Mary dear, make me Mary, say you'll Mary me.

http://www.alt-usage-english.org/mmm_bc.wav

Why can't Americans tell the difference between the pronunciations of ''Mary'', ''marry'' and ''merry''? In Scotland, we never pronounce ''Mary'', ''marry'' and ''merry'' the same way.

Nor do we in Australia but who says the Americans can't tell the difference? Perhaps they can tell the difference but just don't make the distinction. Also be careful not to generalise: there are many different accents in the USA, they don't all pronounce "Mary", "marry" and "merry" as homophones.

''Mary'', ''marry'' and ''merry'' are homophones in all Non-Northeastern American accents (including my accent). In the Northeastern United States i.e. New Jersey, New York, New England etc. there all pronounced differently.

The same goes for pairs like these,

Barry/berry
fairy/ferry
dairy/derry
hairy/Harry
Tarry/Terry
carry/Kerry

I'm sure they can tell the difference between your pronunciations. I think the question you meant to ask is why don't they pronounce those words like you do. The answer is, Americans are not from Scotland.

I'm not convinced that Freeman is from Scotland either.

I pronounce ''marry'', ''merry'' and ''Mary'' the same way. I'm from California.

''I'm not convinced that Freeman is from Scotland either.''

I'm not convinced that Freeman is a free man.

''marry'', ''merry'' and ''Mary'' are pronounced the same.

By some people.

Freeman,

If you're really interested in this topic, search the archive. There have been countless discussions about this.

As for your generalization, you're wrong. As Jim noted, I'm an American from a region (New Jersey) in which all three are pronounced differently.

Freeman is really Newman.

http://www.dreams2.com/seinfeld/Jerry - Chunky Newman.mp3

http://www.dreams2.com/seinfeld/Jerry%20-%20Chunky%20Newman.mp3
http://sduran.home.att.net/Wavfiles/hellonmn.wav

I'm not Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld is an American, not a Scot.

''As for your generalization, you're wrong. As Jim noted, I'm an American from a region (New Jersey) in which all three are pronounced differently.''

Most Americans I've heard on television seem to pronounce ''Mary'', ''marry'' and ''merry'' the same way.

The vast majority do.