Pro-vo-LONE or Pro-vo-LO-NE??

[sharris315]

In the "Cheese" thread, JackieO mentioned that her cheese-making family said pro-vo-lo-ne. I do, too, but my daughter says pro-vo-lone. I've heard it both ways. Which is right--or which do you prefer?

Shar

[Peggy]

I say Pro-vo-LONE. Not sure which is correct, or if there even is a correct answer. It could be one of those words that is pronouced differently in different regions.

Peggy

[valchemist]

I am in the 3 syllable camp too.

[Angela]

Pro-vo-LONE....The Italian markets I've been to, the people there say it 3 syllables too. Don't know if that means it's correct or not.

[beejayw1]

In an English-speaking country, speaking English myself, I say Pro-vo-LONE. In an Italian-speaking country and trying to speak Italian myself, I say Pro-vo-LO-nay.

[JackieO]

I'm sure the reason we pronounced it pro-vo-LO-ne is because my father learned how to make the cheese from an Italian cheesemaker in the 1950s. He could barely speak English, so I'm sure that's how it came to pronounced that way in our family. I get really irritated when the people behind the cheese counter attempt to "correct" me when I pronounce it that way, though. :D

[SusanMac]

JackieO -- what cheese producer do you work for? I'm always on the lookout for good, WI-made cheeses. Do you guys give tours?

(BTW...no, this is not an ad/plug! I really want to know!)

[VictoriaL]

My grandfather, born in Fogia (sp?), Italy, always pronounced it in the 3-syllable way.

[lorilei]

I just looked this up -- out of sheer curiosity, and found that there appears to be one pronunciation for the word "provolone". Apparently all the others are just regionalisms...


pro·vo·lo·ne Pronunciation Key (pro'-ve-lo'ne) n.
A hard, usually smoked Italian cheese.

[Italian, augmentative of provola, a kind of cheese.]

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition



LORI NOTE: Each "e" in the pronunciation key SHOULD be a schwa e (as in about, item, edible, gallop, circus)... but we can't display those (at least I can't) on the boards.

[JackieO]

Originally posted by SusanMac
JackieO -- what cheese producer do you work for? I'm always on the lookout for good, WI-made cheeses. Do you guys give tours?

(BTW...no, this is not an ad/plug! I really want to know!)

:( I'm no longer affiliated with cheese making -- my dad owned two small factories in northwestern Wisconsin. Got his start in the 1930s at Stella Cheese in Clayton making bleu. At that time, almost every small community had a cheese factory. The Clayton factory was bought by Kraft years and years ago but they kept the brand, and I think they still do make cheese there. In fact, the annual festival in Clayton is called "Bleu Cheese Days." Dad later started two companies that made provolone and mozzarella, and he marketed the cheese mostly to Italian delis and pizzarias in the east. He sold the factories years ago, and they have since closed as the owners consolidated operations.

I've read articles about a lot of small factories in Green County around New Glarus and Monroe. I'm sure there has to be a Web site that has more specific information, but I've not checked.

Good luck on your cheese quest!

[little_bopeep]

I say it with 4 syllables...but I'm the one around here that also insists on saying "calzone" with 3 syllables. :cool:

[ewatkins]

In my experience in the US, it has nothing to do with the "correct" Italian pronunciation. It's a regional thing -- in New Jersey they shorten all the endings (ProvoLONE, CalZONE, CalaMAR /calamari)

[sharris315]

So...the correct pronunciation is 4-syllable--BUT if you pronounce it that way everybody will think you are MISpronouncing it!! :confused:

At least I'll have the satisfaction of knowing what is REALLY the right way!! Just another example of how language changes without regard for the dictionary--in fact, the dictionary will most likely change its entry in some future edition to reflect the "new" pronunciation of 3 syllables.

Shar

[andrea]

has anyone heard the louis prima song "who stole my provolone?"... it's hilarious!!! he says pro-va-lo-nee

"who stole my provolone? who stole my great big cheese?
who stole my provolone? oh, bring it right back please!"

[Ohioan]

My mother is so used to dropping the last syllable of words like provolone and calzone that I can't get her to stop pronouncing guacamole as though it were Italian: guac-a-MOHL.

By the way, in my family, we dropped the "r" in calamari, rather than the "i," so it was pronounced "calama'i."

Ain't we glad we speaks good?;)

Cheers,
Phoebe