of t being laminal.
    – sumelic
    4 hours ago





















-2














This word is derived from old German. In the German alphabet the letter s is pronounced with a "sh" sound, and a double s is pronounced "es". The double s in German is ß and sounds like our English s. That having been said, the word gets pronounced thresh-hold and not thres-hold.






share|improve this answer

















  • 1




    Well, what about the s in lesen? That's not pronounced with a "sh" sound. And there are verbs like essen which don't normally use the ß except in some inflections.
    – Robusto
    Nov 9 '14 at 13:47











Your Answer








StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});


}
});














draft saved

draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f161655%2fwhy-is-threshold-pronounced-thresh-hold%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown

























3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes








3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









5














If people are pronouncing it that way, it might be one example of the spread of literal pronunciation in the last few decades. This is a trend where, contrary to traditional practice, people are pronouncing certain words as if every syllable needs its proper exposure.



One example is accent which until very recently would be pronounced acc'nt - that is, with the second syllable unstressed, a nothing-syllable, the way we (still) pronounce decent. But nowadays it's more commonly heard as a spondee, which is the technical name for a word with two equally stressed syllables. So it comes out almost as if it's two separate words, ax and ent.



More examples:



Philharmonic. Radio announcers traditionally suppressed the "h" in what is an unstressed syllable: philermonic. But now, as often as not, it's restored: phil-harmonic, as if it's two words.



Tortoise: traditionally tortus, increasingly tortoyse. Because, presumably, it accords with the way it's spelt. So, like accent, it's turning into a word with two equally stressed syllables, a spondee.



Maidstone. The traditional pronunciation, Maidst'n, still holds sway (I think), but increasingly Maid-stone is being heard.



So it might be that thresh-hold is a symptom of the same thing. The word's spelling is derived from two words joined together, but the second "h" is missing, probably because that reflected the standard pronunciation of former times: thresh'ld. But if you restore it in the spoken word, you're actually pronouncing a letter that isn't there.






share|improve this answer

















  • 2




    Aw come on, you’ve got to be kidding about the tortoise: it mustn’t rhyme with turquoise but with porpoise.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:04










  • @tchrist: Not the best example, I have heard porpoise pronounced poor poise rather than porpus.
    – TimLymington
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:10










  • Oh, yes. I forgot about porpoise. That too.
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:26






  • 1




    @TimLymington Those people should be identified before they are allowed to mate …
    – David M
    Apr 4 '14 at 16:07






  • 2




    The word not derived from thresh + hold; it just looks like it is.
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 20:14
















5














If people are pronouncing it that way, it might be one example of the spread of literal pronunciation in the last few decades. This is a trend where, contrary to traditional practice, people are pronouncing certain words as if every syllable needs its proper exposure.



One example is accent which until very recently would be pronounced acc'nt - that is, with the second syllable unstressed, a nothing-syllable, the way we (still) pronounce decent. But nowadays it's more commonly heard as a spondee, which is the technical name for a word with two equally stressed syllables. So it comes out almost as if it's two separate words, ax and ent.



More examples:



Philharmonic. Radio announcers traditionally suppressed the "h" in what is an unstressed syllable: philermonic. But now, as often as not, it's restored: phil-harmonic, as if it's two words.



Tortoise: traditionally tortus, increasingly tortoyse. Because, presumably, it accords with the way it's spelt. So, like accent, it's turning into a word with two equally stressed syllables, a spondee.



Maidstone. The traditional pronunciation, Maidst'n, still holds sway (I think), but increasingly Maid-stone is being heard.



So it might be that thresh-hold is a symptom of the same thing. The word's spelling is derived from two words joined together, but the second "h" is missing, probably because that reflected the standard pronunciation of former times: thresh'ld. But if you restore it in the spoken word, you're actually pronouncing a letter that isn't there.






share|improve this answer

















  • 2




    Aw come on, you’ve got to be kidding about the tortoise: it mustn’t rhyme with turquoise but with porpoise.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:04










  • @tchrist: Not the best example, I have heard porpoise pronounced poor poise rather than porpus.
    – TimLymington
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:10










  • Oh, yes. I forgot about porpoise. That too.
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:26






  • 1




    @TimLymington Those people should be identified before they are allowed to mate …
    – David M
    Apr 4 '14 at 16:07






  • 2




    The word not derived from thresh + hold; it just looks like it is.
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 20:14














5












5








5






If people are pronouncing it that way, it might be one example of the spread of literal pronunciation in the last few decades. This is a trend where, contrary to traditional practice, people are pronouncing certain words as if every syllable needs its proper exposure.



One example is accent which until very recently would be pronounced acc'nt - that is, with the second syllable unstressed, a nothing-syllable, the way we (still) pronounce decent. But nowadays it's more commonly heard as a spondee, which is the technical name for a word with two equally stressed syllables. So it comes out almost as if it's two separate words, ax and ent.



More examples:



Philharmonic. Radio announcers traditionally suppressed the "h" in what is an unstressed syllable: philermonic. But now, as often as not, it's restored: phil-harmonic, as if it's two words.



Tortoise: traditionally tortus, increasingly tortoyse. Because, presumably, it accords with the way it's spelt. So, like accent, it's turning into a word with two equally stressed syllables, a spondee.



Maidstone. The traditional pronunciation, Maidst'n, still holds sway (I think), but increasingly Maid-stone is being heard.



So it might be that thresh-hold is a symptom of the same thing. The word's spelling is derived from two words joined together, but the second "h" is missing, probably because that reflected the standard pronunciation of former times: thresh'ld. But if you restore it in the spoken word, you're actually pronouncing a letter that isn't there.






share|improve this answer












If people are pronouncing it that way, it might be one example of the spread of literal pronunciation in the last few decades. This is a trend where, contrary to traditional practice, people are pronouncing certain words as if every syllable needs its proper exposure.



One example is accent which until very recently would be pronounced acc'nt - that is, with the second syllable unstressed, a nothing-syllable, the way we (still) pronounce decent. But nowadays it's more commonly heard as a spondee, which is the technical name for a word with two equally stressed syllables. So it comes out almost as if it's two separate words, ax and ent.



More examples:



Philharmonic. Radio announcers traditionally suppressed the "h" in what is an unstressed syllable: philermonic. But now, as often as not, it's restored: phil-harmonic, as if it's two words.



Tortoise: traditionally tortus, increasingly tortoyse. Because, presumably, it accords with the way it's spelt. So, like accent, it's turning into a word with two equally stressed syllables, a spondee.



Maidstone. The traditional pronunciation, Maidst'n, still holds sway (I think), but increasingly Maid-stone is being heard.



So it might be that thresh-hold is a symptom of the same thing. The word's spelling is derived from two words joined together, but the second "h" is missing, probably because that reflected the standard pronunciation of former times: thresh'ld. But if you restore it in the spoken word, you're actually pronouncing a letter that isn't there.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Apr 4 '14 at 13:53









Terpsichore

3,1031713




3,1031713








  • 2




    Aw come on, you’ve got to be kidding about the tortoise: it mustn’t rhyme with turquoise but with porpoise.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:04










  • @tchrist: Not the best example, I have heard porpoise pronounced poor poise rather than porpus.
    – TimLymington
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:10










  • Oh, yes. I forgot about porpoise. That too.
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:26






  • 1




    @TimLymington Those people should be identified before they are allowed to mate …
    – David M
    Apr 4 '14 at 16:07






  • 2




    The word not derived from thresh + hold; it just looks like it is.
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 20:14














  • 2




    Aw come on, you’ve got to be kidding about the tortoise: it mustn’t rhyme with turquoise but with porpoise.
    – tchrist
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:04










  • @tchrist: Not the best example, I have heard porpoise pronounced poor poise rather than porpus.
    – TimLymington
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:10










  • Oh, yes. I forgot about porpoise. That too.
    – Terpsichore
    Apr 4 '14 at 14:26






  • 1




    @TimLymington Those people should be identified before they are allowed to mate …
    – David M
    Apr 4 '14 at 16:07






  • 2




    The word not derived from thresh + hold; it just looks like it is.
    – Peter Shor
    Apr 4 '14 at 20:14








2




2




Aw come on, you’ve got to be kidding about the tortoise: it mustn’t rhyme with turquoise but with porpoise.
– tchrist
Apr 4 '14 at 14:04




Aw come on, you’ve got to be kidding about the tortoise: it mustn’t rhyme with turquoise but with porpoise.
– tchrist
Apr 4 '14 at 14:04












@tchrist: Not the best example, I have heard porpoise pronounced poor poise rather than porpus.
– TimLymington
Apr 4 '14 at 14:10




@tchrist: Not the best example, I have heard porpoise pronounced poor poise rather than porpus.
– TimLymington
Apr 4 '14 at 14:10












Oh, yes. I forgot about porpoise. That too.
– Terpsichore
Apr 4 '14 at 14:26




Oh, yes. I forgot about porpoise. That too.
– Terpsichore
Apr 4 '14 at 14:26




1




1




@TimLymington Those people should be identified before they are allowed to mate …
– David M
Apr 4 '14 at 16:07




@TimLymington Those people should be identified before they are allowed to mate …
– David M
Apr 4 '14 at 16:07




2




2




The word not derived from thresh + hold; it just looks like it is.
– Peter Shor
Apr 4 '14 at 20:14




The word not derived from thresh + hold; it just looks like it is.
– Peter Shor
Apr 4 '14 at 20:14













1














German s is never pronounced as 'sh' it's mostly the 'z' sound in English, except for end of syllable, when it's pronounced 's'. Only ss or ß are always pronounced as 's', whereby ss shortens the vowel while ß does not.
Here the ethymology of threshold:
Old English þrescold, þærscwold, þerxold, etc., "door-sill, point of entering," a word of uncertain origin and probably much altered by folk-etymology.



The first element probably is related to Old English þrescan (see thresh), either in its current sense of "thresh" or with its original sense of "to tread, trample." The second element has been much transformed in all the Germanic languages, suggesting its literal sense was lost even in ancient times. In English it probably has been altered to conform to hold.



Liberman (Oxford University Press blog, Feb. 11, 2015) revives an old theory that the second element is the Proto-Germanic instrumental suffix *-thlo and the original sense of threshold was a threshing area adjacent to the living area of a house. Cognates of the compound include Old Norse þreskjoldr, Swedish tröskel, Old High German driscufli, German dialectal drischaufel. The figurative use was present in Old English.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.


















  • In many accents of German (including the one typically taught to English speakers), the letter "s" represents /ʃ/ ("sh") in syllables starting with "st-" and "sp-", except for in some loanwords. E.g. der Stein, das Spiel. This is thought to perhaps be a remnant of an earlier distinction between between laminal and apical sibilants, with the original "s" sounds being apical and the "z" sounds (both the affricate and the fricative that is currently spelled as ss/ß) derived from assibilation of t being laminal.
    – sumelic
    4 hours ago


















1














German s is never pronounced as 'sh' it's mostly the 'z' sound in English, except for end of syllable, when it's pronounced 's'. Only ss or ß are always pronounced as 's', whereby ss shortens the vowel while ß does not.
Here the ethymology of threshold:
Old English þrescold, þærscwold, þerxold, etc., "door-sill, point of entering," a word of uncertain origin and probably much altered by folk-etymology.



The first element probably is related to Old English þrescan (see thresh), either in its current sense of "thresh" or with its original sense of "to tread, trample." The second element has been much transformed in all the Germanic languages, suggesting its literal sense was lost even in ancient times. In English it probably has been altered to conform to hold.



Liberman (Oxford University Press blog, Feb. 11, 2015) revives an old theory that the second element is the Proto-Germanic instrumental suffix *-thlo and the original sense of threshold was a threshing area adjacent to the living area of a house. Cognates of the compound include Old Norse þreskjoldr, Swedish tröskel, Old High German driscufli, German dialectal drischaufel. The figurative use was present in Old English.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.


















  • In many accents of German (including the one typically taught to English speakers), the letter "s" represents /ʃ/ ("sh") in syllables starting with "st-" and "sp-", except for in some loanwords. E.g. der Stein, das Spiel. This is thought to perhaps be a remnant of an earlier distinction between between laminal and apical sibilants, with the original "s" sounds being apical and the "z" sounds (both the affricate and the fricative that is currently spelled as ss/ß) derived from assibilation of t being laminal.
    – sumelic
    4 hours ago
















1












1








1






German s is never pronounced as 'sh' it's mostly the 'z' sound in English, except for end of syllable, when it's pronounced 's'. Only ss or ß are always pronounced as 's', whereby ss shortens the vowel while ß does not.
Here the ethymology of threshold:
Old English þrescold, þærscwold, þerxold, etc., "door-sill, point of entering," a word of uncertain origin and probably much altered by folk-etymology.



The first element probably is related to Old English þrescan (see thresh), either in its current sense of "thresh" or with its original sense of "to tread, trample." The second element has been much transformed in all the Germanic languages, suggesting its literal sense was lost even in ancient times. In English it probably has been altered to conform to hold.



Liberman (Oxford University Press blog, Feb. 11, 2015) revives an old theory that the second element is the Proto-Germanic instrumental suffix *-thlo and the original sense of threshold was a threshing area adjacent to the living area of a house. Cognates of the compound include Old Norse þreskjoldr, Swedish tröskel, Old High German driscufli, German dialectal drischaufel. The figurative use was present in Old English.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









German s is never pronounced as 'sh' it's mostly the 'z' sound in English, except for end of syllable, when it's pronounced 's'. Only ss or ß are always pronounced as 's', whereby ss shortens the vowel while ß does not.
Here the ethymology of threshold:
Old English þrescold, þærscwold, þerxold, etc., "door-sill, point of entering," a word of uncertain origin and probably much altered by folk-etymology.



The first element probably is related to Old English þrescan (see thresh), either in its current sense of "thresh" or with its original sense of "to tread, trample." The second element has been much transformed in all the Germanic languages, suggesting its literal sense was lost even in ancient times. In English it probably has been altered to conform to hold.



Liberman (Oxford University Press blog, Feb. 11, 2015) revives an old theory that the second element is the Proto-Germanic instrumental suffix *-thlo and the original sense of threshold was a threshing area adjacent to the living area of a house. Cognates of the compound include Old Norse þreskjoldr, Swedish tröskel, Old High German driscufli, German dialectal drischaufel. The figurative use was present in Old English.







share|improve this answer








New contributor




Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer






New contributor




Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









answered 2 days ago









Julieta

111




111




New contributor




Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Julieta is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • In many accents of German (including the one typically taught to English speakers), the letter "s" represents /ʃ/ ("sh") in syllables starting with "st-" and "sp-", except for in some loanwords. E.g. der Stein, das Spiel. This is thought to perhaps be a remnant of an earlier distinction between between laminal and apical sibilants, with the original "s" sounds being apical and the "z" sounds (both the affricate and the fricative that is currently spelled as ss/ß) derived from assibilation of t being laminal.
    – sumelic
    4 hours ago




















  • In many accents of German (including the one typically taught to English speakers), the letter "s" represents /ʃ/ ("sh") in syllables starting with "st-" and "sp-", except for in some loanwords. E.g. der Stein, das Spiel. This is thought to perhaps be a remnant of an earlier distinction between between laminal and apical sibilants, with the original "s" sounds being apical and the "z" sounds (both the affricate and the fricative that is currently spelled as ss/ß) derived from assibilation of t being laminal.
    – sumelic
    4 hours ago


















In many accents of German (including the one typically taught to English speakers), the letter "s" represents /ʃ/ ("sh") in syllables starting with "st-" and "sp-", except for in some loanwords. E.g. der Stein, das Spiel. This is thought to perhaps be a remnant of an earlier distinction between between laminal and apical sibilants, with the original "s" sounds being apical and the "z" sounds (both the affricate and the fricative that is currently spelled as ss/ß) derived from assibilation of t being laminal.
– sumelic
4 hours ago






In many accents of German (including the one typically taught to English speakers), the letter "s" represents /ʃ/ ("sh") in syllables starting with "st-" and "sp-", except for in some loanwords. E.g. der Stein, das Spiel. This is thought to perhaps be a remnant of an earlier distinction between between laminal and apical sibilants, with the original "s" sounds being apical and the "z" sounds (both the affricate and the fricative that is currently spelled as ss/ß) derived from assibilation of t being laminal.
– sumelic
4 hours ago













-2














This word is derived from old German. In the German alphabet the letter s is pronounced with a "sh" sound, and a double s is pronounced "es". The double s in German is ß and sounds like our English s. That having been said, the word gets pronounced thresh-hold and not thres-hold.






share|improve this answer

















  • 1




    Well, what about the s in lesen? That's not pronounced with a "sh" sound. And there are verbs like essen which don't normally use the ß except in some inflections.
    – Robusto
    Nov 9 '14 at 13:47
















-2














This word is derived from old German. In the German alphabet the letter s is pronounced with a "sh" sound, and a double s is pronounced "es". The double s in German is ß and sounds like our English s. That having been said, the word gets pronounced thresh-hold and not thres-hold.






share|improve this answer

















  • 1




    Well, what about the s in lesen? That's not pronounced with a "sh" sound. And there are verbs like essen which don't normally use the ß except in some inflections.
    – Robusto
    Nov 9 '14 at 13:47














-2












-2








-2






This word is derived from old German. In the German alphabet the letter s is pronounced with a "sh" sound, and a double s is pronounced "es". The double s in German is ß and sounds like our English s. That having been said, the word gets pronounced thresh-hold and not thres-hold.






share|improve this answer












This word is derived from old German. In the German alphabet the letter s is pronounced with a "sh" sound, and a double s is pronounced "es". The double s in German is ß and sounds like our English s. That having been said, the word gets pronounced thresh-hold and not thres-hold.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Nov 9 '14 at 1:43









plasmasnakeneo

131




131








  • 1




    Well, what about the s in lesen? That's not pronounced with a "sh" sound. And there are verbs like essen which don't normally use the ß except in some inflections.
    – Robusto
    Nov 9 '14 at 13:47














  • 1




    Well, what about the s in lesen? That's not pronounced with a "sh" sound. And there are verbs like essen which don't normally use the ß except in some inflections.
    – Robusto
    Nov 9 '14 at 13:47








1




1




Well, what about the s in lesen? That's not pronounced with a "sh" sound. And there are verbs like essen which don't normally use the ß except in some inflections.
– Robusto
Nov 9 '14 at 13:47




Well, what about the s in lesen? That's not pronounced with a "sh" sound. And there are verbs like essen which don't normally use the ß except in some inflections.
– Robusto
Nov 9 '14 at 13:47


















draft saved

draft discarded




















































Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f161655%2fwhy-is-threshold-pronounced-thresh-hold%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown





















































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown

































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown







Popular posts from this blog

List directoties down one level, excluding some named directories and files

list processes belonging to a network namespace

list systemd RuntimeDirectory mounts