Jackson6612  +  699526 Mon, 20 Apr 09 06:54 PM I have a speaking handheld electronic version of M-W's Collegiate Dictionary. It pronounces opportunity as oppor-too-nity, not as  opper-chu-nity which is a more common pronunciation as far as I know. Many other pronunciations I heard  on my handheld dictionary sounded very weird and wrong to me at first but  later they proved to be correct ones. The same problem  is with pronunciations of words like attitude and prostitution. Locally the -tu- unit in words like opportunity, attitude and prostitution is pronounced  somewhat like chew. Jackson6612 Joined on Wed, Dec 27 2006 Senior Member 3,688 It’s a difficult question for any man to answer… Whether to follow his dreams no matter what… Or to give in slowly and let life lead you where it will. Pronunciation, Speaking, Chat, Friendships

	khoff  +  699527 Mon, 20 Apr 09 07:02 PM I don't think I have ever hear any of these words pronounced with a ch sound.    Occasionally I've heard them pronounced with a sound more like 'oppor tyu nity', but that's very different from 'opper-chu-nity'.    You say the ch sound is common "locally."  Where are you? khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,278 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

	Yankee  +  699538 Mon, 20 Apr 09 07:46 PM khoff “Occasionally I've heard them pronounced with a sound more like 'oppor tyu nity', but that's very different from 'opper-chu-nity'.” Ditto. I've never heard anyone use a 'ch' sound in that word, or in any of the others you mentioned, Jackson. I think I've mainly heard the 'oppor-tyu-nity' pronunciation from British friends. Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,506 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Pronunciation, Relationships, Speaking, Friendships, Friends

	Mr. Tom  +  699542 Mon, 20 Apr 09 08:05 PM  Dear Khoff and Amy   Come to Pakistan, and I assure you, you will Not hear the word pronounced oppor-too-nity. Here it is pronounced  oppor-chu-nity.   Tom Mr. Tom Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007 Regular Member 710 Tom Countries

	Mr. Tom  +  699544 Mon, 20 Apr 09 08:08 PM  ...and yes, English Pronouncing Dictionary by Danial Jones gives both pronunciations for this word.   Thanks,   Tom Mr. Tom Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Languages

	Yankee  +  699547 Mon, 20 Apr 09 08:14 PM Hi Tom Mr. Tom “...gives both pronunciations for this word” There are 3 different pronunciations under discussion: 'too', 'tyu' and 'chu'.  Which two are you referring to? Yankee

	Kooyeen  +  699569 Mon, 20 Apr 09 09:17 PM I don't think pronouncing all those "too" sounds as "choo" is common at all in mainstream American English, but I know that's actually a feature of some British accents (London? Home Counties? I don't know). So they say... on choosday.  Kooyeen Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005 Italy Senior Member 4,981 Parental Advisory / Explicit Posts American English, Accents, British Accent, Countries, United States, United Kingdom, Great Britain, American, Languages, British Accents

	CalifJim  +  699583 Mon, 20 Apr 09 10:00 PM Your local dialect is closer to British English than to American.  An American dictionary like M-W is not going to give you your local pronunciations.  They'll all be American pronunciations.  You'll have to change the too's to choo's mentally. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,463 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche British English, Dialects, Countries, United States, United Kingdom, Great Britain, American, Languages

	Mr. Tom  +  699702 Tue, 21 Apr 09 11:08 AM Hello, Amy.   The two pronunciations for the word opportunity [oppor-too-nity and oppor-chu-nity] are available in English Pronouncing Dictionary by Daniel Jones.   I would also  like to add that many educated people in Pakistan overpronounce the chu -sound  in words like stupid, attitude, students etc.   Tom Mr. Tom Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Students, Languages