Why is it that everyone pronounces Brussels Sprouts with the accent on Sprouts? They say "Brussels SPROUTS", while I say "BRUSSELS Sprouts" How do they pronounce it in Belgium? (Incidentally...Brussels Sprouts are among my favorite vegetables! With a little salt, of course) Hal
I ate my first ever Brussels Sprouts only a few years ago at a cafeteria after someone told me they were little cabbages. I don't know if they were good or bad, didn't know what to expect. Didn't think they tasted like cabbage. The best I can say of them they were tolerable. Have eaten them one time since. This last time I decided I could add them to my vegetable list. Been eating a lot of spinish but that is getting old.
I don't accent either word; they are just brussels sprouts. I like them sauteed with a little bacon. Yummy. And they look really cool on the stalk...
The stress tends to be on Sprouts because Brussels followed by another s in Sprouts is a bit of a tongue twister and pronouncing it takes a bit of time which then puts the stress on sprouts. Similar to pronouncing Thomas Stearn where the stress is also on Stearn and not on Thomas.
I don't think that I accentuate either of the words more than the other, although I don't try to vocalize both the ending letter of the first word and the beginning letter of the second; I run them together, or pronounce it as if it were Brussel sprouts. I hated them as a child and could do without them as an adult, although my wife does prepare them in a way that they are edible. Nevertheless, if I say, "Oh great, Brussels sprouts," there is a bit of sarcasm involved.
Try them roasted if you haven't had them that way. Many vegetables are tastier roasted instead of boiled or steamed or sauteed.
I had no idea they even came on a stalk. I thought they hung on a bush like peas. They are just cute!!
They are on a par with kale for frost hardiness, and can still be picked deep into winter, even here. They are then frozen, of course. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/575827502334388166/
To tell the truth, I have never designated a time when I just had to figure out why some people articulate the two words the way they do. It’s just one of those things I never thought about. It is a possibility that the good folks who place the emphasis on Brussels are just prouder than the folks who grow them in say. Iowa. I think at one time, the folks in Brussels just didn’t have a lot of things to bring the spotlight upon them so a bunch of little cabbage farmers got together and had a meeting about what to call their new export. Naturally, some farmers wanted them named after themselves since after all, each farmer had their own special sprout. Switzer sprouts. LeBare sprouts or maybe, even “Baby Greunhilda sprouts. No, they probably had to come together in one accord and call them Brussels Sprouts just to let everyone know that a bunch of farmers from Brussels did the job. Now, Brussels has the EU headquartered there so they no longer have to emphasize the Brussels part of the description and the emphasis is now placed on the sprouts part. People who like the EU are very proud of their capitol and wouldn’t want a small thing like a little cabbage to take the spotlight. Someday, perhaps they will become EU sprouts! No, I guess not. Saying ewwww in front of sprouts just wouldn’t be a good selling point now would it?
I grew up despising them. My husband loves them. He grew up eating them boiled. I tried them as an adult and couldn't even swallow them. Then one day I wondered how they might taste sauteed. So I cut 2 of them in half and laid them in a little pan with some butter and garlic. Let them caramelize on the cut side while they were cooking on low with a lid over top. OMG they are delicious that way! So no more boiled Brussels sprouts and now they aren't all his anymore
There are also those who articulate cottage cheese as cottage CHEESE. i always say COTTAGE cheese. (Or cueso de casita, para las personas que hablan en Espanol) Haroldo