Date: Thu Aug 16 00:01:17 EDT 2001
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--epenthesis

epenthesis (uh-PEN-thu-sis) noun

Insertion of an extra sound into a word, e.g. fillum for film.

[From Late Latin, from Greek epentithenai, to insert : ep-, epi-,
(in addition) + en- (in) thesis (to place), stem of tithenia (to put).]

One of the more common and annoying examples of epenthesis is with the word "athlete," which is often pronounced as "ath-a-lete." It makes my teeth grind.

And it can be avoided by just calling them "jocks".