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Hello,
I have a conundrum. I need help with the pronunciation of the name/surname Muir. I have always pronounced it MYOOR (rhyming with "pure"). However, my brother and I were talking about John Muir, the naturalist, and my brother (a biologist) said that everyone where he lives and works says it MEER (rhyming with "here"). SO, my question to you is....how do you say it and where are you from? As far as I know the traditional (Scottish) pronunciation is the 1st. And maybe it's only John Muir's name that gets pronounced the 2nd way, too. So if you have ANY info about either, it would be much appreciated!
I hate saying things the "wrong" way! haha
I have a conundrum. I need help with the pronunciation of the name/surname Muir. I have always pronounced it MYOOR (rhyming with "pure"). However, my brother and I were talking about John Muir, the naturalist, and my brother (a biologist) said that everyone where he lives and works says it MEER (rhyming with "here"). SO, my question to you is....how do you say it and where are you from? As far as I know the traditional (Scottish) pronunciation is the 1st. And maybe it's only John Muir's name that gets pronounced the 2nd way, too. So if you have ANY info about either, it would be much appreciated!
I hate saying things the "wrong" way! haha
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Replies
Hey! I live 10 minutes away from John Muir's house and I've never heard anyone pronounce his name like MEER. I've only ever heard it pronounced MYOOR (rhyming with "pure"). Muir Woods National Monument (named after John Muir) is pronounced the same way.
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oh cool! that's really helpful! i guess i win this battle with my brother. haha
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thanks! -
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Here in South Africa we rhyme it with "pure" - historically we've used British English, though TV etc seems to be changing that. And though there is a uniquely Afrikaans diphthong written as -ui-, nobody has ever tried to subject Muir to that treatment - at least, not while I've been listening. I've never heard the version at all.
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I've only ever heard it pronounced MYOOR in the UK.
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There's a town in my general area called Muir, and I'm almost positive it's pronounced MEER. I live in Michigan.
(Unfortunately forvo.com is no help with this one either, lame... does this help though? http://www.omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm)
(Unfortunately forvo.com is no help with this one either, lame... does this help though? http://www.omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm)
This message was edited 3/11/2012, 1:20 PM
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