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ArchivesWhat name is pronounced "Mah-ree"?
I thought Mairi was "MAH-ree" (the Scottish form of Mary - there should be an accent there but I can't type it), but now I'm not so sure. How about Mari? I've heard that Marie is pronounced that way in Afrikaans, but I'm looking for a name which is traditionally pronounced that way, and only that way.
Thank you!
Thank you!
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Replies
Marie is also pronounced that way in Britain sometimes. We say Marie-Claire "Marry-Claire" not "Ma-REE Claire", and I've known several women named Marie who say "Marry".
Some people, technically incorrectly, pronounce Mhairi and Mhari with an 'M' sound too. I've known more than one Mhari.
Some people, technically incorrectly, pronounce Mhairi and Mhari with an 'M' sound too. I've known more than one Mhari.
This message was edited 8/19/2008, 2:50 AM
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Thanks! What is the difference between Mhairi and Mairi; I take it the 'mh' is pronounced like a 'v'? Is one more traditional than the other, or are they just regional variants, do you know? (I'm having a surprisingly hard time finding this out!)
I'm British too, although I've never met any "Marry" Maries. I do say "Marry-Claire" for the magazine, but that's how it's pronounced in French as well (it's sort of treated as one word, so the stress goes on the end syllable, Claire). Interesting... Although I was actually looking for a name sounding like "MAH-ree", not "Marry" - the first syllable rhyming with 'car' :)
I'm British too, although I've never met any "Marry" Maries. I do say "Marry-Claire" for the magazine, but that's how it's pronounced in French as well (it's sort of treated as one word, so the stress goes on the end syllable, Claire). Interesting... Although I was actually looking for a name sounding like "MAH-ree", not "Marry" - the first syllable rhyming with 'car' :)
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Mhairi is the vocative case of Mairi. Native Gaelic speakers wouldn't use Mhairi as a given name, only in its proper grammatical context. But it's been widely adopted by non-Gaelic speakers as a 'different' name, an alternative to Mary I suppose, which everyone was getting bored of :)
Ohh, I see what you mean about MAH-ree being different from 'marry'. Hmm. I can't think of one though...
Ohh, I see what you mean about MAH-ree being different from 'marry'. Hmm. I can't think of one though...
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Thanks guys, I'll stick with Mairi then! I've read here and there of other pronunciations, like "Myree" and even "Varry", but it sounds like 'Mahree' is the usual pronunciation. I didn't realise Marie was once "Mahree" in England - I wonder whether illustrious Maries like Marie Lloyd and Marie Stopes were 'Mahree's? I've never heard it like that, but I suppose I don't know any elderly Maries!
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my names mahree and it’s pronounced ‘mah-ree’ with an almost silent h
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