English Pronunciation: S'mores! American English & Culture

A classic American summer treat: s'mores. >> Delicious!

Now, I got this information on the internet, so I'm not sure how true it is. But I saw

a couple different sources that said s'mores came to be in the early 1900s, maybe originated

by the girl scouts. S'mores comes from the words some more. It's been shortened -- s'mores.

So, we pronounce this first with the S sound, ss. Then into the M consonant sound: sm-,

sm-. Next can either be the 'aw' as in 'law' vowel or the 'oh' as in 'no' diphthong, followed

by the R. Smo-, smor-, s'mores. The final sound is the Z sound. It's plural here, the

S, and it's pronounced as a Z because the sound before is a voiced sound. S'mores.

The ingredients one needs: marshmallows, graham crackers, and, the key ingredient, chocolate bars.

Did you notice? The word THE occurred twice in that clip. Once it was pronounced

with the 'ee' as in 'she' vowel, and once with the schwa vowel. "The ingredients one

needs ... the key ingredient, chocolate bars." The rule is: when the next word begins with

a vowel sound, the word THE is pronounced with the 'ee' as in 'she' vowel, as in, 'the

ingredients.' The, the, the ingredients. When the next word begins with a consonant sound,

it is pronounced with the schwa vowel. The key, the key, the the. So, the difference: the, the.

The ingredients one needs: marshmallows, graham crackers, and, the key ingredient, chocolate bars.

We're lucky to have a fire pit in our back yard. An open flame or hot

coals: key to roasting marshmallows. >> Hold on, I have a poker! ... Yeah.

First, I like to prep my graham cracker. So, break it in half. Then, I like to go with

a whole half of a chocolate bar. Some people just do three squares, I really need six.

And now for the marshmallows. Put them on the stick, and stick them in the fire.

And now, with the top graham, we squeeze the marshmallow so we can pull out the stick.

Can you see it?

Now hopefully, if you've done it right, the marshmallows will start to melt the chocolate. YUM!

>> It's a very sticky, but delicious, treat.

>> It really is. You can't eat this in fine company. Luckily, I'm not in fine company.

>> You say as you pan to me. >> You just happened to be next Clara. No offense.

>> This is so good.

>> Is this your first s'more? Ooo, give me a review, would you? How are you enjoying

your first s'more experience? Charlotte is from the Netherlands.

>> It's delicious. >> What's your favorite part?

>> The chocolate and the s'more and then the cookies ...

>> So basically, everything. >> That's the joy of s'more.

>> It is. >> All of it together.

>> See, sometimes I put the piece of chocolate in the gr-- in the marshmallow, and then I

stick that in the fire. But you have to be careful ...

>> How does that not fall off? >> Well, if you spear the stick through the

marshmallow and the chocolate, and make sure the chocolate is deeply embedded inside the

marshmallow ... >> Can you show me this technique?

>> I can ... ok. So I split the marshmallow. It is a bit sticky.

>> I'm having problems focusing because it's so ...

>> It is rather dark. >> ... low in the light.

>> And then, I'll put the piece of chocolate right in there. Maybe double it up. Try to

close this up a little bit. And then, spear it right through with the stick. And then,

you just have to roast it while keeping the chocolate end up so it doesn't melt or fall out.

>> Wow.

>> So Lindsay, tell me about your variation. >> That you put, instead of a chocolate -- slab

of chocolate, which is delicious, but you can also make it with a Reese's peanut butter

cup. And it's peanut buttery and chocolaty. >> And chocolaty. That sounds really good.

>> It's really really good. >> So who gets the peanut butter?

>> Charlotte, did you put peanut butter on that? Wow. Ok. I want to, I want you to taste

this and let me know how it is. >> Ok.

>> What do you think? Better with or without peanut butter?

>> It's interesting. You really have to love chocolate and peanut butter together.

>> Do you? >> I do.

>> So is this better than without peanut butter? >> I wouldn't say it's better. >> Just different.

>> Just different. But also very good.

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.