orfen
English
Pronunciation
Adverb
orfen (comparative more orfen, superlative most orfen)
- (UK, dated) Eye dialect spelling of often, representing British English.
- 1876, LADY BARKER, EDITOR, evening hours
- Sometimes they sets theirselves alight, but not orfen, for it aint much o' a fire aunt leaves in.
- 1887, The English illustrated magazine [ed. by J. W. C. Carr].
- Jack's uncommon fond o' theayters, and singing and acting and such like, and as he can't very orfen get the money to pay for 'arf-price in the gallery he follers about all the people as performs in the streets, sometimes for hours an' hours together.
- 1903, The Royal Magazine
- He's rarther an ass, but not a bad chap reely, he gives us tips sumtimes but not orfen enuff.
- 1876, LADY BARKER, EDITOR, evening hours
Usage notes
/ɔːfən/ was formerly a common pronunciation of often in many British dialects – the homophony with orphan is exploited as a pun in The Pirates of Penzance, for example. This pronunciation is now largely obsolete and remains only in occasional use by older Received Pronunciation speakers.[1]
References
- ^ Often in Received Pronunciation: Queen's Xmas Message, St. George International.