How do you say 'Waco'?

[markh]

Okay guys, I've read enough places that you're not supposed to say 'Way-co', although the number of times I've read this suggests a lot of people DO say it like that! So is it 'Waar-co', as in 'Marco' or 'Donnie Darko'? Or something else?

It matters, as I'm about to make a video and I don't want a lot of people complaining

[Tom Constantine]

Waco, TX is pronounced Way-co

WACO aircraft is pronounced WOKO like rock-o

[markh]

May 21, 2010 12:43:15 GMT -5 Tom Constantine said:

WACO aircraft is pronounced WOKO like rock-o

I'm not sure that's helping, as you'd realise if you heard me say 'rock-o' in a British accent! If I imagine you saying it in an American accent it sounds something like 'marco', maybe without the 'r'...?

[stewstewart]

OK, OK.

I used to say "WAY' coh." My Dad, a WWII and after pilot said it was "WACK' oh."

I just got off the phone with the company - they say it's (are you ready for this???):

"Waco" as in "Taco" !!!!!!!!

They also said I was far from the first person to call and ask the same question - I asked how often people like me call, and the very nice lady said," Well, you're the first today!"

Glad I checked before replying - 'cause I was wrong, too!!!

L&Ks,

Stew

[beana51]

All would say "WOW" when seeing a "WACO"... But to very many others during WW2, .................the "WACO" G-4 assualt Glider was called someting else!...............Vin!

[Tom Constantine]

May 21, 2010 13:30:26 GMT -5 markh said:

I'm not sure that's helping, as you'd realise if you heard me say 'rock-o' in a British accent! If I imagine you saying it in an American accent it sounds something like 'marco', maybe without the 'r'...?

We are two countries, separated by a common language

And as there are several accents in the UK, so there are forty-leven accents here. I know that if I said it aloud, it would sound different spoken by someone in Jamestown, NY and again different in Lorain, OH and surely different again in Tupelo, MS.

I'm thinking that however you say it, it will be close enough. As long as you don't say Way-co, it will sound OK.

And off topic: Around here (Eastern Maine) the spoken language is innocent of "r" in any case. "I paahked the caah in Haahvaahd Yaahd." In other regions (apparently to make up for our deficiency) it is common to hear an "r" inserted where it doesn't belong. In upstate NY (Vin's country) I have heard pop pronounced parp. Oh my, Language is such a beautiful thing.

[markh]

May 21, 2010 15:49:15 GMT -5 Tom Constantine said:

I know that if I said it aloud, it would sound different spoken by someone in Jamestown, NY and again different in Lorain, OH and surely different again in Tupelo, MS.

I'm thinking that however you say it, it will be close enough. As long as you don't say Way-co, it will sound OK.

Thanks Tom, close enough! More as it happens...

[beana51]

Yes Tom, so true,the more we differ in pronunciations,the more we are the same....Des Tings ar best left to dem scholars,da can ax dos widt different pronuctions tings...But it woks!!,...da Foist time I Left NYC,and waz used to Brooklinese ,and da Bronx lingo..i thought I waz in a Foreign Country.....like the Bowery boys Dats How we jived...Probley bean town and Maine..were the most incomprehensible to me..Dem bums talk funny!!!.Worsta were da bums like the Blooming Limys,and those mates from way down there. Cofuzing !....Ever visit a Indian Doctor?,or talk to an Italian Chief" How about a kid from the Ole Sod But the best were those who spoke with a Yiddisha accent..all became the greatest comedians of all!....a dam tower Of BABBLE!.....Dr. Doolittle would have had a ball with all of us!!.. Now the Swed's god Love em..... now WACO?? wold have been met with a 'WATS DAT? !.Cheers Tom!
VIVA LA DIFFERENCE!

[bhk]

I discovered this on an aviation forum. It's from 2 years ago and was a response to exactly the same question:-
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First, the town in Texas is pronounced "Wayco" since it's derived from the Spanish "Hueco."

As for the airplane company, WACO is derived from its original corporate name, Weaver Airplane Company, and so there may be no grammatical or linguistic rule for pronouncing it. "Wocko" seems to be the preference among WACO fans, perhaps because that distinguishes it from the town.

"Wacko" should be avoided since that's a slang term for an eccentric or a mentally disturbed person.
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It supports what Tom has said.