Why is Quay pronounced as key?

5. Re: Is “Quay” pronounced “KEY” and Not “Quay”? It’s from the French “Quai” – hence the pronunciation.

What does quay not Kway mean?

Quay is a word with many possible pronunciations, depending on speaking habits in a particular region. Whether it sounds like key, kay, or kway, quay refers to a dock in a body of water. James Joyce referred to a wharf several times in his novel Dubliners.

Is it pronounced Cay or key?

A cay (also spelled key; both pronounced alike as “key” English pronunciation: /kiː/) is a small, low island consisting mostly of sand or coral and situated on top of a coral reef. The English word cay comes from the Spanish word cayo and this from the Taíno word cayo meaning “small island”.

What is the plural of quay?

(kiː ) Word forms: plural quays. countable noun.

Do Americans use the word Quay?

This term is used by American businesses, even if they use wharf or wharves for everything else. Quay is traditionally pronounced as ‘key’ in Australia, as in Circular Quay it is pronounced “Circular Key”.

How do you pronounce Balliol Street?

Balliol St.: Running between Yonge St. and Bayview Ave., many pronounce it ba-loyle.

What does Quay mean in Australia?

wharf
Quay Australia, or just Quay — which means wharf — is a retailer of stylish sunglasses, prescription eyeglasses, and blue-light-blocking glasses.

Is Quay used in American English?

This term is used by American businesses, even if they use wharf or wharves for everything else. Quay is traditionally pronounced as ‘key’ in Australia, as in Circular Quay it is pronounced “Circular Key”. “kway” is an americanisation added later.

What’s the difference between an island and a key?

A key is a type of island. The main difference between a key and an island is that a cay is formed on the surface of a coral reef, while a regular island is a piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water.

Is QUEY a word?

Yes, quey is in the scrabble dictionary.

What is the meaning of QUEY?

(kweɪ) noun. Scottish, Irish and English. a young cow. a quey calf/herd/stirk.

How do you pronounce “Quay”?

“Quay” was originally pronounced KEE, and that’s still the preferred pronunciation (it was once spelled “key”). Some dictionaries give only that pronunciation, though in American English two variant pronunciations are recognized as standard: KAY and KWAY. We’ll have more to say about “quay” later.

How do you pronounce key and Cay?

“Key” is pronounced KEE, like the unrelated word for something that opens a lock. “Cay” is usually pronounced the same way (KEE), but some dictionaries give an alternate pronunciation, KAY. “Quay” was originally pronounced KEE, and that’s still the preferred pronunciation (it was once spelled “key”).

Where does the word “Cay” come from?

The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots (2nd ed.) says that “cay,” and “key” are descended from the Old French quai, the source of “quay.”

How do you pronounce key?

In 17th-century English, “key” was pronounced KAY. Oxford defines “key” as “a low-lying island or reef, esp. in the Caribbean or off the south coast of Florida.” And it says the earlier “cay” was similarly used for “islets” of sand, mud, rock, or coral lying “around the coast and islands of Spanish America.”