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

Re: Is the correct Hebrew Pronunciation of Leah really Lay-ah?
It is Leh-ah. The EH is not a dipthong, it sounds like in "bed".
vote up1vote down

Replies

But....I just looked in my Tanakh. The vowel under the "l" sound is the one pronounced "ay."

This message was edited 8/7/2010, 7:53 AM

vote up1vote down
The vowel under the L sound (the letter lamed) can't be pronounced "ay" in Hebrew. The English AY sounds [eI], which is a diphthong; that means that after the lamed, it should be a yod, which in this case is not.
vote up1vote down
I'm starting to think it is pronounced Lay'ah. Lots of people in the Leah comment section think that's how it's pronounced. I'm writing a story with a Jewish main character named Leah so I want to make sure I'm saying it right in my head.
vote up1vote down
In Hebrew, the name is pronounced ['lea]. The [e] sound is like the Spanish E or the first part of the English AY (which is [eI]). The [a] sound is like the Spanish A (more or less similar to the English sound of "father").
vote up1vote down
Okay... I'm not sure how to say that. Maybe I will just stick to the Lee-ah pronunciation. She does live in the US after all.
vote up1vote down