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Helpwhich pronunciation of Clara do you prefer?
it's interesting how different pronunciations in this case have different vibe
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Has to be clah-ruh / clar-uh (rhyming with car) for me. It's the only way I like it, or any -ara name.
The Spanish pronunciation (KLA-ra) is the most beautiful to me and also the easiest for me to pronounce.
Claire-uh. However, I don't mind Clar-uh, which is how my niece's name is pronounced, and we're from the U.S. I prefer the other slightly more.
I'm also in the CLAIR-AH camp.
I suspect it's because the Heidi book series was read to me as a child and the reader consistently pronounced it that way so it's become normal to me
I suspect it's because the Heidi book series was read to me as a child and the reader consistently pronounced it that way so it's become normal to me
Do you pronounce the 1st syllable of Caroline as CAHR, too? I've usually heard it said as KEHR which isn't even listed on BtN.
I've heard Americans say Cara and Tara with both pronunciations.
There's also Clarissa, Marissa, Larissa. I would say kla-riss-uh, which is I guess could be why Clara as CLAYR-uh feels awkward to me.
I've heard Americans say Cara and Tara with both pronunciations.
There's also Clarissa, Marissa, Larissa. I would say kla-riss-uh, which is I guess could be why Clara as CLAYR-uh feels awkward to me.
This message was edited 2/19/2024, 10:24 PM
No, I say CAYR-oh-line. I find it extremely strange that's not listed on here considering that's the only pronunciation I've ever heard in the US??? I feel like the pronunciation guides on this website don't make any sense.
I pronounce those completely differently. I say cluh-RISS-uh, muh-RISS-uh, luh-RISS-uh.
I pronounce those completely differently. I say cluh-RISS-uh, muh-RISS-uh, luh-RISS-uh.
The only one I disagree with you on is Cara. I pronounce both Cara and Kara as KEHR-ə.
Yeah, I think both pronunciations are equally common.
That is interesting. I would pronounce all of those names with the AHR sound instinctively, although I do recognize that other people might pronounce Clara, Sara, and Tara with the AYR sound. CLAYR-uh seems like an alternative pronunciation of CLAHR-uh to me, whereas to get SAYR-uh I feel as though it should be spelled Sarah and Sara is SAHR-uh. I hate the pronunciation TAYR-uh for Tara; it drives me crazy. Terra I would pronounce TAYR-uh, but I'm not a big fan of that name.
(For reference: I live in Texas but I grew up in the UK and have a British accent. My parents are from different parts of the US. So my vocabulary and pronunciation influence is a bit jumbled.)
(For reference: I live in Texas but I grew up in the UK and have a British accent. My parents are from different parts of the US. So my vocabulary and pronunciation influence is a bit jumbled.)
CLAH-ra is how I would instinctively pronounce it and is the pronunciation I prefer. I think it sounds very refined and upper-class.
CLAIR-a is nice too; it sounds Southern to me for some reason. I would spell it Claira to avoid pronunciation confusion.
CLAIR-a is nice too; it sounds Southern to me for some reason. I would spell it Claira to avoid pronunciation confusion.
It's instinctive for me to pronounce Clara like Claire, but with a schwa at the end - so, "KLEHR-ə." What's kind of funny is that I don't do this with Lara, which is just one letter off. Lara, to me, is LAHR-ə (likely due to the influence of Lara Croft).
In my accent, the default would be claire-ah. Insisting on clah-rah might make you seem like a snooty snob.
I think they are both lovely, but instinctively I would use Claire-ah.
I think they are both lovely, but instinctively I would use Claire-ah.
Definitely CLAHra.
KLAH ra
I agree with Amphelise: KLAH-ra.
I would only ever pronounce it KLAH-ra.
I've always liked Clara pronounced CLAIR-AH because I like french pastries and one is called an eclair which I think means lightning which is just awesome to me.