How do you pronounce Gigha ?

[Magix]

Saw this written down today I've never seen it before how do you pronounce it ?

[LCHammer]

I'd probably say it Gee-Gah.

[lunar1]

Like a Geiger counter. ( no idea if I spelt that right!)

[HyvaPaiva]

It's a Scottish island. You pronounce it Ghee-Ah.

[JeanSeberg]

The gh is a y - so pronounced like gear.

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

Gee - ah

[alita7]

I'd have thought guy-ger like lunar said

[SirChenjin]

It's a Scottish island, pronounced Ghee-Ah

[Glasshammer]

Gaia is also a name gy-ah

[Magix]

Thanks if I had to pronounce it I would have said "gee-ah" but I wasn't sure !

[florascotia]

You can hear Gigha pronounced by a native Scottish speaker here:
www.forvo.com/word/gigha/

Here's a description of the island from VisitScotland:
www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/gigha-p235281

[aoife24]

Gee (hard sound) yah.

[Magix]

Is it bad that I'm scottish ?

[soontobeslendergirl]

Magix, it's never bad to be Scottish

....but yes, that is pretty embarrasing - I thought it was someone from the Home Counties who thought it would be cute to name their child after a Scottish Island they'd never been to, seen or heard off before..... but then how else can you explain the populatity of Skye, Isla(y), Ailsa and Iona? :o

[MagicalHamSandwich]

I'd pronounce it JEE-ga, but that's arguably not what it's supposed to sound like.

[2madboys]

No idea, but if you're considering it for your child think very carefully. I go by my middle name (thanks parents!), so every time I had a new class/teacher, I had to explain that I didn't go by the name on their list. It was hugely embarrassing at the time. I couldn't care less now, but not great for a child. They would have to spell it/explain the pronunciation every time.

[soontobeslendergirl]

They would have to spell it/explain the pronunciation every time

Not in Scotland they shouldn't. But i guess it depends where.

It's definitely Gee - ah with a hard G as in Gallop.

[SirChenjin]

That would be the bus journey from hell.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

I'd vacillate between Giga(watt) and Gieger(counter). I love the idea of a tech-inspired name, much more appropriate in the 21st Century than all those nature names .

[florascotia]

Continuing the Scottish geographical theme, there's also Morvern (a peninsula), Morven (different spelling, a mountain), Shona, Rona, Eriska, Eriskay, Hirta, Vaila ...(all islands; there are dozens of others though few with really pretty names, IMHO. No disrespect intended, but Muckle Flugga, anyone?)


But to be serious, if you love a name, then use it - though perhaps best to stick to 'standard' pronunciation, to avoid embarrassment for the child in future.

Article by a writer with a Scottish geographical name here:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/03/joy-being-called-morven-crumlish