For some reason, during dinner this weekend, Kelvin brought up the topic of an "outside house.” I honestly cannot recall the context but the conversation got completely derailed by this exchange:
Kelvin: You know. I'm talking about a Shag.
Me: What?! Did you just say a "Shag"?!
Kelvin: You know, that small wooden outdoor house thing.
Me: You mean a shed?
Kelvin: Um. No, not a shed.
Me: A hut?
Kelvin: No, not a hut.
Niall: A CASITA?!
Me: OHHH, you mean a Shack?! But did you just pronounce it "Shag"?
Kelvin: Yeah, a Shag!
Me: "Shack!" As in, rhymes with "hack" or like the basketball player Shaq!
Kelvin: Shaag.
Me: (the language policeperson)!! The word ends with C-K, not G. A "Kuh" sound, not "Guh."
Kelvin: It's a difficult sound in English. Remember that English is not my first language!
Iver: Papa! Say "Shack!," not "Shaag." It's a C-K! Like the F-word. It's not pronounced "FUUG!"
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