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Original poster

How do you pronounce Eugenie?

32 replies

dollydoops · 30/05/2012 07:14

I don't want to name a baby Eugenie, just saw it on another thread and it set me off wondering how to pronounce it, as I do whenever I see Princess Eugenie mentioned. I always thought it was you- GEE knee, but then I saw an article suggesting YOU- je-knee. Anyone?

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LurkingAndLearningForNow · 16/07/2012 03:17

You-Geen-ee

wishes · 16/07/2012 03:10

When she was first born, the BBC (who used to get things right) called her Err-zhen-ee. With the emphasis on the first syllable.

It could have been worse though. She's lucky Fergie didn't think of Syob-harn or Hermy-own or Penny-lope...

HRHEightiesChick · 01/06/2012 22:07

OK, Prince Andrew has just pronounced it YOU- je-knee on ITV - as someone posted that Sarah did earlier. So at least we know the Yorks say it that way if no one else does.

highlystrung · 01/06/2012 07:30

It's my daughters middle name and we pronounce it you-j'ai-nee.

funnymummy9 · 30/05/2012 22:24

YOU-JEAN

jaffacakehips · 30/05/2012 15:19

My friend's DD2 is called this...suits her.

We say: you-jane-ee

Frontpaw · 30/05/2012 15:02

You-zheeeneeeehh (With a French accent)
I only know French ones!

StepOutOfSpring · 30/05/2012 15:00

"Anyone else think You-zhay-nee and Oo-zhen-ee are starting to look like normal names now!"

Not so much normal as on the Wine :o

ripsishere · 30/05/2012 14:41

IMVHO, it's pronounced fucking dreadful.

squoosh · 30/05/2012 14:37

Anyone else think You-zhay-nee and Oo-zhen-ee are starting to look like normal names now!

Bue · 30/05/2012 14:35

Sarah Ferguson says it (through lips that no longer open) at 0:02 in . YOU-jen-ie.

PercyFilth · 30/05/2012 13:13

you-zhay-nee is similar to the French, although in French it's more uh-zhay-nee . I think it depends on whether there is an accent on the middle e = Eugénie.

badtime · 30/05/2012 12:08

I had heard the 'use your knees' thing as well.

www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/109755-fergie-s-duckling-turns-into-swan

However, I think 'you-zhay-nee' or 'Oo-zhen-ee' are also pretty common.

wem · 30/05/2012 11:33

I knew a Eugenie who pronounced it with emphasis on a zhay sound in the middle.

Merrow · 30/05/2012 11:26

My DP used to know the royal one: she pronounced it you - jenn - a, but apparently had to correct everyone to that pronunciation, so I'm guessing it's not standard.

squoosh · 30/05/2012 11:17

I though it had a zhay sound in the middle.

It's one of those secret society names. Prove how posh you are by altering the middle syllable ever so slightly. Get it wrong and you'll be cast out of decent society forever!

Dollydowser · 30/05/2012 11:11

I think it is You-j'ai-knee, with the middle bit pronounced with a soft j, as if you were speaking french, saying J'ai.

hugebluebump · 30/05/2012 11:01

I know a Eugene, pronounced Yew-jean. So I'd just add an -ie sound at the end to get to Eugenie.

CaoNiMa · 30/05/2012 11:00

I once read that Princess Eugenie pronounces her name to sound like "use your knees", and her nickname is "Yooj".

Stellan · 30/05/2012 10:49

Only the royal one, dollydoops!

Original poster
dollydoops · 30/05/2012 09:35

This thread exemplifies the problem: pretty much everyone has said something different! :o does anyone actually know a Eugenie?

OP posts:
Stellan · 30/05/2012 08:55

I think it is yoo-zhay-NEE

Trills · 30/05/2012 08:36

You-genie as in genie in a bottle.

Emphasis on the gene of genie

StepOutOfSpring · 30/05/2012 08:35

(on TV not in person that is!!)

StepOutOfSpring · 30/05/2012 08:35

I heard Sarah Ferguson refer to Princess Eugenie as YOU-jen-ee.

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