Additional Coverage:
- ‘Jeopardy’ host Ken Jennings shuts down fan who questioned a clue — says ‘buy a dictionary’ (marketrealist.com)
“Jeopardy!” Host Ken Jennings spars with viewer over pronunciation of “sake”
Ken Jennings, host of the popular game show “Jeopardy!”, recently engaged in a spirited online debate with a viewer over the pronunciation of the word “sake.” The exchange began after a two-year-old episode resurfaced, featuring a clue that hinged on “sake” rhyming with “jockey.” Contestant Kari Elsila correctly answered the clue, but viewer @kyasariin on X (formerly Twitter) disagreed with the premise, arguing the words don’t rhyme.
Jennings retorted with a screenshot of a dictionary entry showing the alternative pronunciation “saki,” along with the suggestion, “I am once again asking Americans to buy a dictionary.” The viewer doubled down, attributing the rhyming pronunciation to the English language’s adaptation of foreign words. Jennings responded with a sarcastic comparison to the pronunciation of the “s” in “Paris.”
The debate continued on other platforms like YouTube, with commenters weighing in on the nuances of pronunciation and regional accents. Some argued that the rhyme only works with certain American accents, while others insisted on the traditional Japanese pronunciation, “sah-keh.”