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Original poster

Lena pronunciation?

40 replies

lchodge · 18/09/2011 20:57

Would you say Lay-na or Len-a?

Not bothered how it should be pronounced just want to know how you would assume it's pronounced.

Cheers :)

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1234BOYS · 20/09/2011 15:03

I have a friend called Lena. Pronounced Ley-na.

Ephiny · 20/09/2011 14:48

Oh yes it's a perfectly nice pronunciation, just not one I've heard - I'd never tell someone how to pronounce their own name though, how rude!

stardustn · 20/09/2011 14:40

Ephiny- yes I think it is the least used pronunciation, and pretty much everyone calls me Helen-uh or Hel-ay-na upon seeing it written down. A few people have even insisted that I'm wrong and said "That's Helen-uh!" like as though I don't know my own name! Shock I was delighted when I found this: www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/helena showing that it is a valid pronunciation :o

Ephiny · 20/09/2011 14:29

I would assume 'Lay-na', would be happy to be corrected if wrong though.

Have never heard Helena with an 'ee' sound in the middle, either with a short e as in Helen or as He-lay-na.

stardustn · 20/09/2011 12:35

Lee-na. I often use this as a nn, short for Helena (pn Hel-ee-na). Most people do say Lee-na, had the odd Lay-na but not many :) A lot less mispronunciations than using Helena anyway! :p

tammytoby · 19/09/2011 21:53

I'd say Le-na like Nena.

BenRoo · 19/09/2011 21:44

I'd pronounce it Lee-Na
Like Zena is pronounced Zee-Na Wink

Meteorite · 19/09/2011 21:41

Lee-na

wigglesrock · 19/09/2011 12:07

I'd pronounce it Lee na.

whizzyrocket · 19/09/2011 11:19

Leyna as we're English but I have known a danish Lena who pronounced hers Lenna.

Original poster
lchodge · 19/09/2011 11:04

kellestar I totally agree I can't be doing with correcting people forever. Plus there's always the ones who continue to pronounce it their own way regardless!
Went right off it now.
Thanks though everyone!

OP posts:
Aphria · 19/09/2011 09:37

My only association is Lena Zavaroni so I would pronounce it Lee-na.

kellestar · 19/09/2011 08:50

Another for the Len-ah way, one lady I worked with was finnish and recently a Czech who also pronounces it the same way.

I liked Elena for DD but found more people would pronounce it El-ay-na rather than Eh-len-ah the way we wanted to pronounce it. Decided it was too much stress correcting people on how it's said.

Rhubarbgarden · 19/09/2011 08:37

Lee-na

savoycabbage · 19/09/2011 00:50

Lee-na like

SaffronCake · 19/09/2011 00:44

Lee-na

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 19/09/2011 00:43

Lay-na.

hulabula · 18/09/2011 21:54

In English there isn't a phoneme to describe the sound of the -ena as it would be pronounced in German and French, but it would be closer to Lay-na, without such a pronounced -ay (if that makes sense Blush)

MumbaiMamma · 18/09/2011 21:52

Lee-na.

Flowerista · 18/09/2011 21:52

Lay na. Tis my next door neighbours name and thats how she says it.

bonkers20 · 18/09/2011 21:51

I would say Lee-na. I have a friend whose DD is Lena with a french accent over the e (the child is 1/2 french) and I pronounce that Lay-na, though I have never met the child so don't actually know if this is right!

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 18/09/2011 21:48

bold not italics

getting my hat now

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 18/09/2011 21:48

ok - that didn't work. the ye was supposed to be in italics but for some reason wasn't. stress on the ye basically

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 18/09/2011 21:47

i would say lee-yena but only because i studied russian at university..

hulabula · 18/09/2011 21:47

Neither Lay-na nor Lee-na but Leh-na (with a long eh sound).