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ArchivesGenyusha.
This is the birth name of Polish born, but now American, Punk-rock legend Genya Ravan. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genya_Ravan)
She was born Genyusha Zelkowitz, but nicknamed Goldie by her mother, who wanted to make it easier for Americans, once the family arrived there after World War II. Later though, as Genya writes in her autobiography (Lollipop Lounge, Memoirs Of A Rock And Roll Refugee), she learned Genyusha is the Polish form of Genevieve, which her mother didn't know.
So, where am I going with this? Well, I'm just trying to get it verified, of sorts, that Genyusha is the Polish form of Genevieve and how Genyusha if pronounced, if possible. So, any help would be appreciated. :)
"When someone accuses you of being "childish,"
I think you should take it as a compliment."
♥ Stana Katic ♥
She was born Genyusha Zelkowitz, but nicknamed Goldie by her mother, who wanted to make it easier for Americans, once the family arrived there after World War II. Later though, as Genya writes in her autobiography (Lollipop Lounge, Memoirs Of A Rock And Roll Refugee), she learned Genyusha is the Polish form of Genevieve, which her mother didn't know.
So, where am I going with this? Well, I'm just trying to get it verified, of sorts, that Genyusha is the Polish form of Genevieve and how Genyusha if pronounced, if possible. So, any help would be appreciated. :)
I think you should take it as a compliment."
♥ Stana Katic ♥
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Replies
I was born in Poland and have several Genevieves in my family. The Polish form is Genowefa. Genyusha would be a nickname but the spelling does not follow Polish orthography. The form she is using is most likely Yiddish. In Polish this nickname would be written Gieniusia and Genya would be written Gienia. I don't know how her family would have pronounced it in Yiddish but in Polish it's gyeh-NYU-shah. I would not be given as a full name these days as nicknames as full names are not permitted. Also in Polish it sounds cutesy and childish.
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I am so sorry. I completely forgot about this, since I had so many things on my mind and stuff to do. That despite my listening to Genya almost every day and seeing her Tweets etc. But I'm here now. Finally.
I think they chose to spell it as Genya, because it would be easier for English speakers to handle. Gienia would most likely have been more difficult to both hear and write down. As far as I can gather of her book, it wasn't until the late 1960s she took Genya as her official performer name and then took Ravan as last name, instead of Zelkowitz. Until then she'd been Goldie in the public eye, though she might have been Genya to her family and closer friends.
Anyway...
Thank you so much for the help, very informative. :D
I think they chose to spell it as Genya, because it would be easier for English speakers to handle. Gienia would most likely have been more difficult to both hear and write down. As far as I can gather of her book, it wasn't until the late 1960s she took Genya as her official performer name and then took Ravan as last name, instead of Zelkowitz. Until then she'd been Goldie in the public eye, though she might have been Genya to her family and closer friends.
Anyway...
Thank you so much for the help, very informative. :D
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