In a fishing village like Newtown, you will often see brightly-painted buoys adorning fences, rails and walls, particularly in summer.
While buoys of all types are still used for fishing. . .
. . . many are adapted solely for decoration.
As fall approaches, most of the buoys will be put away until next summer, but some embellish the landscape all year round.
When creating the title for this post, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the Don Henley song, The Boys of Summer.
“I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
after the boys of summer have gone.”
Of course, if you are from anywhere besides the U.S., my play on words makes sense.
All other English-speaking countries pronounce buoy like “boy”, whereas most Americans pronounce it “boo-ee”. I wonder why.
And if that’s the case, how do Americans pronounce “buoyant” and “buoyancy”?
How do you pronounce buoy?
Do tell!
(And can you tell I’m not
ready for summer to end?)
*Summer Memories Series
Jennifer's Journal 
There are so many pronunciation variations, e.g., “aunt” traditionally rhymes with “detente,” but rhymes with “ant,” (the insect,) in some regions, while in rural areas of southern states “aunt” often rhymes with “ain’t.”
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Hi Connie. I haven’t heard of the “ain’t” for aunt before!
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My parents were born and raised in rural northeast Georgia. They called their aunts “Ain’t Betty,” “Ain’t Kawie,” “Ain’t Flora,” etc. So that’s what I said when I was little. Interestingly, because my dad was in the Army, we lived overseas a couple of times. Any rural remnants of their upbringing were washed away. We all switched to “aunt” that rhymes with “ant.” But cousins on my dad’s side still say “Ain’t.” I jokingly sign emails to my nieces and nephews, “Love, Ain’t Connie.” I wouldn’t be surprised if Dolly Parton called her aunts “Ain’t.”
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That is interesting. I just don’t remember hearing it said. And I bet Dolly did call them “Ain’ts”. May she rest in peace. 🙏💙
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American English is a mystery to everyone who speaks it, as it British English. What’s with a car hood being called a ‘bonnet’???
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Indeed, Jacqui. And why do the British call the trunk of a car the “boot”?
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That too! We call it a trunk because it used to be a real trunk strapped to the back of an old version car. Any Brits out there to explain the etymology of ‘boot’?
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A real trunk makes perfect sense! Thanks, Jacqui.
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Boy oh boy oh boy! 😎 (NI)
(sometimes – nothing to do with your post we say: “Boys a dear”
Meaning ‘cant believe it’ or ‘wow!’)
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I had to look it up because I never heard of it. Northern Ireland, hey? Hello from Newfoundland. 👋
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Great, very visual post, Jennifer! And I enjoyed the buoys/”Boys of Summer” connection you made. 🙂 (A terrific song!)
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Thanks so much, Dave! And yes, an apt and terrific song. 😊
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Down here in sunny Florida, we say it ‘boo-ee’ but ‘boy-ent.’ I never thought of it before, but I wonder why we change the pronunciation like that. Crazy Americans!! 😂 I do love your photos, though.
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That’s what I thought, Lois. “Boo-ee-ent” would be too weird! Glad you loved my photos. 💕
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It’s “boy” to rhyme with “toy” (so now you know, I’m a Brit!)
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Absolutely, Platypus Man!
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I loved seeing the buoys as decoration in PEI when I visite a couple of years ago. As a Canadian I say “boys”. I love the connection to Don Henley’s song.
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Yes, we say boys around here as Canada does. A little play on words with the song seemed fitting. 😊
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I think it’s bu-ee at the Jersey shore.
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That makes sense, Kate, as I understand that’s the way it’s pronounced by all Americans?
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I don’t know about all but on the upper east coast for sure.
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