comedienne vs comedian

Chiropteran

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2003
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Aren't they pronounced the same?

What the hell is the point of having a unique spelling for the female variation if it's pronounced the exact same?
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,621
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com ee dee enn & com ee dee ann

They are very close, but not the same. I just use comedian, like I just use Actor for both. Making the distinction seems rather silly these days, at least to me.
 

ControlD

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
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Eh, I'm OK with it because in general I know one is going to be funny (comedian) and one is not (comedienne). At least in regards to stand-up comedy.
 
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Mayne

Diamond Member
Apr 13, 2014
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Eh, I'm OK with it because in general I know one is going to be funny (comedian) and one is not (comedienne). At least in regards to stand-up comedy.

yep. One is men-bashing and the other one is about comedy.
 

Chiropteran

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2003
9,811
110
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com ee dee enn & com ee dee ann

They are very close, but not the same. I just use comedian, like I just use Actor for both. Making the distinction seems rather silly these days, at least to me.

So they are pronounced different like can and can.
 

Feneant2

Golden Member
May 26, 2004
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Comedienne is the feminine in french, is there such a thing in English? Seems to me only someone pretentious (I saw Kathy Griffin mentioned) would use that.

The pronunciation for most french speakers would be:
Comedienne (which should be comédienne) - com-eh-dee-enn
Comedian -Com-eee-dee-enn
 

rga

Senior member
Nov 9, 2011
640
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Can't we all just agree that a person who tells jokes on stage is a comidian. Whether one thinks one is funny or not just comes down to personal taste.
 

Nashemon

Senior member
Jun 14, 2012
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Can't we all just agree that a person who tells jokes on stage is a comidian. Whether one thinks one is funny or not just comes down to personal taste.

No, that's not even a word. :p

But I'd like to see a man do a whole routine that a woman did with the same material and mannerisms and see the difference in audience approval rating. I've never seen a female comedian that I've found funny. So I'd be genuinely curious if it's really just the fact that it's a woman delivering the jokes or if what they're saying is actually just not funny to me (personal taste).
 
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BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,278
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I am going to be 40 in under 5 years. I am unfamiliar with this word "comedienne"
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
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I am going to be 40 in under 5 years. I am unfamiliar with this word "comedienne"

So, you're 35, not sure how that matters anyway.

No they are not pronounced the same, the silly things that get argued about here.

I general usage most people use comedian for both in the US at any rate.
 
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MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
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Some of the replies in this thread make me facepalm...

There are a lot of funny women comedians out there, and plenty that don't bash men (or bash women just as much).
 

ControlD

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
5,440
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Some of the replies in this thread make me facepalm...

There are a lot of funny women comedians out there, and plenty that don't bash men (or bash women just as much).

I agree, There are plenty of funny female comedians (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, etc.). I just have never seen a funny one that refers to herself as a comedienne, which I think was the point some of us were making.

When I hear the term comedienne I think Kathy Griffin, Paula Poundstone, Margaret Cho, etc. In other words, not funny.
 
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