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HelpRe: Zoe, Zoé or Zoë?
in reply to a message by Lily
I love this name and hope one day to use it for a girl!
So far as I know, Zoe and Zoë are both pronounced ZO-ee. The diaeresis does not change the pronunciation. It is merely an accent mark that indicates that Zoe is pronounced ZO-ee, rather than ZO. This use of the diaeresis is still in use in English, but has been on the wane. Most people omit it; and many people who see the punctuation won't know what it means.
I have never heard Zoe pronounced Zo-ay. Is that the French pronunciation Zoé?
My personal opinion is that you would be equally correct to render Zoe with or without the accent marks. (I am myself tempted to write the name Zoë.) However, most Americans ignore accent marks or don't know what they mean. If it will annoy you to see people constantly forgetting to write the name with accent marks ... and some government agencies refusing to record them ... then I'd go with simple Zoe.
So far as I know, Zoe and Zoë are both pronounced ZO-ee. The diaeresis does not change the pronunciation. It is merely an accent mark that indicates that Zoe is pronounced ZO-ee, rather than ZO. This use of the diaeresis is still in use in English, but has been on the wane. Most people omit it; and many people who see the punctuation won't know what it means.
I have never heard Zoe pronounced Zo-ay. Is that the French pronunciation Zoé?
My personal opinion is that you would be equally correct to render Zoe with or without the accent marks. (I am myself tempted to write the name Zoë.) However, most Americans ignore accent marks or don't know what they mean. If it will annoy you to see people constantly forgetting to write the name with accent marks ... and some government agencies refusing to record them ... then I'd go with simple Zoe.
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Replies
Thanks for your answer! Yes, I know about the diaeresis, but I think it could be zo-AY anyways. Just as Zoe could be so-AY or SO-ay as well. It depends on where you live. I'm French/German and in French Zoë is pr. zo-AY. In Germany we use both, ZO-ee and zo-AY for Zoe and usually zo-AY for Zoé and Zoë.
Yes zo-AY is the French pr. But it isn't really an AY sound more like a mixture of an AY and an EH but really hard to explain :P
I really like the diaeresis but you're right, it could cause some trouble. I'd have to think about it some more.
Yes zo-AY is the French pr. But it isn't really an AY sound more like a mixture of an AY and an EH but really hard to explain :P
I really like the diaeresis but you're right, it could cause some trouble. I'd have to think about it some more.
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Thanks for the notes on how Zoe is pronounced in French and German -- particularly since we have a very German last name.
I learned something new!
I like how Zo-ay sounds -- although trying to teach people to say it this way might be a bit of a trial. On the other hand, if you like both pronunciations, it won't matter too much if people mix them up. I think it's gorgeous either way, and at least you aren't trying to peddle a "made up" version of the name (Zowie, etc). :)
I learned something new!
I like how Zo-ay sounds -- although trying to teach people to say it this way might be a bit of a trial. On the other hand, if you like both pronunciations, it won't matter too much if people mix them up. I think it's gorgeous either way, and at least you aren't trying to peddle a "made up" version of the name (Zowie, etc). :)
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Sorry, I meant to say Zoe could be zo-AY and ZO-ay as well depending on where you live, not so-AY and SO-ay. I need to log in again so I can edit posts ;)
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