Spay-Dee-Ah, Spah-Day-Ah, Spade-ah...Poe-Tay-Toe, Poe-Tah-Toe

How do you pronounce it?!?

We had an annoyed listener call the show, not wanting to go on air, but wanting to point out that I pronounce my own name incorrectly. Seriously? Can't I decide how to pronounce my own name?

Although I do understand the frustration from the old school Italians knowing that in southern Italy, where my name originates, the "correct" pronunciation is Spah-Day-Ah. Actually, in just about every Italian restaurant I've walked into there's always a wise-guy host wanting to correct me for my pronunciation...Spay-Dee-Ah. My grandmother who passed away a long time ago used to pronounce our name Spade-Ah. I think she did it just to annoy my grandfather. You know the old school Italians.

Anyway, it occurred to me that after learning that I was only officially 17% Italian (at least according to 23 and Me) that an American pronunciation was just fine. Besides, I certainly identify as an American first.

The morning crew of course had a few things to say about the whole pronunciation controversy. Hmm, how do they say it in Japanese?

Bill Spadea is on the air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., talkin’ Jersey, taking your calls at 1-800-283-1015. Tweet him @NJ1015 or @BillSpadea. The opinions expressed here are solely those of Bill Spadea.

Spay-Dee-Ah, Spah-Day-Ah, Spade-ah…Poe-Tay-Toe, Poe-Tah-Toe