350+ Silly & Important Philosophical Questions

Ridiculous & random questions to challenge your thinking

You might think philosophy is a dry subject, but that’s where you’d be wrong! Fun, silly, and thought-provoking philosophical questions like “How do you know you’re not dreaming?” or “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” are guaranteed to get your mind whirring and maybe even keep you up at night! Looking for more funny philosophical conundrums? Check out our list of philosophical questions about life, the universe, and, well, everything else!

Funniest Philosophical Questions

• What is the difference between living and being alive?
• Where is the line between insanity and creativity?
• If a rabbit’s foot is so lucky, what happened to the rabbit?
• Can you be truly altruistic if helping others makes you feel good?
• Is it OK to do something “wrong” if nobody ever finds out about it?

Steps

Funny Philosophical Questions about Life and Existence

1. Life and existence are…well, really freaking weird. We don’t fully understand why we’re here or how (will we ever?). These thought-provoking and funny questions about the nature of existence and the meaning of life are sure to give you and your friends plenty to talk about for a loooooong time:
   
   • What is the difference between living and being alive?
   • Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture?
   • To what extent do you shape your own destiny, and how much is down to fate?^[1]
   • Do thoughts have a pattern?
   • What is the purpose of existence?
   • What is true happiness?
   • What things hold you back from doing the things that you really want to?
   • Can memories be erased?
   • Does awareness of consciousness have benefits?
   • How do you know that your experience of consciousness is the same as other people's experience of consciousness?
   • What makes you, you?
   • If someone’s personality changes, does that mean they have also changed?
   • What is the truth?
   • What is reality?
   • What are dreams and why do we have them?
   • How does one find purpose in life?
   • What do people strive for after enlightenment?
   • Where is the line between insanity and creativity?
   • Can we have happiness without sadness?
   • How do you know your perceptions are real?
   • What is infinity?
   • Where were people before they were born?
   • Does the Law of Attraction exist?
   • Can we choose our emotions, or do they happen to us?
   • Why do we do things we do not like to do?
   • Are we the biggest threat to humanity?
   • What happens after we die?
   • Is death a new beginning?
   • Do we have a soul?

Funny Philosophical Questions about Morality and Ethics

1. Right and wrong aren’t always black and white—which these questions prove! Prepare to be stumped by queries like, “Who defines good and evil?” and “Would you sacrifice yourself to save someone else?” Check out more ethical and moral conundrums below:
   
   • How should people live their lives?
   • Is religion conceptualized by one's own belief system?
   • Will the world be a better place if caste and religion cease to exist?
   • Who defines good and evil?
   • Do atheists make their own gods?
   • When babies are born, are they good?
   • If someone breaks the law to save a life, are they a criminal or a hero?
   • Does living your life for others make your life have meaning?
   • If lying is wrong, are white lies okay?
   • Is there ever a justifiable reason to kill someone?
   • Under what circumstances would you sacrifice yourself to save someone else?
   • Can religious beliefs affect scientific thinking?
   • If kindness is free, why isn’t everyone kind?
   • Can you be truly altruistic if helping others makes you feel good?
   • Why is beauty associated with morality?
   • Can people change?
   • If judgment is for God, why do we pass judgment?
   • Is it ethical to punish someone for a thought they didn’t act on?
   • Who decides what morality is?
   • Why do we respect the dead more than the living?
   • Is it better to hurt someone with honesty or comfort them with a lie?
   • Is it ethical to use people’s data without their knowledge if it helps society?
   • Is it OK to do something “wrong” if nobody ever finds out about it?
   • Does God have supreme power?
   • Does belief make God exist?
   • Does sound happen if nothing is present to hear it?
   • Can greed ever be a virtue?
   • Why does God not intervene when evil takes root in people?
   • Would you kill 10 people to save 100?^[2]
   • What role does honor play in today's society?
   • If animals have rights, is it immoral to eat them?
   • Is it wrong to purchase fast fashion, rapidly produced clothing that uses manufacturing methods that negatively impact the environment and exploit workers (like Shein or Cider)?
   • Can you be loyal to one person and still be fair to others?
   • Should morality be based on outcomes or intentions?
   • Is it more important to be liked or respected?
   • If you had to choose between saving a person or a thousand animals, which is more moral?
   • Do the intentions behind your actions matter more than the consequences of your actions?
   • Is it ethical to force someone to do good against their will?
   • Does the path to salvation lie within us?
   • What's more important: doing the right thing or doing things right?
   • Is it ethical to euthanize animals to prevent their suffering?
   • If everyone cheated on a test, would it still be considered cheating?
   • Is there a perfect life?
   • Is it better to save one loved one or five strangers?
   • If revenge feels good, does that make it right?
   • Why do we strive for perfection if it is not attainable?
   • Hungry for more ethical conundrums? Check out our ultimate list of complex moral and ethical dilemmas—and tell us how you’d react in each situation by responding to our polls!

Funny Philosophical Questions about Relationships and Love

1. What is love? (Baby, don’t hurt me!){endbold} Seriously, though, what is love, and how do you know when you’ve found true love? Can life be meaningful without friends? Can you have love without trust? These questions about love and relationships are sure to give you and your friends or partner something to talk about for hours:
   
   • Is trust more important than love?
   • Is true beauty subjective or objective?
   • What makes a good friend?
   • Can life be meaningful without friends?
   • What is true love?
   • How do you know you are loved?
   • Is loving yourself selfish?
   • Is an understanding of pain necessary to appreciate love?
   • If you can’t love yourself, can you love someone else?
   • Is it essential to have a friendship with your partner?
   • Does love feel different to different people?
   • Can love exist without understanding?
   • Is it better to be loved and not understood or understood and not loved?
   • Is jealousy proof of love or insecurity?
   • Does love necessitate action, or can it exist simply as a feeling?
   • Is love a choice, a feeling, or a chemical reaction?
   • If absence makes the heart grow fonder, why do long-distance relationships fail?
   • How do you know if you love someone enough to marry them?
   • Does being loved by more people correlate to a person’s value?
   • To love someone well, do you need to show them love in their preferred love language, or can you love them the way you naturally show love?
   • What one piece of advice would you offer to a newborn infant?
   • Can love survive without trust?
   • Can you love someone and still betray them?
   • Can you love someone without liking them?
   • If love is blind, why do we care about appearances?
   • Can you truly love someone if you don’t respect them?
   • Can you forgive someone you love for betraying you?
   • Can you be happy in love without being happy with yourself?
   • If love isn’t supposed to hurt, why does heartbreak exist?
   • Is unrequited love truly love, or just obsession?
   • Can you be in love with the idea of someone rather than the person?
   • If love is unconditional, why do breakups happen?
   • Can love at first sight be real, or is it just attraction?
   • Why do people chase love when it often causes pain?
   • If love requires effort, is it truly natural?
   • Can you fall in love with someone who doesn’t share your values?
   • Is loving someone the same as being in love with them?
   • Is love more about giving or receiving?
   • Can a relationship survive without compromise?
   • If love is patient and kind, why does it hurt so much?
   • Is it possible to truly know someone completely?
   • Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
   • Can love be selfish and selfless at the same time?
   • Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never talked to?
   • If love is universal, why is it so complicated?
   • Is it easier to love or be loved?^[3]
   • Can love exist without boundaries?
   • Can love ever truly be unconditional?
   • Is it possible to stop loving someone you’ve loved deeply?
   • Do we love ourselves more in the virtual world and less in the real world?
   • If you have to ask if it’s love, is it really love?
   • Are soulmates real?
   • If love is infinite, why do we limit it to one partner?
   • Is love stronger than fear, or does fear protect love?
   • Can you miss someone you’ve never met?
   • If loving someone means letting them go, why do we hold on?
   • If you can fall in love, can you also fall out of love by accident?
   • Is it possible to love two people equally?
   • Can soulmates exist if divorce rates are so high?
   • Do you make your own decisions, or let others make them for you?
   • Can you forgive someone without excusing their actions?

Funny Philosophical Questions about Knowledge and Learning

1. Consider these philosophical questions about education and intelligence. What does it mean to be “educated,” anyway? Is intelligence more important than wisdom? These questions pertaining to learning and knowledge are sure to broaden your mind a little!
   
   • What is education?^[4]
   • What's more important for a better world—intelligence or wisdom?
   • Are highly intelligent people less happy than individuals with average intelligence?
   • Is it worse to fail at something or never attempt it in the first place?
   • Can you learn something you don’t want to know?
   • Is ignorance a valid excuse for rudeness?
   • If you forget what you learned, did you truly learn it?
   • Is there such a thing as useless knowledge?
   • How do we know what words mean?
   • If you teach a robot to learn, who’s the teacher?
   • Can you know everything about nothing?
   • If the more you know, the less you understand, should we stop learning?
   • Should full access to the internet be a fundamental right?
   • If knowledge is power, why isn’t everyone powerful?
   • Can you know something without understanding it?
   • Can you unlearn something you’ve learned?
   • Can you ever truly know yourself?
   • If you can learn from failure, is failure actually success?
   • Is memorizing facts the same as gaining knowledge?
   • Can you be smart without being wise?
   • Is knowledge more valuable than creativity?
   • If history repeats itself, why study it?
   • Can you learn from someone who knows less than you?
   • If a question has no answer, is it still worth asking?
   • If everyone has the same information, why do opinions differ?
   • Can you measure intelligence without comparing it?
   • Can learning ever be effortless?
   • Can you be knowledgeable but lack common sense?
   • If experience is the best teacher, why do we have schools?
   • Is wisdom just knowledge with age?
   • Is learning a lifelong journey or a destination?
   • Can learning ever be purely objective?
   • If children are naturally curious, why do they lose interest in school?
   • Should certain books be censored or banned? Why or why not?
   • Is education a privilege or a right?
   • If knowledge is free, why is education expensive?
   • Why is wisdom often associated with age?
   • If we can find out almost anything by looking it up on the internet, do we still need schools?
   • If curiosity killed the cat, should we still encourage it?
   • Can knowledge exist without language?
   • Can ignorance truly be bliss?
   • If you know something but can’t explain it, do you really know it?
   • If knowledge has no limits, can ignorance be infinite?
   • Is learning more valuable than remembering?
   • Can you teach someone who doesn’t want to learn?
   • Will artificial intelligence help increase human lifespans in the future?
   • Can artificial intelligence ever surpass human curiosity?
   • Can a person be "educated" without a formal education?
   • Do knowledge and understanding make you content and happy as a person?

Funny Philosophical Questions about Society and Culture

1. These queries about society will have you scratching your head. Is it always good to have endless choices? Do we control technology, or is it controlling us? There may not be easy answers for these questions, but asking them is sure to provoke some thought about the way society is set up and how we navigate the world.
   
   • What is culture?
   • How does culture form?
   • Does the culture you were raised in impact your outlook on life?
   • Does an ideal government exist?
   • How involved should governments be in caring for the individuals in their country?
   • What makes a person a person?
   • Should we limit the amount of money people can earn and save to avoid an unequal distribution of wealth?https://parade.com/1185047/marynliles/philosophical-questions
   • Are we losing our right to privacy?
   • What is the extent of freedom human beings should have?
   • Is it morally wrong to abstain from voting?
   • What is the difference between a human right and a privilege?
   • What makes a good leader?
   • Is war ever necessary or even reasonable?
   • Can morality change with culture, or is it universal?
   • If people are spreading misinformation, should they still be allowed to continue? Who decides what “misinformation” is?
   • Isn't one person's terrorist another person's freedom fighter?
   • If two people’s opinions differ, how should they resolve their differences?
   • Why do people fear losing things that they do not even have yet?
   • If money cannot buy happiness, can you ever be truly happy with no money?
   • Is humanity doomed to head in a destructive direction?
   • Why is wisdom often associated with age?
   • Will a curb on buying guns and arms reduce the number of shooting sprees in the world?
   • Do guns protect or kill people?
   • Are there limitations on free speech?
   • Does understanding philosophy lead to progress?
   • What is “progress”?
   • Is the internet good, bad, or neutral?
   • What exactly is self-esteem and where does it come from?
   • Is race a social construct or a biological category?
   • Will racism ever cease to exist?
   • What about sexism?
   • Should women’s rights be a priority to men? Why or why not?
   • Is a family still relevant in the modern world?
   • If all the currencies in the world did not have monetary value, would our world be a much better place?
   • Is there a difference between fair trade and free trade? What is it and which is of greater importance?
   • Is the way we compensate people for their jobs ideal, or should we have some way of ensuring that people are paid appropriately?
   • Does the English language make us feel superior to other countries?
   • Is torture ever justified?
   • What is the meaning of rich and poor in the modern world?
   • Why do we throw away food when we know people are dying of hunger?
   • Which is more important, justice or mercy?
   • Is the preservation of a country's culture a good reason for limiting immigration?
   • Is it always good to have choices?
   • Do we control technology or is it controlling us?
   • If you could choose just one thing to change about the world, what would it be?
   • Do we change when we have power?
   • Will technological advances wipe out humanity?
   • When you are driving and see one shoe on the side of the road, what do you think happened to the other one?
   • Will stricter laws make a better world?
   • Since the birth rate is down in the United States, should people be required to have at least one child?

Funny Philosophical Questions about the Universe and Science

1. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the universe, space, and physics. Can something come from nothing? Do aliens exist? You may not be able to answer all of these philosophical questions, but they’re guaranteed to generate interesting discussion:
   
   • Can something come from nothing?
   • Why does the universe exist instead of nothing?
   • If black holes suck in light, can they ever be illuminated?
   • If gravity keeps us grounded, why don’t we feel its pull?
   • If the universe is infinite, does it mean there’s an infinite number of “you” out there?
   • If parallel universes exist, do they also have parallel yous?
   • Is it possible time is being altered right now?^[5]
   • Why does time only move forward?
   • Will it ever be possible to travel through time? Space?
   • Is there a species more advanced than humans in the universe?
   • Is the Big Bang theory the universe’s biggest joke?
   • If space is a vacuum, what’s stopping it from being sucked away?
   • Can the future affect the past, or only the present?
   • If we discovered aliens, would they have their own science?
   • Could life on other planets be more advanced than ours?
   • Why does the universe seem orderly despite its chaos?
   • If time travel were possible, why haven’t we met future humans?
   • If humans are stardust, does that make us shining stars?
   • Can two objects occupy the same space at the same time?
   • If energy cannot be created or destroyed, where did it come from?
   • If we ever find the edge of the universe, what’s beyond it?
   • Can a particle exist in two places at once?
   • Why is the speed of light the fastest anything can travel?
   • Is the theory of evolution still evolving?
   • If we colonize Mars, will Earthlings and Martians be rivals?
   • Are we living in a hologram created by another dimension?
   • If the universe started with a bang, what caused it to bang?
   • Is math the true language of the universe?
   • Could black holes be portals to another universe?
   • If space and time are linked, can we untangle them?
   • If everything in the universe has a cause, what caused the universe?
   • If we can’t see dark matter, how do we know it exists?
   • Is the universe expanding into something or nothing?
   • Is infinity a number, a concept, or both?
   • Is there a limit to human knowledge about the universe?
   • Can science explain love, or is it purely chemical?
   • If time had a beginning, can it have an end?
   • Why do we search for life on other planets when we struggle to save life on ours?
   • Is the multiverse just a theory or reality we haven’t proven?
   • Can light be both a particle and a wave, or is it just confused?
   • Why do we assume life elsewhere needs water to survive?
   • If the laws of physics are universal, who wrote the laws?
   • Can science explain why we dream?
   • Are humans unique in the universe, or are we just average?
   • If the universe is mostly empty, why does it seem so full of possibilities?
   • Is consciousness the universe trying to understand itself?
   • Can artificial intelligence ever be considered alive?
   • If the universe is random, why do we see patterns in it?
   • Is there an end to human curiosity about the cosmos?
   • If stars die, can the universe itself die?
   • What are numbers?
   • Could we ever run out of questions about the universe?
   • Is the universe a simulation, and if so, who’s playing the game?

Funny Philosophical Shower Thoughts

1. These silly questions might not be deep, but they’ll still make you think! Ever pause and wonder, “If a ghost can walk through a wall, wouldn't it fall through the floor?” or “When a bald man gets a driver's license, what's listed on it as his hair color?” These ridiculous (but thought-provoking!) shower thought-esque questions will give you something to mull over in your down time:
   
   • When a bald man gets a driver's license, what's listed on it as his hair color?
   • If all the world's a stage, who's out there in the audience?
   • If nothing can stick to Teflon, then how does Teflon stick to the pan?^[6]
   • If the phrase “time is money” is true, does that make ATMs time machines?
   • If a pilot flies at the speed of sound, can he still hear his iPod?
   • Why do we call the most popular pencil #2?
   • If “practice makes perfect,” but “nobody's perfect,” why should we practice?
   • Some say that “ignorance is bliss,” so why aren't more people happy?
   • In the Cinderella story, why would her shoe fall off if it fit perfectly?
   • If you find a turtle without its shell, would you say it's homeless or naked?
   • At a restaurant, if you're waiting for a waiter to arrive at your table, doesn't that make you the waiter?
   • Why do people drive on parkways and park on driveways?
   • When you're open-minded, can your brain fall out?
   • If a ghost can walk through a wall, wouldn't it fall through the floor?
   • If a crime fighter fights crime, and a firefighter fights fire, what does a freedom fighter fight?
   • When a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
   • Why do you have to stop in a “drive-thru”?
   • Can you be both careful and carefree?
   • If the universe has no end, what goes beyond the “edge of the universe”?
   • If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
   • If a structure has already been constructed, why do we call it a building and not a built?
   • Got your own shower thoughts you want to share? Check out our forum on shower thoughts to chat with other wikiHow users!

Funny Philosophical Questions for Kids

1. Philosophy isn’t just for adults—children have a lot to learn from it, too! These kid-friendly philosophical questions are great for the whole family.
   
   • If a rabbit’s feet are lucky, what happened to the rabbit?
   • If aliens exist, what would they look like?
   • Can vegetables feel pain? How do you know?
   • Are animals conscious? How about insects? Plants?
   • Does expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?
   • Would Lightning McQueen buy car insurance or life insurance?
   • Is cereal soup?
   • Can you imagine what it’s like to be a dog? A cat? An octopus? A strawberry?
   • If a deaf man burps in the woods, and nobody is around to hear it, did it make a sound?
   • If it's true that “actions speak louder than words,” is a mime deafening?^[7]
   • What makes something funny?
   • What is the purpose of humor?
   • If you drop soap on the floor, is the floor clean or the soap dirty?
   • What color are mirrors?
   • Can inanimate objects be either bad or good?
   • Do animals talk about us the way we talk about them?^[8]
   • Is water wet?
   • Are hot dogs tacos?
   • Why are towels considered dirty when you get out of the shower clean?
   • How do you know you are not just in a VR computer game?
   • Does the sun have a mother?^[9]
   • Red paper under a blue light appears black. Is the paper still red?
   • If 2 mind readers read each other's minds, whose mind are they really reading?
   • If time travel is possible, would we have met time travelers already?
   • Do things only exist when you’re looking at them?
   • Are you dreaming right now? How do you know?
   • If you could see into the future, would you want to know what happens?
   • Is it possible to think of nothing?
   • Do you think music is a universal language?
   • What makes a good friend?
   • Can one person really change the world?
   • What would a time machine look like?
   • Why do humans wear clothes, but no other species do?
   • Do animals feel love?
   • Do memories exist even if you forget them?
   • Why do some people feel scared while watching a horror movie even though they know it is not real?
   • Are you lucky? Does luck exist?
   • If immortality were possible, would you want to be immortal?
   • Are clowns scary or funny? Is it possible to be both?
   • If I try to fail, but succeed, which one did I do?
   • If you were born with a different name, would you have a different personality?
   • Can computers experience consciousness?
   • Can animals understand English?
   • Do animals like being kept as pets?
   • What came first? The chicken or the egg?

When to Ask Funny Philosophical Questions

1. Get some fun discussion going at your next party or event. These thought-provoking philosophical queries are the perfect way to foster lively conversation (and maybe some debates!) at a social gathering.
   
   • Asking questions like “How does one find purpose in life?” and “Can people really change?” is also a great way to get to know people you’ve just met.
2. Break the ice at your next office meeting by posing a philosophical conundrum. Work meetings don’t have to be dull! Opening a meeting with a fun and compelling philosophical question like, “Can artificial intelligence ever be considered alive?” or “Do multiverses exist?” is a great way to get everyone loosened up and ready to participate in conversation.
3. If you’re a teacher, posing these questions in class can foster lively debate. Not only are these philosophical questions great icebreakers on the first day of school, they’re also perfect for helping students learn how to debate respectfully and consider alternative perspectives they may not otherwise have thought of.^[10]
   • You might even consider assigning specific perspectives to different students and having them argue their side in front of the class.
   • Or, break students up into groups and assign each group a different question, and require them to debate their opinions together and see if they can come to a consensus.
4. Ask these questions on a first date to break the ice—and see how compatible you are. These questions aren’t just fun and interesting—you can also learn a lot about who someone is and what they value based on their answers to questions like, “Do you have to love yourself before you can love someone else?” or “Who defines good and evil?” This makes them great questions to ask on a first date: they’ll get the conversation flowing, but they’ll also give you insight into how your date views the world.

References

1. ↑ https://parade.com/1185047/marynliles/philosophical-questions/#philosophical-questions-that-are-intellectual
2. ↑ https://parade.com/1185047/marynliles/philosophical-questions/
3. ↑ https://parade.com/1185047/marynliles/philosophical-questions/
4. ↑ https://parade.com/1185047/marynliles/philosophical-questions/
5. ↑ https://parade.com/1185047/marynliles/philosophical-questions/
6. ↑ https://www.happierhuman.com/funny-philosophical-questions-wa2/
7. ↑ https://www.happierhuman.com/funny-philosophical-questions-wa2/
8. ↑ https://lithub.com/kids-are-actually-really-funny-wise-weird-and-philosophical/
9. ↑ https://lithub.com/kids-are-actually-really-funny-wise-weird-and-philosophical/
10. ↑ https://www.weareteachers.com/high-school-debate-topics/

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/Gj14CVr

Hand on Shoulder Meme: Akakichi no Eleven Redraws Explained

How this 70s anime clip became the internet’s new art project

The hand on shoulder meme shows an anime character placing his hand on the shoulder of another man, presumably to reassure him. People use the meme as a tongue-in-cheek reaction image when someone says they're dealing with something tough, like a minor inconvenience or annoyance. In this article, we explain what the hand on shoulder meme is, where it comes from, how to use it, and more. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this popular online meme (including how it became one of the more popular redrawn memes of recent memory). Beware: There are Bleach and Dragon Ball Z spoilers ahead.

The Popular Hand on Shoulder Meme Explained

The hand on shoulder meme from Akakichi no Eleven depicts a large-chinned man putting his hand on the shoulder of another man in reassurance. The meme is used in a tongue-in-cheek way to playfully poke fun at someone's tough situation, letting them know that the odds are against them.

Steps

What is the hand on shoulder meme?

1. The meme shows an anime character with his hand on a man's shoulder. The meme is typically used as a way to playfully comfort and poke fun at someone when they're facing a situation that doesn’t look good for them. For example, if your entire class period just bombed a test and one of your friends from next period asks if the test was easy, sending the hand on shoulder meme would send the message that it wasn’t easy in the slightest.^[1]
   
   • The image used in the hand on shoulder meme originates from Akakichi no Eleven soccer anime.
   • The hand on shoulder meme isn’t typically used to comfort someone when they’re in a legitimately tough situation, like going through a breakup or tragedy. It's used in more low stakes situations, like minor inconveniences or annoyances.

Where does the hand on shoulder meme come from?

1. The meme originates from the 1970s anime Akakichi no Eleven. The Akakichi no Eleven soccer anime featured a frame from episode 43, where a large-chinned man put his shoulder onto another character in front of him and smirked. He was accompanied by another man, who stood behind him and also smirked at the other character. This gesture eventually caught the attention of the internet, becoming a meme in late 2023.^[2]
   
   • Although a hand on the shoulder is typically comforting, in Akakichi no Eleven, it was used ironically. This ironic use was soon picked up by the internet and applied to other anime.
2. The meme got popular in France in 2023 and went viral in 2024. French X users started to use the Akakichi no Eleven image in late 2023, and soon caught the attention of the rest of the internet. In 2024, users on X, Instagram, and TikTok began redrawing the frame with renditions of characters who fit their interpretation of the meme. Some used the meme to reference Ichigo and Kisuke’s fight against Aizen in Bleach, while others used it to refer to the Saibaman’s fight against Yamcha in Dragon Ball Z.^[3]
   
   • The meme became so popular that one TikToker boasted about their collection of anime-related Akakichi no Eleven memes.
     • On September 16, 2024, @noschoolsaturday posted a TikTok of various anime characters in situations where they soften the blow of defeat, like Dragon Ball’s Majin Buu and Babidi consoling Dabura (who Buu later turned into chocolate).

Examples of the Hand on Shoulder Meme

1. The meme spawned many other memes across social media platforms. The Dragon Ball Z renditions of the hand on shoulder meme are classic, with X user @fh4dr’s redraw gaining over 25,000 likes in five days. There were also renditions with popular Attack on Titan characters, Naruto characters, and One Piece characters. Other examples include:^[4]
   
   • Reddit user u/C_h_i_m_e_r_a’s redraw with characters from the Gintama comedy anime.
   • Reddit user u/This_Weeb_is_ded’s redraw with Sonic characters Doctor Eggman and Silver the Hedgehog.
   • Reddit user u/FishComplex6549’s redraw with Higuruma, Yuji, and Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen.

How to Use the Hand on Shoulder Meme

1. Use it to let someone know an outcome may not favor them. Whether you know that you won’t be able to make it to pre-scheduled plans or you know an outcome isn't going to go the way your friend hopes, like a potential rejection by a crush or sports team, send the hand on shoulder meme to casually let them know. If they’re aware of the context of the meme, they’ll likely get the hint and realize the situation isn’t going their way.
   
   • Say something like “Options looking slim, bro,” or “I don’t think it’s looking good,” to affirm the message.
2. Send it it to playfully comfort someone in annoying situations. When you know someone’s in a situation that they won’t be able to get out of, like someone stepping on their shoes, or a movie date with someone they don’t necessarily like, use the hand on shoulder meme to playfully comfort them. It will let them know that the situation isn’t great, but there’s not much to do about it.
   
   • Avoid using this in serious situations when someone is actually upset. While you may intend to poke fun, it can make the person feel worse about the predicament they’re in.
   • GIFS & Memes to Use:
     • The Classic Hand-on-Shoulder
     • IRL Variation
     • Itachi, Kisame, and Kurenai Variation (Naruto)
     • One Piece Variation
     • Piccolo and Vegeta Variation (Dragon Ball Z)
3. Redraw the meme with your own characters to customize it. This is a popular format for the hand on shoulder meme. Take the original image, trace over the characters’ bodies and general features (face shape, arm placement, etc.), then redraw specific features to fit the anime characters in the moment you’re trying to refer to. The drawing doesn’t have to be a 1:1 copy from the anime. It’s better if most features resemble the original image.
   
   • For example, to refer to the moment when Ulquiorra Cifer revealed his rank as the 4th Espada (rather than the first, like Ichigo thought), draw Ulquiorra as the one putting his hand on Ichigo’s shoulder and draw Orihime as the background character.

What does it mean when someone puts their hand on your shoulder?

1. They’re trying to support and comfort you. Most of the time, a hand on the shoulder is a comforting gesture. It can be used in exciting, scary, and romantic situations, applying to all different types of emotional settings. For example, if you just found out that you got your dream job, your friend may put their hands on your shoulders as they jump in celebration, letting you know how happy they are for you.^[5]
   
   • On the other side of the coin, if you just went through a hard breakup, your friend may put their hand on your shoulder as they give some words of comfort and encouragement.
2. They’re letting you down easy. Sometimes, the hand on the shoulder is followed by a soft let-down. In this case, the hand on the shoulder is a comforting body language tactic that lets you know that there’s no hard feelings, but the outcome isn’t going to turn out the way you like.
   
3. They’re trying to express dominance. In some contexts, a hand on the shoulder can be a dominating gesture, especially when it’s done by someone that you don’t know or who is superior to you. For example, if you’re talking to a coworker about something that’s not safe for work and your boss comes up from behind and puts their hand on your shoulder, they’re calmly letting you know that they’re in the room and won’t tolerate that kind of talk.^[6]
   
4. They’re telling you to calm down. If you’re starting to get heated or too emotional in a particular situation, your friend may come down to your eye level, put their hand on your shoulder, and try to bring you back down to earth. They may tell you to calm down or take a second to breathe, doing their best to try and rein you in before tensions get too high.^[7]
   
5. They enjoy your presence and feel comfortable around you. If the person you’re talking to casually puts their hand on your shoulder and starts rubbing it or doing the thumb thing, they likely feel comfortable around you and safe in your presence. This is most likely to be done by a love interest or partner, as the thumb thing and soft touches tend to be more romantic.
   
   • If you and the person rubbing your shoulder are close friends, it may be a platonic expression of their comfort.
   • The thumb thing is a flirty, romantic gesture where someone rubs your hand or thigh with their thumb. They typically rub up and down or in a circular motion.

Other Popular Memes

1. It’s Not Clocking to You{endbold} The It’s Not Clocking to You meme originates from a video of Justin Bieber telling off the paparazzi. While Bieber intended to let the paparazzi know that “It’s not clocking to you that I’m standing on business,” social media users have used clips of the video to make fun of his butchering of AAVE slang.
2. If Not Friend, Why Friend Shaped{endbold} The If Not Friend, Then Why Friend Shaped meme is used to refer to animals that are cute but wild, and in some cases, deadly. While these animals aren’t safe to get close to, many people recognize their cuteness and ask themselves (and the internet) the question, “If not friend, then why friend-shaped?”
3. Old Man Yells at Cloud{endbold} The Old Man Yells at Cloud meme originates from The Simpsons when a newspaper published a story of Grandpa Simpson with the headline “Old Man Yells at Cloud.” The meme is used to poke fun at people who have outdated or out-of-touch opinions. For example, if you have a grandparent who insists on getting angry because people use pronouns, you could use the Old Man Yells at Cloud meme to joke about them.^[8]
4. My Shayla{endbold} The My Shayla meme is a TikTok meme where users post videos of their cute pets and partners with the sound “Oh my God, My Shayla!” It’s used to show how cute their pets and partners are, especially when they do something that upsets the person posting, as they remember the cuteness in their moments of anger.^[9]
   • For example, on December 30, 2024, @augustthatgolden posted a cute TikTok of her puppy under the sound with the caption, “When I get annoyed at my puppy but remember this is who I’m talking to.”

Video

References

1. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/akakichi-no-eleven-redraws
2. ↑ https://www.dailydot.com/memes/atakichi-no-eleven-redraws-meme/
3. ↑ https://www.dailydot.com/memes/atakichi-no-eleven-redraws-meme/
4. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/akakichi-no-eleven-redraws
5. ↑ https://www.psychmechanics.com/pat-on-shoulder-body-language/
6. ↑ https://www.psychmechanics.com/pat-on-shoulder-body-language/
7. ↑ https://www.psychmechanics.com/pat-on-shoulder-body-language/
8. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/old-man-yells-at-cloud
9. ↑ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2520612/heartbreaking-backstory-behind-the-viral-my-shayla-tiktok-sound

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/suNDyaB

10 Common Eye Shapes (+ How to Find Yours)

How to choose the right eyelashes & glasses for your eye type

You might have heard of hooded or monolid eyes, but did you know there are 10 different eye types? These eye types are determined by the overall shape and angle of the eyes and eyelids, and each is suited to different makeup, eyelash, and glasses styles. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about each eye type, with helpful makeup tips provided by makeup artists and beauty experts. Plus, we’ll explain how to determine your eye shape and more!

What type of eyes do I have?

• Almond: Eyes are longer than they are wide with a visible crease.
• Round: Eyes are large, prominent, and more circular than other eye types.
• Monolid: Eyes have a less visible eyelid crease or no crease at all.
• Hooded: The skin from the upper eyelid covers the lower part of the lid.

Steps

10 Different Types of Eyes

1. Almond{endbold} Almond-shaped eyes are longer than they are wide, like an almond! These eyes taper to a point at both the inner tear duct and the outer corner. Almond eyes typically have a visible crease, smaller eyelids, and don’t generally show the whites of the eye on top of or below the irises.^[1]
   
   • Best eyelashes: To emphasize the eye shape, choose lashes that increase in length and volume from the inner to outer corner of your eye.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Most frames, especially cat eye styles.
   • Makeup tips: Makeup artist Alana Schober notes that, “with almond eyes, you can get away with a thicker wing liner, or you can make it whatever shape you want.”^[2] Go for a smoky eye or a cat eye using light eyeshadow on the lids and darker shadow on the outer corners.
   • People with almond eyes: Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles
2. Round{endbold} Round eyes are large and prominent and have a more circular shape than other eye types. The whites of the eyes (called the sclera) are typically visible around the iris, and the inner and outer corners of the eye are rounded and don’t pull inward or outward.^[3]
   
   • Best eyelashes: Create a cat-eye look by using wispy, natural lashes that are longer on the outer corners.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Rectangular, cat-eye, square, and browline frames.
   • Makeup tips: Create a longer shape by blending the eyeshadow outward to highlight the outer corner of the eye and applying winged eyeliner; avoid lining the lower lash so the eyes appear more almond-shaped.
   • People with round eyes: Hasan Minhaj, Katy Perry, Zooey Deschanel
3. Monolid{endbold} Monolid eyes are most commonly found in Asian populations and have a less visible eyelid crease (or no crease at all). Most or all of the eyelid is usually hidden, and the eyelid is typically shallow or smooth. Monolid eyelids can appear more hooded as they age.^[4]
   
   • Best eyelashes: Opt for lashes that are shorter on the inner corners and increase in length as they reach the outer corners.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Rectangular or square-shaped angular frames.
   • Makeup tips: Apply layers of eyeshadow tones vertically from the eyelid to the brow bone, using lighter colors as you move upward. Blend well and use a bold eyeliner to make your eyes pop.
   • People with monolid eyes: Awkwafina, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan
4. Protruding{endbold} Protruding eyes appear to “bulge” from the eye socket and jut out further than other eye types. They have very noticeable, visible eyelids, and are considered the most dramatic and expressive of the 10 types of eyes.^[5]
   
   • Best eyelashes: To elongate the eyes and create a cat-eye look, choose wispy or layered medium-length lashes.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Rectangular, square-shaped, aviator, browline frames.
   • Makeup tips: Use darker matte shadows blended into the crease to make the eyes less prominent. Apply eyeliner to the lash line and thicken it slightly to create a subtle wing.
   • People with protruding eyes: Octavia Spencer, Rami Malek, Christina Ricci
5. Downturned{endbold} Downturned eyes have outer corners that are set lower on the face than the inner corners. This can sometimes give the eyes a slightly “droopy” shape. Downturned eyes also have upper eyelids that dip down to meet the lower lashline.^[6]
   
   • Best eyelashes: If you want your eyes to look less downturned, opt for lashes that push up and curl in the outer corner of the eye. Include a double lash in the center or on the final outer lash.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Cat-eye, round frames.
   • Makeup tips: Use lighter shades of eyeshadow in the inner corners and darker shades on the outer “v” of the eye. Apply eyeliner with a slight upward wing.
   • People with downturned eyes: Katie Holmes, Joe Jonas, Anne Hathaway
6. Upturned{endbold} Upturned eyes tilt upwards and have outer corners that are higher than the inner corners. They also have a bottom lash line that curves upward to meet the top lashes at the outer corner of the eye. Upturned eyes are known as “cat eyes,” and are considered quite exotic in appearance.^[7]
   
   • Best eyelashes: Lean into the cat-eye look with lashes that are shorter on the inner corners and longer on the outer corners.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Cat-eye, square-shaped, aviator frames.
   • Makeup tips: Use a winged eyeliner, highlight the inner corner with a shimmery eyeshadow, and apply more mascara on the outer lashes.
   • People with upturned eyes: Kendall Jenner, Megan Fox, Rihanna
7. Close-set{endbold} Close-set eyes appear closer together on the face, with less than one eyeball’s width between them, distance-wise. This amount of distance is considered smaller than average and can cause the eyes to look smaller or the face to appear more compact.^[8]
   
   • Best eyelashes: Choose flared cat-eye lashes to elongate the eye and emphasize the outer corners; three-quarter lashes that concentrate on the outer portion of the eyes work well.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Glasses with a thin or clear bridge, colors that are darker on the sides and lighter towards the middle.
   • Makeup tips: Use lighter eyeshadow on the inner corners and darker shadow on the outer corners. Blend it well, and focus the eyeliner on the outer corners, adding a slight wing.
   • People with close-set eyes: Sarah Jessica Parker, Ryan Gosling, Miley Cyrus
8. Wide-set{endbold} Wide-set eyes are farther apart on the face than other eye types, with more than one eyeball’s width of distance between them. This amount of distance is considered above average and can sometimes affect vision.^[9]
   
   • Best eyelashes: Choose lashes that are longer on the inner corners and shorter on the outer corners of the eye to balance the width of the eyes. Doll’s eye lashes that are longest in the center are often a good choice.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Chunkier, bold frames in a variety of colors.
   • Makeup tips: To make your wide-set eyes look closer together, certified professional makeup artist Anjuli Yera, MD, says, “Drag your inner corner eyeliner a bit closer to your midline and create a peak or fine point as you continue the liner into the lower lash line from the inner corner out. Repeat on the other eye's inner corner to create a symmetrical appearance on both inner corners.”^[10]
   • People with wide-set eyes: Anya-Taylor Joy, Will Smith, Uma Thurman
9. Deep-set{endbold} Deep-set eyes have a prominent brow bone and are set further back into the eye socket than other types of eyes. Deep-set eyes can have a more angular or sharp shape, appear smaller, or include a greater distance between the eyes and eyebrows.^[11]
   
   • Best eyelashes: Draw out the eyes with more pronounced “Hollywood” lashes that use criss-crossing with thicker lashes.
   • Best eyeglasses styles: Rounded or oval-shaped frames with a slight lift on the outer edges.
   • Makeup tips: Use light, shimmery shades on the eyelid and create a tight eyeliner line on the upper lid; focus mascara on the outer corners of the eyes.
   • People with deep-set eyes: Jennifer Aniston, Emma Watson, Kate Moss
10. Hooded{endbold} Hooded eyes are known for having a heavy browline with a deep-set crease, meaning the skin from the upper eyelid covers the lower part of the lid. Hooded eyelids usually retract into the crease when the eyes are open. Like monolid eye shapes, hooded eyes can appear more hooded as they age.^[12]
    
    • Best eyelashes to choose: Longer lashes with a more prominent curl at the outer edges.
    • Best eyeglasses styles: Large, cat-eye, or round-shaped frames with a high bridge.
    • Makeup tips: Beauty, DEI & social media expert Joseph Harwood recommends “learning to use waterproof pen eyeliner because it resists the oils that naturally build up on the eyelid and doesn't imprint into the hood. If you're trying to avoid things like transparent eyeliner, using a waterproof product is your best bet.”^[13]
    • People with hooded eyes: Brad Pitt, Emma Stone, Bella Hadid

How to Determine Your Eye Shape

1. Measure the space between your eyes to find out your eye spacing. Take your thumb and index finger and place them on the inner and outer corners of your eye (which eye you measure will determine whether your thumb rests on your inner or outer corner). Then, lift your thumb and forefinger, keep them still, and place them in the space between your eyes. The results are as follows:^[14]
   
   • Average-set eyes: Your thumb and forefinger line up with your two tear ducts on the inner edges of your eyes.
   • Close-set eyes: Your thumb and forefinger feel as if they’re poking the inside of your eyes slightly.
   • Wide-set eyes: Your thumb and forefinger leave a little bit of extra space between your eyes and don’t touch your tear ducts.
2. Touch below your eyes to see if they’re deep-set or prominent. Using one finger from each hand, gently touch along the lower lash line of both eyes at the same time. If you can feel the shape of your eyeball, your eyes are more likely to be protruding or bulging. You might also visibly see a slight curvature beneath the skin of your lower lashes. If you feel a flatness instead of the curve of an eyeball, you probably have deep-set eyes.^[15]
   
   • You may also simply be able to look at your eyes to tell if they’re protruding or deep-set.
3. Look at the inner and outer corners to see if your eyes are down- or upturned. If the outer corners of your eyes appear to be lower than your inner corners, you have downturned eyes, or “puppy dog” eyes. If the opposite is true, and the inner corners of your eyes are lower than the outer corners, you have upturned eyes.^[16]
   
   • Another way to visualize your eyes is to imagine a straight line passing through the center of your pupils. If your outer eye corners are below that line, you have downturned eyes; if they’re above that line, you have upturned eyes.
4. Examine the crease of your eyelid to see if you have hooded eyes. If you can see the upper crease of your eyelid, your eyes are considered average. If your upper eyelid crease appears heavy and rests slightly above your eyes, you have hooded eyes. No matter what eye shape you have, your eyes can appear more hooded as you age.^[17]
   
   • Hooded eyes have excess skin that sits right above your eyes, which makes your eyelid creases disappear; monolid eyes don’t have a visible eyelid crease at all, and look smooth and flat.
5. Observe the irises of your eyes to determine your eye shape. Can you see the whites of your eyes above and beneath the iris? If so, you have round-shaped eyes. If your iris touches both the upper and lower lids of your eyes, you have almond-shaped eyes.^[18]
   
   • If your eyes are longer than they are wide, you have almond eyes; if your eyes are similar in length and width, you have round eyes.
   • The iris is the colored part of your eyes that contains your pupils.
   • Take the Eye Shape Chart Challenge on TikTok for a new way to determine the shape of your eyes.

How does eye shape affect makeup application?

1. The shape of your eyes can affect how you apply makeup. Different eye shapes require different makeup application techniques to enhance your features and create your desired look. For example, the same technique may look a certain way on almond eyes but look completely different on hooded eyes.
   • Try the makeup tips in our 10 Different Types of Eyes section to find the perfect look for your eye shape.
   • Remember, you can do your makeup however you want, even if it isn’t “right” for your eye shape. If you like how it looks, that’s all that matters!

Different Types of Eyes FAQs

1. What is the rarest eye shape? There is no one “rare” eye shape. Some eye shapes are more common than others depending on where you live. For instance, monolid eyes are very common in Asian populations, but are much rarer in European Caucasian populations. Almond-shaped eyes are also seen more in East and South Asian and Middle Eastern populations, although they can appear worldwide according to particular familial genetics.^[19]
2. Why do different eye shapes exist? In some cases, eye shapes like hooded or monolid eyes evolved in certain world populations because of a need. For example, many East Asian, Southeast Asian, Polynesian, and Native American populations have what is called an “epicanthic fold,” caused by fat deposits beneath the skin; it’s said to protect the eyes from harsh desert or snowy environments.^[20]
3. Do eye shapes differ between males and females? In certain populations, male eyes appear more narrow and oval, while certain female eye shapes appear more round or almond-shaped. Overall, male eyes tend to be deeper set than female eyes, but these tendencies are not hard and fast rules in any population.^[21]
4. Does eye shape affect your eye color? No, eye shape doesn’t have any effect on eye color. The different types of brown eyes, green eyes, and blue eyes are all determined by the amount of melanin in the iris. Eye shape relates to the structure of the eyelid, along with the many bones surrounding the eye sockets, which gives eyes an overall shape and appearance.^[22]
5. What are “hunter” eyes? Hunter eyes are deep-set, almond-shaped eyes that are also often upturned. This unique combination of eye shapes is said to come across as confident and dominant, due to the intense focus that the eye shapes help create. They typically have a hooded or flat upper eyelid, which also helps create the sometimes seductive gaze. People attempt to get hunter eyes through everything from facial expressions and exercises to massage and cosmetic procedures.^[23]

Video

References

1. ↑ https://www.belorens.com/blog/types-of-eyes/
2. ↑ [v161823_b01]. 15 Jun 2021.
3. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/what-my-eye-shape-best-tips-each-according-makeup-artists-t157085
4. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/what-my-eye-shape-best-tips-each-according-makeup-artists-t157085
5. ↑ https://www.belorens.com/blog/types-of-eyes/
6. ↑ https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/cosmetic/how-to-determine-eye-shape/
7. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/what-my-eye-shape-best-tips-each-according-makeup-artists-t157085
8. ↑ https://plano.co/eye-shapes/
9. ↑ https://plano.co/eye-shapes/
10. ↑ [v161966_b01]. 29 Sep 2021.
11. ↑ https://www.belorens.com/blog/types-of-eyes/
12. ↑ https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/cosmetic/how-to-determine-eye-shape/
13. ↑ [v162093_b01]. 16 Mar 2022.
14. ↑ https://youtu.be/smJCne_nyWU?si=M2fxLBDLfKqMYY7y&t=11
15. ↑ https://youtu.be/smJCne_nyWU?si=Z4b1UEgHQk-rhvtR&t=59
16. ↑ https://youtu.be/smJCne_nyWU?si=vvfdMw3Ngpd1tdfl&t=118
17. ↑ https://youtu.be/smJCne_nyWU?si=fwgDGsVOi7jzVxq-&t=97
18. ↑ https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/cosmetic/how-to-determine-eye-shape/
19. ↑ https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-do-people-have-different-eye-shapes
20. ↑ https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-do-people-have-different-eye-shapes
21. ↑ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-020-02894-1
22. ↑ https://www.belorens.com/blog/types-of-eyes/#:~:text=world+around+us.-,The+Role+of+Genetics+in+Eye+Features,in+the+world+over+time https://www.belorens.com/blog/types-of-eyes/
23. ↑ https://www.vice.com/en/article/hunter-eyes-men-trend/

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/VP2Hs1o

Words Pronounced Differently Across the US

Which pronunciation of these everyday words do you use?

If you hear someone say a word differently than you’re used to, it might be based on where they’re from and what regional accent they have. While it might seem like they’re being mispronounced, words do change depending on a person’s dialect (and they’re still correct). If you want to find out which words sound different among English speakers, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn about some controversial pronunciation differences, plus how Southern accents and in British accents affect pronunciation.

Popular “Mispronounced” Words

Steps

Food Words Pronounced Differently

1. {endbold} Next time you sit down for a meal, listen to how everyone pronounces these common foods. Depending on their accent or the region they come from, they may sound a little different than what you’re used to.
   
   • Tomato
     • Tuh-MAH-toh
     • Tuh-MAY-toh
   • Potato
     • Poh-TAY-toh
     • Puh-TAH-toh
   • Pecan
     • Pee-CAN
     • Peh-CAHN
   • Apricot
     • APP-rih-caht
     • APE-rih-caht
   • Bagel
     • BAY-guhl
     • BAH-guhl (Midwest)
   • Caramel
     • CAH-ruh-mell
     • KAHR-mell
   • Syrup
     • SIHR-up
     • SEER-up (Northeast)
   • Almond
     • AL-muhnd
     • AHL-muhnd
   • Cauliflower
     • CAHL-ih-flour-ehr
     • CAW-lee-flou-ehr
   • Groceries
     • GROH-sehr-eez
     • GROH-shreez
   • Water
     • WAH-tehr
     • WOOD-ehr (Philadelphia)^[1]
   • Sherbet
     • Shuhr-BEHT
     • Shuhr-BIHRT
   • Bologna
     • Buh-LOH-nee
     • Buh-LOH-nya
   • Mayonnaise
     • MAN-ayze
     • MAY-uh-nayze
   • Salmon
     • SAM-uhn
     • SAM-ihn
   • Acai
     • Ah-sah-EE
     • Ah-SIGH
   • Egg
     • EHGG
     • EYGG (Northwest)^[2]
   • Pasta
     • PAHS-tuh
     • PASS-tuh
   • Coffee
     • KAH-fee
     • KAW-fee
   • Espresso
     • Ehss-PRESS-oh
     • Ehx-PRESS-oh

Object Words Pronounced Differently

1. {endbold} Whether they’re around your home or something you see in everyday life, the words for these items can sound different from person to person.
   
   • Data
     • DAY-tuh
     • DAH-tuh
   • Handkerchief
     • HAYN-kehr-chiff
     • HAYN-kehr-cheef
   • Crayon
     • CRAY-ahn
     • KRAN
   • Coupon
     • COOP-ahn
     • CYOO-pahn
   • Jewelry
     • JOO-ehl-ree
     • JOOL-ree
   • Envelope
     • EHN-vel-oahp
     • AHN-vel-oahp
   • Drawer
     • Drahw-ihr
     • DROAHR
   • Poem
     • POHM
     • POH-ehm
   • Mirror
     • MEER
     • MEER-uhr
     • MIHR-uhr
   • Vase
     • VAYSS
     • VAHS
   • Bag
     • BAHG
     • BAYG (Wisconsin)^[3]
   • Insurance
     • IHN-shur-ense
     • Ihn-SHUR-inse
   • Iron
     • EYE-urn
     • ARHN (Pittsburgh, PA)^[4]
   • Advertisement
     • ADD-ver-tize-ment
     • Ad-VER-tiss-ment
   • Aluminum
     • Al-OO-min-uhm
     • Uh-LOO-muh-num
   • Prescription
     • PREH-skrip-shun
     • PER-skrip-shun
   • Vehicle
     • VEE-hick-ull
     • VEE-ick-ull
   • Lever
     • LEHV-er
     • LEEV-er
   • Vitamin
     • VEYE-tuh-mihn
     • VIHT-uh-mihn

Places Pronounced Differently

1. {endbold} Whenever you’re traveling, check how people say the name of the location you’re in. City and state names might be pronounced differently around the area than they are anywhere else.
   
   • Garage
     • GUH-rahj
     • GAIR-ihj
   • Foyer
     • FOY-ihr
     • Foy-AY
   • Roof
     • ROOF
     • RUHF
   • Creek
     • KREEK
     • CRICK
   • Museum
     • Myooz-EE-uhm
     • MYOO-zahm
   • Downtown
     • DOWHN-towhn
     • DAHN-tahn (Pittsburgh)^[5]
   • New Orleans
     • New OHR-Lihnz (Louisiana)^[6]
     • New Ohr-LEENZ
   • Oregon
     • OAHR-ihg-ahn
     • OAHR-ihg-ihn
   • Illinois
     • Il-uh-NOY
     • Il-uh-NOISE
   • Texas
     • TEKS-iss
     • TEKS-iz
   • Nevada
     • Nehv-AHD-uh
     • Nehv-ADD-uh
   • Caribbean
     • Ca-rihb-EE-ihn
     • Cuh-RIHB-ee-ihn

Words for People That are Pronounced Differently

1. {endbold} Depending on where you live, you may hear some variations on these words referring to specific people.
   
   • Adult
     • AH-duhlt
     • Uh-DUHLT
   • Realtor
     • REEL-tuhr
     • REEL-uh-tuhr
   • Aunt
     • ANT
     • AHNT
   • Celtic
     • SELL-tick
     • KELL-tick
   • Our
     • OW-ihr
     • AHR

Verbs with Different Pronunciations

1. {endbold} How these action words sound can vary depending on your accent or where you’re located. Try sounding out the words below to see which way you pronounce them!
   
   • Been
     • BIHN
     • BENN
   • Tour
     • TOOR
     • TOO-ur
   • Schedule
     • SKEHD-yoo-uhl
     • SHEHD-yoo-uhl
   • Flourish
     • FLUH-rihsh
     • FLOO-rihsh
   • Route
     • RAWHT
     • ROOT
   • Process
     • PRAH-sess
     • PROH-sess
   • Progress
     • PRAH-gress
     • PROH-gress
   • Cache
     • CASH
     • CATCH

Adjectives & Adverbs Pronounced Differently

1. {endbold} Descriptors like adjectives and adverbs add a lot of detail to a sentence, and you might hear any of these pronunciations depending on who’s talking and where they’re from.
   
   • Often
     • OFF-tehn
     • OFF-in
   • Either
     • EE-thehr
     • EYE-thehr
   • Mauve
     • MOHV
     • MAHV
   • Et cetera
     • EHT-seht-ihr-uh
     • Eht-SEHT-ruh
   • Mischievous
     • Miss-CHEEV-ee-uhs
     • Miss-CHIV-uhss
   • Neither
     • NEE-ther
     • NIGH-ther
   • Mobile
     • MOH-buhl
     • MOH-baihl
     • MOH-beel
   • Niche
     • NEESH
     • NITCH
   • Really
     • REEL-ee
     • RILL-ee
     • REE-ihl-ee
   • Interesting
     • IHNT-ehr-est-ing
     • IHN-nehr-est-ing
   • Nuclear
     • NOOK-leer
     • NOO-klee-er
     • NOO-cyoo-ler
   • Huge
     • HYOOJ
     • YOOJ (Northeast)^[7]
   • Comfortable
     • CUHM-fer-tuh-bull
     • CUHMF-ter-bull
   • Semi
     • SEHM-eye
     • SEHM-ee
   • Anti
     • AN-tie
     • AN-tee

More Words Pronounced Differently

1. {endbold} Try sounding out these less-common words phonetically. While both pronunciations are correct and common across the country, you probably prefer using one more than the other.
   
   • Horror
     • HOAR-er
     • HAHR-er
   • Leisure
     • LEE-szuhr
     • LEH-szuhr
   • Tournament
     • TOOHR-nuh-mehnt
     • TIHR-nuh-mehnt
   • Miracle
     • MIH-ruh-cuhl
     • MEER-cuhl (Northeast)
   • GIF
     • JIHF
     • GIHF
   • Coyote
     • Kai-OH-tee
     • Kai-OHT (Colorado and Wyoming)
   • Kilometer
     • KIL-oh-mee-ter
     • Kil-AH-meh-ter
   • Gala
     • GAH-lah
     • GAY-lah

Southern Accent Pronunciation

1. The Southern accent is known for its laid-back drawl and long vowels. American accent coach Adrian Lin states, “A lot of English dialects are just created by substituting certain vowels for other vowels.”^[8] Southern accents tend to use the same vowel sounds in words like “pen” and “pin,” and other vowels get more drawn out for a more unique sound.^[9]
   
   • Get: GIHT instead of GEHT
   • Pen: PIHN instead of PEHN
   • Oil: OLL instead of OY-ill
   • Pajamas: Puh-JAHM-uhz instead of puh-JAM-uhz
   • Florida: FLAH-rihd-uh or FLOH-rihd-uh instead of FLOR-ihd-uh
   • Lawyer: LAWH-yerr instead of LOY-ehr
   • Caught: CAHT instead of CAWHT
   • Monday: MUN-dee instead of MUN-day
   • Picture: PIT-chuhr instead of PICK-tuhr

British Accent Pronunciation

1. Some English words have different pronunciations in a British accent. While speaking with a British accent can already make words sound different, some words have small changes from their American pronunciation as well.^[10]
   
   • Aluminum: Al-oo-MIHN-ee-um instead of Ah-LOO-mihn-um
   • Scone: SKON instead of SKOHN
   • Herb: HURB instead of ERB
   • Basil: BAH-zil instead of BAY-zil
   • Dynasty: DIN-uh-stee instead of DIE-nuh-stee
   • Figure: FIHG-err instead of FIHG-yer
   • Zebra: ZEBB-ruh instead of ZEE-bruh
   • Privacy: PRIH-viss-ee instead of PREYE-viss-ee
   • Sloth: SLOHTH instead of SLAWTH
   • Yogurt: YOGG-urt instead of YO-gurt

Regional Variations of Words

1. Soft drinks{endbold} If you’re in the northern United States, when you ask for a sweet, fizzy drink, most people will call it a pop. In the west, east, and central regions of the country, you’ll hear people say soda instead. In the South, you may hear someone call it a Coke no matter what type of drink you ordered.^[11]
   
2. Drinking fountains{endbold} In most regions of the United States, the fountains you drink water from are simply called drinking fountains or water fountains. However, if you’re in Wisconsin or some areas around Rhode Island, you may hear the term bubbler instead.^[12]
   
3. Groups of people{endbold} When you’re referring to more than one person, a majority of Americans use the phrase you all or you guys, even if there are people of different genders. If you’re talking to someone from the South or in Southeast states, you’ll probably hear the more casual y’all.^[13]
   
4. Crawfish{endbold} These small lobster-like crustaceans have different names depending on where you are in the country. In Louisiana, they’re most commonly called crawfish. In other areas of the South and in the western side of the country, they’re called crawdads or even mud bugs. In Northern states, you’ll probably hear them called crayfish instead.^[14]
   

Tips

• If you’re trying to imitate a specific dialect or accent, acting coach Rita Litton says “Listen to people if you travel.” She recommends asking someone to read a passage in their own voice and recording them for reference.^[15]

References

1. ↑ https://www.lingoda.com/blog/en/philadelphia-accent/
2. ↑ https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/pacific-northwest-english
3. ↑ https://wep.csumc.wisc.edu/a-bag-of-bagels/
4. ↑ https://pittsburghspeech.pitt.edu/PittsburghSpeech_PgheseOverview.html
5. ↑ https://pittsburghspeech.pitt.edu/PittsburghSpeech_PgheseOverview.html
6. ↑ https://www.neworleans.com/meeting-planners/services/marketing-tools/city-copy/talk-like-a-new-orleanian/
7. ↑ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71417/why-do-some-people-say-yuge-instead-huge
8. ↑ [v163273_b01]. 13 February 2025.
9. ↑ https://mrenwick.franklinresearch.uga.edu/southern_speech/linguistic_features
10. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/british-english-vs-american-english/
11. ↑ https://youtu.be/4HLYe31MBrg?t=37
12. ↑ https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2020/02/25/why-bubbler-what-water-drinking-fountain-called-wisconsin-milwaukee/4793730002/
13. ↑ https://www.thejournal.ie/maps-americans-pronounce-different-words-938575-Jun2013/
14. ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/commonly-confused-words/crayfish-crawfish-crawdad/
15. ↑ [v163254_b01]. 23 January 2025.

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