Pidgeon Or Pigeon? - Spelling Which Is Correct How To Spell

pidgeon

Incorrect spelling, explanation: pidgeon is the wrong form because the word pigeon originates in Old French pijon. As you can see there is no d sound in the French root, so the correct form in English is also without d – pigeon.

pigeon

Correct spelling, explanation: this is the correct form of the word, due to the fact, that originally pigeon comes from Old French pijon. There is no d or similar sound there, so pigeon is the correct English spelling, not pidgeon.

Definition of pigeon:noun, a type of bird, a doveThis pigeon can’t fly, maybe it needs help?There are always many pigeons in the cities.

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9 thoughts on “Pidgeon or pigeon”?

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1. Pidgeon or Pigeon which is correct?Neither is correct in “native English”. Pigeon and pidgeon (pijon) derived from the Norman French who had settled in England around the early to mid 12 century.

   So, what is it called in English?Culver is the native English word for a pidgeon/pigeon; from Old English culfre, culufre. Culver was very common in recent history, the latest citation given is from 1869. So, for a little time perspective, my great grandparents (and possibly even grandparents) would have known the word culver.

2. Who has the correct spelling ?Pidgeon/pigeon & Dove in several Gaelic languages of native Britain that predates English by several millennia: colm, colmFán, calman, colman, calmane, colmane, colomen, clomen, kolom, koulm, koulom.

3. That is a very flimsy foundation for an argument.

   Reason:If the claim that pidgeon is wrong due to the old French word pijon, then the “pigeon is correct” claim is also wrong because the actual correct spelling is in fact pijon.

   The d is most likely due to the many English dialects, and or, a change in the spelling of common shared French words with English during the Anglo French wars of past centuries for national security reasons etc.

   I need to dig a little deeper to find dates for when these variations happened and, given that these birds are native to Britain… what is their real native British name?The French name likely comes to us via the Norman’s around a thousand years ago.What did the romans and celts call them?

4. I spell words like the British do, and as a child, in Canada, we learned to spell pidgeon with a d. So, to say the least, this is not ethno-centricity, but English comes from England. The Americans however have removed the D, and these days websites don’t add the D anymore, so it has either “evolved” or, the sources you use are American English. I will not ever spell the words Behaviour, or labour, without the U. That’s again, the way I learned to spell these words. I did not live or get schooled in the USA.

5. Languages evolve with the passage of time. “Pidgeon” is right there in old forms of English, even though today it is considered incorrect.

6. What about ‘bridge’ or ‘ledge’ ? They both have ‘dg’ in them, so I suppose it make them archaic too?I’ve always used Pidgeon, because it just makes sense to have a ‘d’ there.

7. Pidgeon is old english whereas pigeon is the modern spelling of the same bird.

8. Thx

9. I am now not certain where you are getting your info, however great guide. We must spend some time studying much more or understanding more. Thank you for fantastic search engine! I was searching for this words for my work.

✓ Content verified by English professionalWritten by: Justyna ZarembaMaster of applied linguistics at Warsaw University. English teacher and interpreter. Interested in intentional bilingualism, teaching methodology, and sign languages. Cinephile, Warsaw lover, Italian language learner, a fan of hiking, and good people.Last updated: July 23, 2022Published on: April 11, 2017

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