Chiff or Chief, Cheives or Chiefs, hands or hanks?

[Kleeny]

It's funny how people both pronounce and spell handkerchiefs.

I have noticed on some American videos that they can sometimes pronounce it handkerchiff, rather than chief. I like both, but have a preference for Chiefs.

Also when written, when pluralising hankies, there is the difference between handkerchiefs, and handkerchieves. the latter appearing a little old fashioned, but again, I like it. I have a friend who writes handkerchieves and it's quite endearing. 

A lot of people don't realise it's a -kerchief for the hand, as much as a neckerchief is a kerchief for the neck, but I see hank-erchiefs a lot. I don't have a body part called a han!

Also, do you prefer hanky's or hankies?

 

 

[Hankysneeze]

This is a nice topic! I prefer handkerchief and hankies tbh.

[midnight in paris]

Cheef and cheeves (or chives- as in sieves).

[sexyhankysneeze]

Handkerchiff or handkerchiffs (spelt handkerchief though)

Hanky but hankies

I'm too lazy to use the full name ever so it's always just hanky to me

[Luisa39]

Well, I'm American and very much prefer the long "e" ("cheef") pronunciation.  I find it easier to say than "chiff"--and MUCH, MUCH easier to say than "hanky,
 which is a word I have major problems with (I think because, to me, it sounds "cutsey" and undignified).  

 

[-~-~-~-]

handkerchief is what I say and I sometimes shorten to hanky but I usually say the whole word. plural, I say handkerchiefs or, again less often do I shorten it, hankies. 

[Kleeny]

Thanks Rhinoceros, good to be back, albeit intermittently. 

[Kleeny]

Thanks for all the responses, and it's interesting to read the geographical differences. I do associate Chiff with the US, but then Sexyhankysneeze is from NZ, so there goes my national stereotype! 
 

[Hankyrick]

I pronounce them hankies and handkerchief. Although also I have used hanky before too

[Handkerchief Fan]

I always use the full word handkerchief and it's handkerchiefs for me.

[midnight in paris]

On 10/3/2018 at 9:17 PM, Luisa39 said:

Well, I'm American and very much prefer the long "e" ("cheef") pronunciation.  I find it easier to say than "chiff"--and MUCH, MUCH easier to say than "hanky,
 which is a word I have major problems with (I think because, to me, it sounds "cutsey" and undignified.

I agree entirely and have the same major problem.I love saying or hearing the full word as cheef and cheeves,or chives as in sieves.Nice to cross your path again.