New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesSpanish/French pronounciation of Jonathan?
I just read a post about Jonathan on the opinions board and when I clicked the link I saw that Jonathan is in the top 100 names in a lot more countries than I would have ever thought! I saw it was used in France and Spain; would anyone be able to tell me how it is pronounced there? In Spanish wouldn't it sound something like HOH-na-than? Thanks for any help.
http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9576932
Please vote! (Not private)
http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9576932
Please vote! (Not private)
1
Replies
The Spanish correct form of the name is Jonatán (khoh-nah-TAHN), but, as many other names from Old Testament, it is not used.
The use of Jonathan appears in 1970s after American films, soap operas and sitcoms; then, the pronunciation tries to be the English one. Since the sound of the English J is inexistent in Spanish, many of the speakers pronounce it as Y (it is the same with other newly used names, as Joel). The group TH is pronounced simply as a T.
The use of Jonathan appears in 1970s after American films, soap operas and sitcoms; then, the pronunciation tries to be the English one. Since the sound of the English J is inexistent in Spanish, many of the speakers pronounce it as Y (it is the same with other newly used names, as Joel). The group TH is pronounced simply as a T.
1
Thanks for your help. So in all it would be pronounced yoh-nah-tan? I didn't think it sounded right as hoh-nah-than! Thank you again.
1
For the French pronunciation, the j- sounds like the -s- in the word "pleasure" (the ʒ in the IPA), the -th- sounds like a -t- and the final -an is nasalized.
In the past, the name was mostly borne by the Protestants and the Jews, but it's become more popular under the American influence (but with the French pronunciation since the English-th- is so difficult to say for French people)
In the past, the name was mostly borne by the Protestants and the Jews, but it's become more popular under the American influence (but with the French pronunciation since the English-th- is so difficult to say for French people)
1