Pronunciation of Clementine

No he didn't, Hello Dolly aside, he preferred it pronounced Lou-ee - he was born in New Orleans, after all...

From wiki...

He preferred that his name be pronounced Louie. "It's like Louis Armstrong?he spelled his name Louis, but he liked it to be said as Louie," recalls Louie Bellson [1]. Armstrong was registered as "Lewie" for the 1920 U.S. Census. On various live records he's called "Louie" on stage, such as on the 1952 "Can Anyone Explain?" from the live album In Scandinavia vol.1. It should also be noted that "Lewie" is the French pronunciation of "Louis" and is commonly used in Louisiana. However, when referring to himself in "Hello Dolly!," he pronounces his name as "Lewis" ("Hello, Dolly. This is Lewis, Dolly"), pronouncing the 's'.

I would say Clementeen. I would also say Louie but I know that Louis Armstrong pronounced it Lewis. Sorry, Im not that helpful.

But you don't care Caroleen rather than Caroline do you? People will mainly say Tyne not teen as that is the norm here for that name.

I have a friend with a DD she wants to be called Soph Fi uh, but most people can't really help but say Soph fee uh as that is the accepted norm really. With the song and the fruit connection I think it would be very difficult to get people how had been saying Tyne for 20/30/40 years to start saying it differently. It would be like announcing there was a new way of saying banana!

People will say what they want to say. People ask my surname, I tell them how to say it, they repeat it back to me totally wrongly

I sometimes correct again, but tbvh I think it looks a bit knobbish to keep correcting as its not an English name so people probably find it harder.

Oh my darling, oh my darling , oh my darling Clementine!

Tyne on the song, teen often by convention your call.

Don't let that put you off, Sophia (is it Sof-eye-ah, Sophie-ah or even Sooooh fia) or Helena (Helen-a, H-eleanor) etc are all similar.

Nice name

This thread is REALLY making want a new DD, called Clementine.

I too would pronounce Emmeline and Emma-leen. What about Adeline though?

I think I'd say Clem en tyne too... and yet would pronounce Emmeline as Emma leen. What's all that about? Either way, I'm sure everyone would get the hang of it pretty quickly, as most introductions you would make would be verbal so everyone would copy how you said it. It's a lovely name however you say it

"Oh ma daaarlin' Clem un teen"

"Very odd to pronounce it Loo-is "

Not that odd in most countries outside of France (and parts of the UK). Germans, Scandinavians, Dutch and most Americans pronounce Louis phonetically (e.g. St Louis).

I would say Lou-ee and Clemen-Tyne.But if you sent a birth announcement text saying Clementine (the French way) I would get what you meant and say it like that.It is a nice name,don't let it out you off!

I would have said Clemen'teen' but would be happy to be corrected by parents of 'tynes'. Would say Lou'ie' too.

I would pronounce Louis as Louie, but my first thought on seeing the name Clementine would be that it would rhyme with time, be the same as the fruit.

Lewis is an island, totally different name, so should not be confused with Louis IMHO.

The Macmillan dictionary has a sound-out facility, which pronounces it tyne, with an English accent.

Clem-un-teen - the correct way. Clementine Churchill was clem-un-teen.

The 'tine' pronunciation is an Americanised one.

Hmm, well, I don't think you are over-thinking it and Kerala's post proves rather than disproves that.

Everyone obviously defaults to the Clem-en-tyne pronunciation, if she's only had to correct people a handful of times in 4 years...

If you think/know it's going to wind you up, then I wouldn't do it. For what it's worth, DD has a name which can be pronounced 3 ways - all perfectly acceptable and legitimate. I knew it would be an issue when we chose her name, and so try not to don't let it bother me when people get it 'wrong'.

However, if I had two children with such names, I think it would get on my nerves a bit.

If you're in the UK/an English-speaking country, people will most likely go with Clem-en-tyne. If you think that's going to annoy you, then maybe go with something else. Shame, as it's a lovely name, pronounced either way. :)

We have a surname that people miss pronounce and it drives me mad so we gave our DC names that couldn't happen with as it does wear you down tbh.

I would have said Louie for Louis until recently, but now that gymnast Louis Smith has got popular and he says Lewis... So I wouldn't be sure now.

I would definetly say Tyne not Teen though as that is the way the song goes and that is how most people think of the name, well that and the fruit and most people say Tyne for the fruit too.

How about Clemence?

It's a lovely name, but if your DD will grow up in the UK then I'm afraid that people will pronounce it to rhyme with 'Tyne' until you correct them.

Oh yes and Clemency is gorgeous, less twee and no pronunciation issues.

I think most people say Tyne not teen.

Its ok but I prefer Clemency :)

I have only met one other, her mother was a nightmare random I met at a wedding. I usually get on with most people but it became apparent during our short conversation that we had opposing opinions on absolutely everything, obviously her daughters name was pronounced "teen" mine was "tyne"

Yes to rhyme with 'time'.

FWIW I would pronounce Louis 'loo-ee' but as a teacher have come across many that pronounce the S so I always check.

I wouldn't be surprised by a 'teen' pronunciation of Clementine but it wouldn't be my first guess.