「実父」's pronunciation


I have always pronounced the word [実父]{じっぷ}, and it seems the dictionaries
agree. ([jisho.org](https://jisho.org/word/%E5%AE%9F%E7%88%B6). Also WWWJDIC,
I would put a link here, but it seems the link I get on WWWJDIC is dynamic and
the content can't be reproduced with a link.)

However, I just heard this word said in an anime as [実父]{じつふ}. I have not
heard this pronunciation before. How common is it? I found [this
page](https://furigana.info/w/%E5%AE%9F%E7%88%B6) with a list of pronunciation
variants including じっぷ、ちち、おやじ、じつぷ with their textual usage percentages, but
じつふ is not among them. (The semantic nuances are not within the scope of this
question.)

[This 知恵袋
thread](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1068767985)
seems to confirm [実父]{じつふ} as a possible pronunciation. But is it regional?




「じっぷ」 is the only "dictionary" pronunciation of 「実父」, period, but that does
not mean "everyone" actually pronounces the word that way. I do hear 「じつふ」 as
well, but I highly doubt it is regional.

In non-technical and non-formal, day-to-day kind of speech, however, far more
native speakers use 「実{じつ}の父{ちち}」 than 「じっぷ」 or 「じつふ」 (or even than those two
combined if I were to be completely honest). 「実父」 is way more often used in
**written** Japanese, which is possibly why one might not be as keen on its
pronunciation as Japanese-learners might expect.

This is why your first sentence "I have always pronounced the word 実父{じっぷ}."
took me by surprise. It made me think you were a lawyer or something because
as a native speaker, I know I use 「実の父」 virtually 100% of the time in oral
communication.

Finally, 「実父」 is not the only word that many people pronounce differently from
what the dictionary says. Some 'famous' examples would be:

  * 「早急」 (urgent)：「さっきゅう (dic.)」 vs. 「そうきゅう」

  * 「乳離れ」 (weaning)：「ちばなれ (dic.)」 vs. 「ちちばなれ」

  * 「続柄」 (relationship)：「つづきがら (dic.)」 vs. 「ぞくがら」

The list goes on and on.




「じっぷ」 is the only "dictionary" pronunciation of 「実父」, period, but that does
not mean "everyone" actually pronounces the word that way. I do hear 「じつふ」 as
well, but I highly doubt it is regional.

In non-technical and non-formal, day-to-day kind of speech, however, far more
native speakers use 「実{じつ}の父{ちち}」 than 「じっぷ」 or 「じつふ」 (or even than those two
combined if I were to be completely honest). 「実父」 is way more often used in
**written** Japanese, which is possibly why one might not be as keen on its
pronunciation as Japanese-learners might expect.

This is why your first sentence "I have always pronounced the word 実父{じっぷ}."
took me by surprise. It made me think you were a lawyer or something because
as a native speaker, I know I use 「実の父」 virtually 100% of the time in oral
communication.

Finally, 「実父」 is not the only word that many people pronounce differently from
what the dictionary says. Some 'famous' examples would be:

  * 「早急」 (urgent)：「さっきゅう (dic.)」 vs. 「そうきゅう」

  * 「乳離れ」 (weaning)：「ちばなれ (dic.)」 vs. 「ちちばなれ」

  * 「続柄」 (relationship)：「つづきがら (dic.)」 vs. 「ぞくがら」

The list goes on and on.

