How to pronounce FAQ? ˈɛfˈeɪˈkyu or fæk?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
What is the commonly accepted pronunciation of FAQ?

FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions. I checked some dictionaries, they list both of the pronunciations. So I'm confused. What is the common way to pronounce FAQ?

I pronounce it FAQ with the a as in asked – mplungjan Feb 19 '11 at 12:38 — mplungjan, Feb 19 '11 at 12:38

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 19 '11 at 12:35

3

Both are common, or they wouldn't be listed in the dictionary. Although most dictionaries give the (slightly?) more prevalent pronunciation first (same goes for spelling, if more than one variation exists).

Now to your unstated question, "Which one should I use?": use the one you like better. Or the one that is more common among your colleagues or friends, whichever applies to your circumstances.

answered Feb 19 '11 at 12:35

Jürgen A. Erhard

1,511
2
15
23

+10, if I could. This is the answer to so many “pronunciation varies” questions… – PLL Feb 19 '11 at 17:10
+1 for anti-gregarious recommendation as well. – Alain Pannetier Φ Mar 17 '11 at 23:33

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 19 '11 at 12:58

0

In more than 20 years of Internet and BBS usage I have only ever heard FAQ pronounced "fack" (fæk), at least in American English.

answered Feb 19 '11 at 12:58

Robusto

151,571

2

Hmm — I’ve only ever heard it read letter-by-letter! Possibly I associate with less hardcore internet people than you do. – PLL Feb 19 '11 at 17:09
American English seems to prefer reading acronyms out as words, British English prefers spelling them out. As a Brit, I've heard /fæk/ maybe twice ever (also in a couple of decades of being online). Here in Britain, it would always be /ˈɛfˈeɪˈkyu/ – Owen Blacker Jan 19 '12 at 21:37

How to pronounce FAQ? ˈɛfˈeɪˈkyu or fæk?

2 Answers2