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ArchivesHow do you pronounce Emer?
I found this girls name in an Irish folktale. I love the spelling Emer and think that it is pronounced Em-err rather than Emm-a as I don't think the names are related but have never met anyone who has heard of the name. Does anyone know how it is supposed to be pronounced or have any more info on it? Thankyou.
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It ought to be ayver; the correct modern spelling is Eimhear...
But most people use the medieval spelling Emer, and of course that leads to them (even the Irish) mispronouncing it. Which is why a mispronounciation has become very well established.
The earliest pronounciation would have had an m, but a very soft m, so near to v as to make no difference. Try saying m without putting your lips together, you'll get the idea.
But most people use the medieval spelling Emer, and of course that leads to them (even the Irish) mispronouncing it. Which is why a mispronounciation has become very well established.
The earliest pronounciation would have had an m, but a very soft m, so near to v as to make no difference. Try saying m without putting your lips together, you'll get the idea.
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I heard that EE-mur wasn't the correct pronunciation of Eimear even though everybody here (in Ireland) pronounces it that way. My cousin is called Eimear and we pronounce it EE-mur but my granny, who speaks Donegal Irish, pronounces it AY-mer. She also pronounces Siobhan
SHOO-in. Do you know if this is an old/Donegal way of pronouncing Siobhan or maybe just her own way?!
SHOO-in. Do you know if this is an old/Donegal way of pronouncing Siobhan or maybe just her own way?!
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Donegal pronounciation...
I know a girl called Siobhan from Donegal who also pronounces the bh as a w. Everyone calls her shevaun and she doesn't correct them, but at home she's called shewaun. The oo and i is probably just your granny, but Irish still has a lot of dialectal variation. In the south, 'how are you?' is 'conas a ta tu?', but in the north it's 'cad e mar ta tu?' (k'jay mar tah too) - quite different.
I know a girl called Siobhan from Donegal who also pronounces the bh as a w. Everyone calls her shevaun and she doesn't correct them, but at home she's called shewaun. The oo and i is probably just your granny, but Irish still has a lot of dialectal variation. In the south, 'how are you?' is 'conas a ta tu?', but in the north it's 'cad e mar ta tu?' (k'jay mar tah too) - quite different.
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It is pronounced EE-mer. My boyfriend Conor is Irish, and his sister is Eimear - so spelt slightly differently to your message - apparently there are several different ways to spell this name in the irish language.
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This site gives the pronounciation -- type 'Emer' into the white box on the main page (http://www.behindthename.com), click the search button, and you'll find it. :) (Or click here: Emer.)
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It's pronounced "EE-mer"
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