How do you pronounce the word scone?
If you live in Scotland you almost certainly pronounce it in a way that rhymes with “gone”, whereas if you live in Ireland you’re far more likely to pronounce it so it rhymes with “cone.” And in England and Wales, well let’s just say it’s complicated.
Reedit user Bezzleford who created the map explains:
Anyone from the UK knows that the no.1 cause of family feuds is over the pronounciation of “Scone” (except maybe what kind of treat this is or the great dinner vs. tea debate). The data was collected by Cambridge university and managed to map the pronounciation of Scone across the UK and Ireland. Scone rhyming with gone is almost universal in Scotland whereas in England it’s a lot more controversial.
According to wiki Canadians and Australians also pronounce them rhyming with “gone” but I’d like to hear what other people have to say. Americans apparently pronounce them rhyming with “cone”
For anyone outside the UK a “scone” is a small bread/cake which is baked and lightly sweetened. Some people have compared them to the American word for “biscuit” but the two are very different in texture and how they’re eaten. While a biscuit is usually flaky and often eaten savoury, a scone is sweet, dense, crumbly and often served with butter or traditionally cream and strawberries.
I personally pronounce it rhyming with “cone” even though my parents say it rhymes with “gone”. This is inline with statistics that show younger people tend to pronounce is rhyming with “cone” rather than “gone”
So how do you pronounce it?
Lynn Malnekoff says
It has been called an English Muffin in the U.S. And yes, we call it scone (rhymes with cone) when we know what it is.
Samuel Byward says
English muffins are not the same as scones. Scones are like tea biscuits and have a smooth texture, whereas english muffins have large air bubbles in the dough so they have a coarse, open texture.
Sheila Richardson says
Scone does rhyme with cone in the U.S. but as for English muffins, that’s a different thing. You’re probably thinking of crumpets. See:
https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-crumpets-113577
Jason Cottle says
you mean Pikelets..
Ros says
Everything I heard called an English muffin in the US was indeed a(n) (English) muffin. Scones are quite different.
H says
Gone
Stephen Madill says
You haven’t even put Scone (pronounced scoon) on the map! It’s near Perth, by the way.
Franklin Joe says
I am not sure how to interpret the map ! If “0 – 5% say scone rhymes with cone” is this not the same as 95 – 100% say “Scone rhymes with gone” or is there another option ?
Andrew Saunders says
the graph is labeled % people who think scone rhymes with gone. At 95 – 100% that pronunciation predominates, at 0 – 5%, people are more inclined to pronounce it rhyming with cone. The labeling is a bit confusing.
Catherine says
They do not call it an English muffin in the US where I am. They call it a biscuit. An English muffin is something else entirely.
Catarina says
Actually, an American biscuit is not the same as a scone, but they are extremely similar.
Tom says
This is a poor graph because it doesn’t cater for population size. I would like a graph with a per capita scale for Scon vs Scone.
Sharon says
Good grief!! It was always rhymed with gone, where I’m from, but an English muffin and a crumpet are NOT the same at all!! I will concede that the scone is closer to an American biscuit than anything else described, though the latter is more savory. As for the muffin/crumpet controversy; the muffin tends to be less chewy and lighter in texture than the crumpet. They may appear very similar, but they are not the same. The crumpet is dense and chewy and has very regular air holes throughout…I love crumpets!
Sharlene says
I’ve never heard a Canadian pronounce it to rhyme with “gone”, but it’s a very large country, so it’s possible! I live in Ontario and here we pronounce it to rhyme with “cone”!
Ranylt says
Same. Ottawa tends to go “cone”-Scone IME.
David Loan says
I’m in Ottawa and rhyme it with “gone”. But you’re right – most people here say it the other way. Also, the plural of scone is scone: I’ll take 3 scone, please.
emily says
I’m also Canadian and I rhyme it with cone.
Spunky says
The town of Scone (pronounced scoon, from the Scots “scuin”) was the ancient capital of Scotland where coronations took place.
I pronounce it like “gone”, 90% of the time.
J McCrudden says
I lived in Scone in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia, for many years. The people there pronounce it Scone to rhyme with Cone.
I have never heard an Australian rhyme the town with gone.
Scones that are eaten rhyme with gone.
Hilary Milburn says
Oh dear. Scones, crumpets and muffins. How to differentiate to a non U.K. reader. Scones are usually about 3 inches across and 2 high, often containing currants or sultanas, baked in the oven then served with butter, or clotted cream and strawberry jam. Crumpets are made with a thick batter containing baking powder which causes air holes to form. The batter is poured into a metal ring placed on a hot griddle so the final result has a flat, browned bottom and a top full of air holes. Serve with butter which seeps into the holes and then down your arm. A muffin is different again, quite bready in texture, split then toasted and served hot with butter and jam. Best Googled, really.
TB Parkes says
Hilary Milburn .. what you call a Crumpet is also know as a Pikelet . (perhaps a Black Country dialect term)
Seaneen says
In the southwest of Ireland, we say, “shcone” (rhymes with shtone.)
Alasdair Scott Sutherland says
Here’s how..
look up john betjeman’s famous 1950s poem “how to get on in society” in which he satirises every “wrong” word not to be used in everyday polite speak. The last verse says
Now here is a fork for your pastries
And do use the couch for your feet
I know that I wanted to ask you,
Is trifle sufficient for sweet?
Milk and then just as it comes dear?
I’m afraid the preserve’s full of stone
Beg pardon, I’m soiling the doilies
With afternoon tea-cakes and scones.
Rob says
What this doesn’t address is the regional issues of social class in this map, in my experience this is a significant factor.