Rattan, a long-time player now seeing increased penetration in the entry-level e-bike market, has rolled out new electric bicycle models for the 2024 riding season. And believe it or not, it’s the little guy that’s getting most of the attention. That’s right, it’s time to check out the company’s latest small format 20″ folding e-bike. Say “Hello” to Rattan’s new Pinus.

The Pinus has a form most of us are quite familiar with by now, featuring thick 4″ tires and a step-through frame. With its unisex design, hopping on a Pinus is sure to be a fun experience for men and women alike.

Hey girl, wanna take a ride on my Pinus?

So this brings up something that shocked me when it first happened to me a few years back. At work, during casual conversation, some guy brought up the topic of male human genitalia. Not sure how but it wasn’t in a humorous context.

In my response I used the word “penis”. He said he wasn’t sure you could use that word at work. And I was annoyed. It’s the medical word for the organ. Every other word for it is slang. And he brought up the topic. What backwards world is developing around me? Am I supposed to use some childish word like “hoo-hah?”

Holy shit, that might be the most sexually charged article I’ve ever read.

As a plant nerd, I’ve said pinus in polite company quite a bit without anyone thinking I was saying penis. Not sure if this article is really an advertisement, or if the journalist is just that stupid.

Usually english speakers are the candidates with the problems of homophones, because every unstressed syllable becomes a shwa.

To demonstrate: jeebus, jeebis, jeebes, jeebos and jeebas can all sound the same in English.

Other languages haven’t the same problem.

But even in English you would probably say /painus/ and not /peenus/, wouldn’t you?

For example in German “Penis” is pronounced with an /eh/ for the ‘e’ and an /ih/ for the ‘i’. And Pinus has a distinct /ih/ and /oo/ . Not an /ai/ for the ‘i’.

In conclusion, it should sound distinct in many languages.