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[Opinions] Re: Names you have mispronounced or misunderstood
in reply to a message by Calla
I don't remember where I read about the na-SCHE-li pronounciation, I thought it was here on BtN, but now I can't find that comment. I still pronounce it na-YEH-li, though.
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I think that "na-SCHE-li" may be trying to represent the original pronunciation of the name in the Zapotec language, but that is not how most modern name bearers would pronounce it. They would use a "Hispanicized" pronounciation that would end up sounding like "nah-YELL-ee", "nuh-YELL-ee" or "nye-ELL-ee" to English speakers. It's like "Xochitl". The original Nahuatl (Aztec) pronunciation of that was "show-CHEAT-ul", but in modern Mexico it usually is just said "SO-chee".
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Hm, interesting. I love its meaning; it'd be sweet to name your kid that. :)
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