View Message

Pronounciation: muireann
Who can help me with the pronounciation of the name muireann?
vote up1vote down

Replies

I have to disagree with Devon here.The 'm' is broad, and has a slight 'w' sound, not a consonantal 'y.'
The 'i' following the 'u' quickly slenders the syllable as well.
Note the double 'n' is strongly-pronounced.
The result is roughly [MWUYR-ya-unn] or [MWUYR-yunn].
vote up1vote down
This one has an unusual 'flat' sound in it - not 'Maureen' (which is Mairín, different as you can see) or the equally easily confused Moreen but more similar to the sound of the word 'myrrh'. Muir means 'sea' - think of it as Mer in mermaid, then add a y sound in the back of the mouth after the M - M'yer. The second element is from fionn meaning 'white' and in Gaelic is pronounced not as a diphthong but a quick 'syllable-n-a-half'. So M'yer-e-ann should get you there.The 'een' sound in Gaelic is indicated not by -eann but by -ín.Devon
vote up1vote down
it's MOR-een, like Maureen.
vote up1vote down