How do you pronounce Rhea?
I did a poll and most people seem to pronounce Rhea ray-uh rhyming with Leia. But comments under the name Rhea sounds like a lot of people think it's pronounced ree-uh rhyming with Leah. I'm wondering if ree-uh is an American thing, because I've only heard Americans pronounce it that way.
So what do you think, is it ray-uh or ree-uh? If you think it's ree-uh is that the American pronunciation?
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I worked with a lady named Rhea (American Southerner born about 1950) who pronounced it simply Ray
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I'm from England and I pronounce it Ree-Ah but there was also a girl in my high school class with this name. I'm unsure if it was the same spelling (could have been Ria which is technically a different name), but it was pronounced Ree-Ah.I think the Ray-uh pronunciation is the American one, saying "ray" instead of "ree" tends to be in my experience
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Rhea PerlmanI pronounce it REE-ah. I'm basing that largely on the actress Rhea Perlman. I've always heard her name pronounced this way.
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Ree-uh
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Southern v NorthernI grew up in the American South, and most Southerners say REE-uh, likely because of our accent. I've noticed they tend to say ray-uh in the North and Midwest. Personally, I prefer to use classical Greek pronunciations for Greek mythological names (pretentious, I know), so I say REH-A, (A as in bAT.) I also adore the Greek variant spelling, Rheie, though it is much harder for people who aren't Greeks, classics students, or name nerds to pronounce.
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Very interesting, thank you!
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Since I'm not a native English speaker, I've always pronounced it the Classic Creek way, the way I've always seen it pronounced to me, which is 'reh-a' as it says clicking on the Classical Greek pronunciation guide. Like Rhea rhyming with Leah. It just seems more correct to me since it's from Greek- and Roman Mythology and that's how they pronounced it.

This message was edited 8/5/2020, 5:01 AM

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correctionthe Greek pronunciation of Rhea is REH-A, but REH-A does not rhyme with Leah. REH is pronounced as in bEt, and A is pronounced as in bAt. The accent emphasis is also placed on both syllables. I hope this helps :)[side note: i think Nikita Celestine Zenobia sounds beautiful :)]
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I'm confused. Isn't Leah usually pronounced LEE-Ah?If Rhea is pronounced "REH-A" to you as in bEt and bAt, Shouldn't it rhyme with Leah?
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Ah. I had no idea, or maybe I did but forgot it, so thanks so much for those corrections, or reminders, where it comes to those pronunciations. (So: note to self remember those.) :)And also thanks so much for the combo compliment. It means a lot. :D
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I say it RAY-uh
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Same:)
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Me, too.
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I pronounce it "Rey-Ha" or "Rey-Ah".
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The correct pronunciation is “Ray-uh”. “Ree-uh” is incorrect, though it’s not necessarily the American pronunciation.
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correctionWell, “Ray-uh” wouldn’t actually be correct either. The MOST correct pronunciation would be the Greek one, which is “REH-a”. But out of the two English pronunciations, “Ray-uh” would be the most accurate.
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