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Recently I saw someone use the word

Veg*n

on this site and I had never seen it before. According to wiktionary, it appears to be a term that includes both vegetarians and vegans. And indeed there is a question already on this site about its meaning. My question is, how does one pronounce this word? Is it strictly used only in written text?

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I've never heard anyone say this. People usually say 'vegetarian or vegan' to convey the same meaning. There is no verbal shortcut, as far as I know. A less precise workaround would be 'plant-based', as both diets are based on plants, with vegetarianism adding animal products on top of this basis. Another possibility might be 'veggie', as in 'She's a veggie', or 'It's a veggie dish'. This word is ambiguous enough to cover both meanings, but unlike veg*n it doesn't also convey that this is intentional.

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    Yeah I think veg*n is unpronounceable and I have certainly never heard anyone attempt to say it. For most people speaking is a lot less effort than typing/writing. Possibly relevant Is there a difference between "vegan" and "plant-based"? - I don't agree with you that plant-based can be used for vegetarian diets. If I hear plant-based I assume vegan (though I usually pedantically ask for clarification)
    – Zanna ♦
    Commented Apr 28, 2017 at 6:52
  • Good answer. Although, I agree with Zanna that if I hear plant-based I automatically assume vegan.
    – WetlabStudent
    Commented Apr 29, 2017 at 11:33

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