A lot of people in the States enjoy claiming Irish heritage, but even if your ancestors hailed from the Emerald Isle, it was probably a long, long time ago that they crossed the Atlantic.
Like, the bulk of Irish immigrants had settled in the States before the end of the Civil War, so we’re 170+ years and counting at this point.
So it makes sense that we’re not up on Irish pronunciations, but if you’ve like to get yours straight, here are how you’re supposed to say these classic Irish names.
Don’t go for “EE-mahn,” but “AY-mun” instead.
Yes, it’s the Irish version of “Alice,” but it’s pronounced “AY-lish.”
This Irish version of Alice is pronounced “AY-lish.”
If you were ever to have encountered Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer, you’d want to address him as “OH-in.” Much simpler than you might think!
“EE-fuh,” which makes no sense but just go with it.
This is how the Irish spell “FINN.”
You just want to ignore a few letters here, like the “th” and the second “a.”
It’s “BLAH-nid.”
It’s the longer version of “Fionn,” and is pronounced “fin-OO-luh.”
It’s tempting to start with “Kate,” but if you listen to Outlander actress Caitriona Balfe say her own name, she says “Kuh-TREE-nuh.”
“GRAWN-yuh.” Not “Granny.”
Some people say “KWEE-vuh” while some choose “KEE-vuh,” but the important takeaway is that the “mh” makes a “v” sound.
If you see a “bh” or “mh” in an Irish name, you’re pretty safe replacing it with a “v” sound.
In this case, you’ve got “MAYV.”
There are no soft C’s in Irish (that I know of) so instead of “See-AIR-uh,” it’s “KEER-uh.”
Another “mh” here, so this is “NEEV.”
The male form of “Ciara” pronounced “KEER-in” or “KEER-awn.”
This is an alternate spelling of “Padraic,” which is where “Patrick” comes from, but is pronounced “PAW-rick.”
With the hard C, Cillian Murphy is correctly pronouced “KILL-ee-in.”
This means little rose, and you say it “Roh-SHEEN.”
“DEER-mid” is correct, so just try to ignore a lot of vowels in this one.
You might be familiar with this one since Saoirse Ronan is pretty famous these days, but if not, it’s “SER-shuh.”
Sometimes “SEER-shuh.”
“DOH-null” like “tonal” so I guess we just ignore the M.
I was definitely one of the people who needed help.
Then again, my Scots-Irish ancestors arrived prior to the Revolutionary War, so I think I get a pass.
Source: https://twistedsifter.com/2023/07/youre-probably-mispronouncing-these-classic-irish-names/
