Pronouncing Chalcedony - The Final Word

Posted by Administrator on 5/10/2012 to News & Events

I’m often asked how to pronounce Chalcedony and I say it is correct to say either Cal-said-a-knee or Cal-sa-doe-knee.

The variations occur due to Gemology being a global science and pronunciations can change with every language and where we choose to accent a word.

It’s like the old saying “you say po-tay-toe I say po-tah-toe”- but really who says po-tah-toe?

So I recommend we all pronounce Chalcedony – Cal-said-a-knee. Agreed? Now time to address Perry-dot.

anne smolik

Date 7/24/2012 2:27:07 PM

What a marvelous idea! I hope you come up with peri(short i)-doe? My mom was a French and English and we learned ad infinitum how to pronounce words correctly! Add to that a few years of Latin in high school. My rock hound husband pronounces Chalcedony like this--Cal-sydney. Isn't it fun?!

Amanda R Eberly

Date 8/9/2012 11:08:52 AM

I have always heard Peridot pronounced pear-ah-doe, from gem classes to teachers in silver smithing. Silent T- always-except for my best friends mother who was known as Big Dot. Pronounce the T!

Ellen M. Norcott

Date 9/11/2012 9:41:08 AM

Love the new website - and the blog! English & spelling were my best subjects in school - so I love anything to do with words! Great post - thanks. Ellen

Elisa Ouellette

Date 10/7/2012

These are so beautiful and i love their shine! Nice work!

Lynnea

Date 10/15/2012

I agree with you on the chalcedony.. but as Amanda said.. I always say pear ah doe.. and since it is my birthstone... I get the final say LOL

Heather Otto

Date 11/9/2012

Now can we move on to labradorite..?

Paula Thompson

Date 1/19/2014

OMG! I can say that!

Pronouncing Chalcedony - The Final Word

7 Comments

anne smolik

Amanda R Eberly

Ellen M. Norcott

Elisa Ouellette

Lynnea

Heather Otto

Paula Thompson

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