Whats the rule that makes "please" pronounced the same as "pleas"?
Last Updated: 21.06.2025 12:23
Back in the day (circa 1300), it was written <plesen>.
You'll usually find your answer there.
There's no rule.
Team of the Matchday: Tani carries Minnesota, Joveljić sparks Sporting KC - MLSsoccer.com
Pleas is spelled <pleas> because it's the plural of pleas.
What's (not “whats”) the rule?
Words are pronounced the way that they're pronounced.
Researchers Unlock An ‘Alien’ Phenomenon Under Earth’s Largest Lithium Reserves - The Daily Galaxy
While you may reasonably ask why words are spelled the way they're spelled, it makes no sense to ask why they're pronounced the way they're pronounced.
Whence the <ea> I cannot say but some other words that were spelled <ai> in French are spelled <ea> in English: aise → ease, graisse → grease, fait → feat.
Please is an anglicization of the French word plaisir.
If you're curious about why a word is spelled the way it's spelled, your first recourse should be etymonline dot com.