I have always thought that the word meaning “to pay someone for goods or services etc” was “renumeration”. That makes sense to me, it sounds like something to do with numbers.

Turns out it’s “remuneration”. This sounds so weird in my brain. I asked my wife and my brother and they also say “renumeration” but it turns out that’s not even a word.

Tell me we’re not the only ones out there! I feel like a right numpty.

EDIT: Here’s a link for the non believers.

by Smyler12

19 comments

  4. >“renumeration”. That makes sense to me, it sounds like something to do with numbers.

    And a coin specialist/collector is a numismatist, a person involved in numismatics.

  7. Meh. Just keep using the wrong version until it becomes right.

    That’s the beauty of descriptivist over prescriptivist languages.

  9. I thought the same for ages… Turns out renumeration is a word, though: [OED](https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=renumeration)

    Here’s a simple sentence to help you remember:
    I renumerated the number of times I had been remunerated and it remained the same as when I’d numerated before, demonstrating that the municipality was munerating me incorrectly and that I should start remunerating numerous lawyers to make a claim for unpaid salary as a council worker.

  12. It’s related to words like munificent (generous), and words like common, communicate etc, where the “mun/mon” means service rather than gift

  14. In a similar vein: Restau*rat*eur has no n. Feels so wrong, and yet it is correct. I think it was actually Martin Lewis who taught me that.

  15. Yup…. Made it till about 25 before I did a double take on a job advert and googled it. Told a bunch of people at uni… they thought the same.

  18. It’s a word I can’t say naturally. I draw the word in my mind and still struggle…

  19. How many times do you use that word on a regular basis, think I’ve used it once and I’m 40

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