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I've previously (and am now embarrassed because of this) pronounced this word "ahl-bite" and now realize it is pronounced "ahl-bee-it." Why is it pronounced like this, and not the way I previously pronounced it?

xdumaine
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    sounds like your pronunciation has gone awry. – Paul Butcher Mar 22 '11 at 18:51
  • It is? O.o It sounds like ahl-bait when I say it...In my defense I've heard it said that way on TV. That means it's a valid alternate! Hollywood never screws stuff like that up! XP...Anyhow, I learned something. Can't think of a better reason to +1. – kitukwfyer Mar 22 '11 at 19:19
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    Thanks for reminding me of two words I at first only knew from literature and had never known how to pronounce until a few years ago. Aw-ry ;) – mplungjan Mar 22 '11 at 20:47
  • I always wondered why people pronounce it ahl-bait and not "all be it"... – configurator Mar 22 '11 at 21:00
  • LOL. All this time Ive been pronouncing it AL-BEET. –  Nov 12 '11 at 13:05
  • [ɔ:l], not [a:l]. As Henry and Jon Purdy said, "albeit" derives from "all be it", and the first syllable is pronounced as it is in "all" and in other words derived from phrases starting with "all", e.g. "already". – Rosie F Feb 26 '19 at 11:58

2 Answers2

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It is a written shortening of all be it, a subjunctive set phrase roughly meaning "even if it is ..."

Henry
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Albeit is a contraction of all be it, that is, although be it or although it is that. It has no roots in German, where ei would be pronounced with an English long I sound.

Jon Purdy
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    Something about seeing it capitalized (like a German noun) also tips my mind in favor of the German pronunciation. – Ben Jackson Mar 22 '11 at 19:47