View Message

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

correct vs American :)
in reply to a message by SYP
In the countries where it's commonly used it's i-REE-na, but the American way is ay-REE-na.
vote up1vote down

Replies

can there really be an "American way"?
vote up1vote down
Yep... strangely enough Americans do exhibit some common traits =o)
vote up1vote down
So no real americans use this name , right?
vote up1vote down
Very few. I'm older than dirt with a lot of years in various US ethnic neighborhoods, and I've met exactly ONE Irina (in Cleveland). Don't remember her ethnicity, but her parents spoke little English and had emigrated from someplace the other side of "Wienna" where surname vowels are scarce. She hated being called "Irina" and went by "Reenie", which to me is a much uglier name. Sounds like a chronic dialysis patient...- Da.
vote up1vote down
Why not?
vote up1vote down
Hi Ivayla:
Do you mean the American way is ay-Ree-na, sound "ay" is the same sound in the word "Bite" or the word "Cane"?
vote up1vote down