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I came across many people in Brazil with the name Jesus and was wondering why they pronounce it "Hay soos". When they refer to Jesus in the bible it’s pronounced exactly as it is spelt. Can anyone offer an explanation for this?
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My guess is that, being unfamiliar with the language, you probably misheard the first syllable of the name - it sounds like [zhé] in Brazillian Portuguese.
Another explanation is that the people you met were Spanish-speakers (immigrants? tourists?) and not actual Brazillians.
Another explanation is that the people you met were Spanish-speakers (immigrants? tourists?) and not actual Brazillians.
This message was edited 5/10/2013, 10:52 AM
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When you were talking with them about the Biblical Jesus, were you speaking in English or Portuguese?
I would find it odd if they were using the English pronunciation for the Bibical character if they were speaking Portuguese, but if they were speaking English it would be normal for them to use the normal English pronunciation.
They would use the Portuguese pronunciation when referring to contemporary men named Jesus even when speaking English, though, because in modern times people are less likely to "translate" names than they used to be, and because they probably know that in the United States English speaking people normally use the "Hey soos" pronunciation when talking about a Latin American man with the name.
I would find it odd if they were using the English pronunciation for the Bibical character if they were speaking Portuguese, but if they were speaking English it would be normal for them to use the normal English pronunciation.
They would use the Portuguese pronunciation when referring to contemporary men named Jesus even when speaking English, though, because in modern times people are less likely to "translate" names than they used to be, and because they probably know that in the United States English speaking people normally use the "Hey soos" pronunciation when talking about a Latin American man with the name.
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Jesus in Portuguese is not hay-soos. That is a Spanish pronunciation. Jesus in Portuguese is more like "jay-zoos" (you can listen to native speakers at http://www.forvo.com/word/jesus_cristo/ ).
Perhaps the Portuguese speakers you heard saying "hay-soos" were referring to a Spanish-speaking man named Jesus. Otherwise it does seem very odd that they would use this pronunciation, which is neither Portuguese nor English.
Perhaps the Portuguese speakers you heard saying "hay-soos" were referring to a Spanish-speaking man named Jesus. Otherwise it does seem very odd that they would use this pronunciation, which is neither Portuguese nor English.
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