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Ace Linguist
January 24, 2020
The PIN-PEN Merger
The PIN-PEN merger, where words like pen , Lenin , and hem sound like pin, linen, and him, is one of the most ubiquitous mergers in American English - but it only started spreading a century ago. Its expansion has been silent, as entire regions of the United States acquire the merger while avoiding societal scrutiny.
Today we ll be taking a look at this common merger and the history behind its appearance, its spread, and how it s regarded.
What is the PIN-PEN merger?
Most dialects of English pronounce words spelled with in differently from word spelled en . This means that pin and pen aren t homophones, and ten and in don t rhyme.