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ArchivesPronunciations of Eirene and Irene
On more than one occasion I have heard these names pronounced eye-REE-nee. Where does that pronunciation come from? I am most interested to learn how this name is pronounced in various places, particularly in the case of the goddess Irene and the Greek Eirene.
Also, I was surprised to see that this site shows the pronunciation of Irene as IE-reen. In almost every case I've heard this pronounced ie-REEN with accent distinctly on the second syllable, and on occasion ie-REE-nee - never with the emphasis on the first. Where is the IE-reen pronunciation common?
I know that's a lot of questions. Thank you!
Melissa
Also, I was surprised to see that this site shows the pronunciation of Irene as IE-reen. In almost every case I've heard this pronounced ie-REEN with accent distinctly on the second syllable, and on occasion ie-REE-nee - never with the emphasis on the first. Where is the IE-reen pronunciation common?
I know that's a lot of questions. Thank you!
Melissa
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Replies
In England, Irene was originally pronounced eye-REEN-ee, which is truer to the original Greek form. If you've ever watched the BBC version of "The Forsyte Saga" that pronunciation is used. I love the name as eye-REEN-ee. (That is the pronuncation of Eirene as well).
Oxford says: It was formerly pronounced in three syllables, as in Greek, but is now throroughly naturalized as an English name and usually pronounced as two syllables.
Oxford says: It was formerly pronounced in three syllables, as in Greek, but is now throroughly naturalized as an English name and usually pronounced as two syllables.
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Also, in England, it's usually pronounced IE-reen, not ie-REEN (when it has two syllables).
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The Greek, therefore the original, pronunciation has three syllables - this used to be the standard one in the UK and perhaps still is, but with US cultural imperialism rampant, I hae ma doots. In America people seem to have assumed that the final -e is silent, as in Katherine. In South Africa I've never encountered the three-syllable version, to my regret; I prefer the sound of it. A while ago we had a woman on TV and radio who did sort of hostessing on game shows I think (rather vague about such things!) and she used the EYEreen version. All the other SA ones I've known have been eyeREENs.
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