[Aerkuld]

This might sound like a daft question, but it is something that I have noticed since moving to Georgia. The funny thing is, I notice it among folk from out of the area, so it isn't a local phenomena. I lived in California for five years before moving here, and I don't remember hearing it there, but that isn't to say it didn't happen.

The issue is with the word HEIGHT.

I have always pronounced this with the phonetic spelling 'hahyt', like the ending of the word Fahrenheit, and rhyming with fight, might, light, tight, etc.

However, a majority of the people I work with here pronounce the same word with the phonetic spelling 'hahytth' with a -th, like the ending of the word with, or smith.

Why?

HEIGHT doesn't end in -th, so why is it pronounced like it does? Why not just spell it 'heigth'?

The only explanation I can think of is that it fits in with length, width, breath, depth - but then they don't pronounce weight with a -th.

Nobody I ask seems to know why they say it, so can anyone here enlighten me?

Is this how it is taught in school here or is there another explanation?

Thanks.