his week’s question (Have your own? Submit it here.):
My new-to-the-area coworker keeps calling Wawa “waWa” where she emphasizes the second syllable more than the first. The first time it happened, I just made sure to say it correctly so she’d get the hint. It didn’t work. The second time, I let it go. The third time, I told her the deal but was maybe too subtle because I didn’t want to seem rude. Now, she’s still saying it that way. And to be clear: she has no distinguishable accent. Do I say something more explicitly or has the time passed? I’m trying to help!
Dugan Arnett, Life & Culture reporter
First of all, I fear I’m not going to be much help on this one, because this is the best thing I’ve heard in months and I’m 1,000 percent going to be calling it “waWA” from now on. Infinitely more fun to say.
Stephanie Farr, features columnist
As someone who was a transplant many moons ago, I say to you, a recent Philly transplant, that is not going to go well.
I’m not even sure how to pronounce that. The closest I’m coming up with similar is a-HA, like the second syllable is a surprise.
Dugan Arnett
Wa-WAH???
Honestly, mispronouncing words to make them sound more fun is one of my favorite things. I’ve been calling her Lady guh-GAH for years.
Are we sure the coworker isn’t doing this on purpose?
Stephanie Farr
I am married to someone who does that and it drives me bananas! I remember when we were dating I brought it up to my female coworkers, like “I don’t know if I can live with this guy mispronouncing and making up words on purpose. I’m an English major, damn it, and he’s not Shakespeare!” They told me if that was my biggest problem with the guy to get over it. I accepted it, but I have never gotten over it.
So you make a good point that this person could be doing it on purpose. How do you pronounce Wawa?
Dugan Arnett
Well, from now on I’ll be pronouncing it “waWA.”
I think you’re looking at this all wrong. This is an excellent quality in a partner, the greenest of flags. I’d like to have a beer with your husband so we can mispronounce a bunch of words together. Plus, he might very well be Shakespeare. We don’t know.
As for the coworker, you’ve got to let her cook.
Stephanie Farr
He’s from Delco so he’s definitely not Shakespeare. Let me tell you and our reader a story. I moved to Philly from a land where hoagies were called subs. In my first few months here, I stopped at the deli counter of the Fresh Grocer in West Philly and ordered a “roast beef sub” and the worker behind the counter loudly and publicly shamed me in front of all the other waiting customers. “We don’t call it a sub ‘round here! What do we call it?” the employee asked the small crowd. “A hoagie!” they yelled at me. I never called it a sub again.
Philadelphians will embarrass the hell out of you for word choice and pronunciation, but it’s almost always to save you further embarrassment down the road. So public shaming is one avenue the reader could take.
Dugan Arnett
That does sound like a rather sobering event. I suppose I can see wanting to spare someone that same indignity.
I get the sense that this coworker might be immune to public shaming, though. She’s already been corrected three times and is still holding strong. I respect the dedication.
Stephanie Farr
Another method I might suggest to this person is to flood the newcomer with Wawa-related media, in which the word Wawa is properly pronounced. Maybe be like, “Hey did you ever see this Jason & Kylie Kelce Wawa commercial?” or “Have you heard the Hoagiefest playlist on Spotify?” Repetition could work, and over time it probably will. No matter how long you want to hold on to the correct or mispronunciation of a word, Philly’s hoagie mouth has a way of seeping in. I say this as someone who used to say water and now says wooder.
Dugan Arnett
Flood the zone. I like it.
Stephanie Farr
If this person really wants to help their new coworker, they should not only stress the correct pronunciation of Wawa, but also the correct pronunciation of ack-A-me.
Dugan Arnett
I just want everybody to get along. Is that too much to ask?
Stephanie Farr
In Philly, yes.
