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Help[Facts] names for stories, help with pronouncing
Hi, I am a writer, and I am looking for some help of how to pronounce names. In my story there are twin girls named Helena and Elena. Can someone help me find the correct way to pornounce these? I would like to pronounce Elena's name Eh-lay-nuh, is this the corect way? Or should it be spelled Elaina? Is it pronounced Eh-lee-nuh, or Eh-leh-nuh? How is Helena pronounced? Is it pronounced Heh-lee-nuh? Or He-lay-nuh? Or maybe Heh-leh-nuh? Does it depend on the culture that has the name?
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As far as I know, Helena is most commonly Heh-LAY-na. It does depend on culture. I prefer that pronunciation; it's on my list. =)
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Elena in Spanish
The correct pronunciation of Elena in Spanish is eh-LEH-nah.
Lumia
http://onomastica.mailcatala.com
The correct pronunciation of Elena in Spanish is eh-LEH-nah.
Lumia
http://onomastica.mailcatala.com
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Elena is one of those names that simply doesn't have an agreed upon pronunciation in English. Most people in the USA today are most familiar with it as a Spanish name, and so tend to pronounce it close to "eh-LAY-nuh", which approximates the Spanish pronunciation. However, in the past other pronunciations have been used. Some bearers of the name have preferred "eh-LEE-nuh", and I know one woman of this name who pronounces it like "Ellen-uh".
It's the same way with Helena. There are people who use all three of the pronunciations you give. So as any author, if these are American characters, you can pronounce them any way you think the parents of your characters would have been most likely to prefer. Just explain the pronunciation to your readers if you think this is important for the storyline.
It's the same way with Helena. There are people who use all three of the pronunciations you give. So as any author, if these are American characters, you can pronounce them any way you think the parents of your characters would have been most likely to prefer. Just explain the pronunciation to your readers if you think this is important for the storyline.
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Oh thanks! That's great! My story is a fantasy and takes place in another world, the world of Elysia, realm of dreams, which is influenced by our world, so there are different styles of dress, ranging fro medeival clothes to 18th or 19th century fashions, and fashions from around the world. The most important counry in this world is the island of Amorania, the isle of love. It is a Christian kingdom. The evil empire of Jax, which is very much like the ancient pagan Roman empire, seeks to conquer Amorania. The villainess is Princess Zenobia, daughter of the ruthless Emperor Nero of Jax. The king of Amorania, Conrad, marries the girl he loves, the noblewoman Elena, who twin sister, Helena, marries a pirate captain. Conrad and Elena have a daughter named Jewel, but when she is a baby Amorania is attacked by Jax, and King Conrad and Queen Elena are killed by the evil invaders. Baby Princess Jewel is smuggled out of the kingdom by Conrad's friends, who take her to a far away land to rasie her in secret. The soldiers of Jax know the infant princess escapes, and they search for her for amny years to eliminate her. When Jewel is 7, the forces of Jax find her adopted parent's house, she is away visting a friend. She comes home to find her home burning, with the malicious soldiers everywehre, she narrowly escapes, and comes to a mountain range where dragons live. Lucky for her, they are friendly dragons. The dragon know that she is human royalty, and she is adopted by Malachite and his mate Emerald, the queen of this dragon clan. The dragons help her to find her destiny to free Amorania from Jax. I love dragons and I don't think they're evil.
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You might like "The Writing Room" message board on BTN.
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