Monday, April 20, 2009

Random Question of the Day

What do you call a person who plays the flute? Hmmm, maybe I didn’t phrase that properly as there could be multiple possibilities for that question. How do you pronounce the word flutist? Is it flute-ist or flout-ist?

Thank you.

3 comments:

Captain Easychord said...

flutist = "flute - ist"
flautist = "flout - ist"

they're both correct and acceptable, however:
"according to Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, flautist is the preferred term in British English, and while both terms are used in American English flutist is 'by far the more common choice.'" [wiki]

Messiah said...

Forget that. If you play the flute, you're a flautist ("flout-ist"). If you are prejudiced towards those that play the flute, you are a flutist.

On the other hand, it doesn't help that my Websters II New College Dictionary (why the II?) lists the definition of flautist is "a flutist."

lacochran said...

"What do you call a person who plays the flute?"

Talented.