What is the difference "loath" and "loathe"?
(G. Venkatraman, Hyderabad)
In both these words, the "oa" is pronounced like the "oa" in "goat", "boat", and "coat". When you "loathe" someone, you hate or despise the individual. You have absolute contempt for him. It is also possible to loathe something. Here are a few examples.
* Most people in my class loathe politicians.
* Unlike most of my cousins, Mala doesn't loathe me.
* Bala loathes meeting people.
"Loath", on the other hand, means you are unwilling or reluctant to do something. It is also possible to spell the word "loth". Here are a few examples.
* My friend Gowri is loath to lend her books to anyone.
* The politicians were loath to admit that they had embezzled the money.
* Mythreye is loath to tell her parents all that happened.
In terms of pronunciation, the difference between the two words lies in the way the final "th" is pronounced. The "th" in "loathe" is pronounced like the "th", in "this", "that", and "those". In fact, the word "loathe" rhymes with "clothe". In the case of "loath", the final "th" is pronounced like the "th" in "thank", "thin", and "three". We Indians generally don't make a distinction between these two sounds. So, don't worry, be happy! Remember the song?
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"I was so ugly when I was born, the doctor slapped my mother." —
Henry Youngman
S. Upendran
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