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AIBU?

How to pronounce viola - AIBU?

91 replies

Teabagtits · 21/09/2017 11:48

I guess it's a variation on scone vs scone.

My daughter started viola lessons recently and it's caused somewhat of a debate in our house. I was always led to believe it was pronounced veye-ola like violin (veye-olin) but my OH pronounces it Vee-ola and says I'm wrong. I've never heard of the violin pronounced vee-olin so why would viola be pronounced like this?

It makes my blood boil (I know this bit is unreasonable as it's related to my dislike of his fake plums-in-mouth mother and her poshifying words in an attempt to sounds brighter than everyone else)

He also calls breakfast brake-fast instead of brek-fast which is totally unreasonably like nails on a blackboard to me.

It's pronounced V-eye-ola, isn't it? AIBU?

OP posts:
VimFuego101 · 21/09/2017 11:50

I say vee-ola.

turkeyboots · 21/09/2017 11:51

Vee-ola here too. And I played one for years at school.

SecretLifeOfSam · 21/09/2017 11:51

veye-olahere!

SandBlue · 21/09/2017 11:52

Vee-ola
Vi-olin
Brek-fast here

lilybetsy · 21/09/2017 11:52

I think Vee-Oh-La...

as a name it can be vi-Oh-la; VI-oh-la or VEE-oh-la...

(as in shakespeare in love)

SumThucker · 21/09/2017 11:52

Vi-ola (i pronounced eye).

MumoftheBoyandtheGirl · 21/09/2017 11:53

Vee ola

AccrualIntentions · 21/09/2017 11:54

I always say it as Vee-ola for the instrument but Vye-ola for the name (as in Twelfth Night) but I don't really know what I'm basing that on.

Smeaton · 21/09/2017 11:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CircleofWillis · 21/09/2017 11:57

I say "vy ola". But in OED the suggested pronunciation is "vee ola" although I have never witnessed that realisation of the word in real life.

RB68 · 21/09/2017 11:57

Vee ola for instrument

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 21/09/2017 11:57

It's Vee-ola. Your DH is right.

CircleofWillis · 21/09/2017 11:58

Until now - thank you smeaton

PuppyMonkey · 21/09/2017 11:59

I thought it was a baby name thread and was going to say I like it.Grin

Veee-ola

smallmercys · 21/09/2017 12:01

I misread the title and thought this was going to be about voilà Blush

I use vy-ola for the plant
and vee-ola for the instrument. Which I do not play, but I did know a player and that's how she said it.

SpottedGingham · 21/09/2017 12:01

Another vote for vee-ola here

paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 21/09/2017 12:02

Vee-ola.

Creatureofthenight · 21/09/2017 12:02

Yep it's vee-OH-la.
I would pronounce the name VY-ola.

TopBitchoftheWitches · 21/09/2017 12:03

Vi-o-la

MaidOfStars · 21/09/2017 12:04

I say either. Not sure I've had cause enough to say the word to develop any strong feelings on pronunciation Smile

violaMum17 · 21/09/2017 12:06
  • it's vee-ola. Or .. in German - 'bratsche'. Stick with the german - it might make you feel better... or there's always French - where the Vee- ola is an Alto.. or Dutch: altviool.... or Azerbaijani: viyola... the possibilities are endless... you could even do Pig Latin - iolavay......
grendel · 21/09/2017 12:09

DH used to play the viola in an orchestra - and has always pronounced it vee-oh-la

The pronunciation of the girl's name and flower I'm not so sure about. I think I usually say Veye-ola.

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Mum2OneTeen · 21/09/2017 12:09

Vy-ola

(obviously I'm as musical as a house brick and appear to have been mispronouncing it all these years Smile)

Narnia72 · 21/09/2017 12:10

As someone who worked in orchestral management for many years it's definitely VEE ohla. Sorry, but your husband is right. It isn't a scone scenario, I've never in 30 something years of being around orchestras heard anyone say it VI ola.

I have heard the name pronounced that way though.

Narnia72 · 21/09/2017 12:10

Sorry Vee OH la, with the stress on the second syllable.

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