Yay linking R!

[pne]

This evening, while putting Amy to bed, I heard myself talking about "putting her pyjama-r-on" ("pyjamer on"? not the long "ar" sound at the end, but the schwa.)

Comments

[alsatia.livejournal.com]

So you use "pyjama" in the singular? Interesting. I've always heard it as a plural, even when referring to only one (like how you have "pants" but never a "pant"). For the record, I also rarely see it with a y and had a panicky moment of wondering if my spelling of "pajamas" is considered wrong.

[pne.livejournal.com]

So you use "pyjama" in the singular?

I do.

Interesting. I've always heard it as a plural, even when referring to only one (like how you have "pants" but never a "pant").

*looks up*

This appears to be another on the long list of Germanisms in my English *blushes*.

Influenced, no doubt, by the German word "Pyjama", which is singular (much like "Hose" = "trousers/pants" or "Schere" = "scissors", which are also singular in German - though those I get right in English).

I think I shall have to try to pay attention to that word - even though the dictionary I checked said, "usually plural", that seems to be the default, as you said.

For the record, I also rarely see it with a y and had a panicky moment of wondering if my spelling of "pajamas" is considered wrong.

This seems to be a UK/US thing.

I also remember when I first saw "pajamas" and thought *that* looked wrong. (Similarly with "catsup" for "ketchup", for example.)