Deborah Pickett
English speakers: what’s your opinion on the word “thrice”?
Great word, I use it unironically
38%
Silly word, I use it in jest
27.2%
A bit archaic, users get side-eye
28.1%
Linguistic trash can, just say “three times”
4.4%
I’m not familiar with this word
2.3%
Poll ended at .
Jun 6 at 11:59pmWeb
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7

This came up because I was dragged into a lighthearted argument between two work colleagues, where the person who’d learned Indian English used the word, and was met with surprise by the person who’d learned Australian English. I was called in to adjudicate, and sided with the former, to her great vindication.

I have a pretty large English vocabulary, and the only work colleague I knew who had a larger one was someone who learned English in India before migrating here. His downfall was that he didn’t know what words his coworkers didn’t know, naturally, and sometimes one would occasionally slip out. I found observing these occurrences and the subsequent reactions to be fascinating (and sometimes cringeworthy).

Indian English is the world’s most spoken English, and I think we could all stand to learn a bit of it and not make jokes about reverting and doing the necessary.

Show threadSnoopJJun 7
@futzle "doing the necessary" is a new one on me, I've always heard it as "doing the needful"
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@SnoopJ It would not surprise me in the slightest to discover that there are regional variations. Even a tiny English like Australia can’t agree on some words.
Show threadJoe ❌👑Jun 7
@SnoopJ @futzle Both variants are commonly used in India.
Show threadDaniel CarosoneJun 7
@futzle I agree, with the nerd-based complaint that "reverting" means something rather more like "undoing" than "replying" to me, so I disagree with the business-idiot usage
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@uep Plenty of words have a plain language meaning and a jargon meaning. My firm and unwavering advice to people who get culture shock at “revert” is to expand their horizons.
Show threadDaniel CarosoneJun 7
@futzle indeed
Show threadBecJun 7
@futzle In the company I work for, I have a bunch of Indian colleagues and omg, the English they speak is one of my favourite Englishes. What's not to love? They use UK spelling for the most part, they have some delightful turns of phrases and although some of the words or syntax are not what I would use, I always understand them. In a world where homogeneity of language is pervasive, Indian English is a wonderful, creative, beautiful alternative.
Show threadJoe ❌👑Jun 7
@futzle I am a white Californian who has worked with Indian colleagues for decades and have been to India five times. I am a big fan of Indian English. My favorite word is "prepone". It is the opposite of "postpone". On one of my trips to our Bangalore office, it was my first day, the jet lag was not great and I was obviously fading. The manager I was visiting kindly asked if he could prepone my cab, that is, ask the driver to come for me earlier than originally scheduled. We all need that word.
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@not2b That is a damn fine word and I will do my best to bring it into my vocabulary.
Show threadSarah dreams of beansJun 7
@not2b @futzle Prepone is great. I also like "next to next week" for "week after next"
Show threadSean MurthyJun 7

@futzle we should do the necessary and revert.

jk. I agree with you.

Show threadMidtown Masochist 🐻 (RB-050) 🐷Jun 7
@futzle I still recall with great delight the first time I heard the phrase "do the needful". I understood immediately what was meant by it. I thought it was a very clever phrase. The colloquial US English variant of this that I grew up is clunky and ineloquent. (do what needs to be done)
Show threadPolly KraisusJun 7
@futzle great word but I use it in jest
Show threadTaraleJun 7
@futzle ahh what if it's both great AND somewhat whimsical to actually use? 🤔
Show threadEllenJun 7
@futzle I like it but don't have reason to use it much.
Show threadRoss GaylerJun 7

@futzle
Thrice - meh

Sennight - 

Show threadRoss GaylerJun 7

@futzle

Yestreen is also a pleasingly useful word

Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@RossGayler Ooh thank you, snaffling that one.
Show threadDaniel CarosoneJun 7

@futzle hm. Picked users get side eye, where I am the user, but realised later it probably was intended as I will give other users side eye, which I wouldn't.

I may have to vote thrice to correct this

Show threadbencourticeJun 7
@futzle I use it occasionally, but only really as as an adjective, e.g. "thrice cursed" vs "cursed three times".
Show threadMark AsserJun 7
@futzle I went with 'archaic', but that doesn't stop me using words if I feel like it.
Show threadNick Kerker Jun 7
@futzle considering my favorite band is Thrice, I personally love it.
Show threadddgJun 7

@thekerker @futzle I was sad it took so long downthread to find someone mention the band, but a late single mention is much better than no mentions at all!

Vheissu is a banger of an album.

Show threadErica Briony. 🏳️‍⚧️Jun 7
@futzle thrice times a lady
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@steadilyebbing Damn you for the earworm.
Show threadErica Briony. 🏳️‍⚧️Jun 7
@futzle Thanks for the times that you've given me. The memories are all in my mind..
Show threadDaniel CarosoneJun 7

@futzle @steadilyebbing

Here, this might help

Show threadUrsidinoj/The BjornsdottirsJun 7
@futzle I need an "other" option because my relationship with this word is that I don't find it stuffy, and it's part of my vocabulary, but I don't produce it very often. #lang_en
Show threadSolithaJun 7

@ellenor2000 Similar. It's a word, I recognize it as a valid word, I don't use it myself, but I don't judge anyone for doing so.

It's rare to hear in the US, and I'd assume the user was just having fun with it.

@futzle

Show threadROTOPE~1 ⭐️Jun 7

@futzle what even comes after "thrice"?

"Oh shit, the furry fuckers ate all the quatrice"

Show thread"Mediocre Bunny" EvelynJun 7

@futzle Possible thread swerve, but it's a story I seldom have any context in which to tell:
An English expat friend & I (an American "inpat"?) were talking & joking about the old British money system, with the shillings & all. He mentioned that two pennies were "tuppence," and three pennies were "thruppence." So, I asked him if four pennies were "fuppence."

He said that he really wanted fuppence. Lots & lots of fuppence.

Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7

@Gorfram You’ll be disappointed to know that it’s just called “fourpence”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourpence_(British_coin)

But it would be nice if there were more words like “thrice” to extend the pattern.

Fourpence (British coin) - Wikipedia

Show thread"Mediocre Bunny" EvelynJun 7
@futzle I had no idea my "fuppence" might be a real thing. Color (or count) me frice surprised. 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Show thread@stevewfoldsJun 7
@futzle
Snark
Show threadMaggie MaybeJun 7
@futzle I grew up hearing it so when I saw someone write “thirdly” I was very sure that thirdly wasn’t a real word. ooops 🤦🏻‍♀️ I don’t use it except in jest though.
Show threadiN8sWoRLdJun 7
@futzle
I use this unironically but I think being a history geek, SCA / historical re-enactor may be a bias.
Show threadEric PhelpsJun 7

@futzle Hearing "thrice" reminds me of the "The board is green thrice" pre-flight checklist from the Trader's Tales book series.
https://nathanlowell.com/catalog/bookslist/

If you secretly want to convince someone to diversify their skillset and to stand up for the people around them, you give them this series.

Books – NathanLowell.com

Show threadpulusoundJun 7

@futzle used it when i was younger, not so much anymore because it feels a bit pretentious. which doesnt mean it is, but idk, english seems to tend towards simplification

i like the concept of such short counting words, but the pattern is bizarre

one - once
two - twice
three - thrice
four - quarce?
five - quince??

why does it turn (more) latin starting from four?! i dont think ive ever even heard these used

in finnish we just tack a -sti after the number and call it a day

Show threadChris MillsJun 7

@ahihi @futzle I like being playful with words.

Thrice cockatrice. Writing trumpet tuplets in my hose ‘n’ doublets.

Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7

@ahihi I love agglutinative languages and I’m often caught trying to turn English into one.

I’ll be honest that when I know I’m communicating across language or culture divides, I do change register and avoid words like “thrice”.

Show threadVJun 7
@ahihi @futzle the sequence ends at thrice;
Once through thrice are not latin in origin, they're germanic (PIE->proto germanic->old english by at least the 12th century)
There isn't an equivalent for four+, at least in english, the latter ones sound odd because to create a new adverbial form for 4+ it's a much newer construct, and often uses a latin root for whatever reason, even though it's a remnant of old Germanic grammar and morphology - "Fource" would at least fit the pattern better.
Show threadVJun 7
@ahihi @futzle It *was* originally just the number with a suffix (-es) which made it an adverbial, similar to how you describe finnish doing it now - but that was... At least around 9 centuries ago.
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@miss_rodent @ahihi Oh, now that you put it like that, of course it is, I see it now.
Show threadZuri (he/him) ❌️👑 | 🕐 CETJun 7
@ahihi @futzle When is the English language ever consistent?
Show threadChris RealJun 7

@futzle

It's not a word ever used in the U.S., unless the speaker is mimicking a pretentious, pompous elitist who is attempting to call attention to their formerly elite status, or their separation from the 'poors'.

Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@_chris_real That’s disappointing. I’ll keep that in mind when talking to USians I don’t know.
Show threadChris RealJun 7

@futzle

If you have a British accent, all is forgiven.😏

Context is considered, since we also watch BBC programs on PBS. . .

Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Jun 7

@_chris_real @futzle as the owner of an accent that could be placed in an assorted box of junk marked “British”, I’m glad.

The first time I set foot on US soil, back in the 90s, I quickly learned that little phrases excite undue amounts of attention. Back then it was “she’ll have my guts for garters!“

That attention is fun, sometimes, but also hard to avoid, even when we wish to.

Show threadAsh-Miw-ReJun 7
@_chris_real @futzle Alternately, the speaker is a Wiccan holding a ritual. However, there is a tendency for it still be seen as a little over-precious even then.
Show threadChris RealJun 7

@Ashmire @futzle

I'm gonna ask for evidence that a 'Wiccan is holding a ritual'.

The rest of your presumptive post is not distracting to me.

I want the answer to YOUR assumption/assertion/insinuation.

Also—and btw—can you show me why you can't be proven to be a bot?

Show threadAsh-Miw-ReJun 7
@_chris_real @futzle What? Why would that need any evidence? I didn't disbelieve what you said even though I've never actually specifically heard it used that way (it certainly sounds plausible). So I supplied my own experience, which is that it's used in Wiccan rituals occasionally. And you can go look up '90s Llewellyn books on your own for proof of that if you care so much. But I guess you're one of the reasons why kolektiva.social has such a terrible reputation now. Go to hell.
Show threadJAMES PILANDJun 7

@futzle I consistently use "thrice" instead of "three times". It is concise and fun. In fact, just yesterday, in a text to a friend, I used "my thrice weekly visits to cardiac rehab...".

"Quarce", on the other hand, is a bit pretentious. 🙂

Show threadFarran De Tao / Lĩ PhongJun 7
@futzle Great word, but I live in a non-English country so I use it in jest (and as an opportunity to teach my friends how word roots work, as their language is monosyllabic and doesn't have word inflections)