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Original poster

welsh people help me! !

41 replies

followed · 19/08/2013 18:38

I am Welsh but not Welsh speaking, and I live in London.

I've named my 10 month old Osian and pronunce it OSHun, but recently met some Welsh speakers who pronunce it oshAN. Am I saying it incorrectly (which would be massively embarrassing!) or is my way an acceptable variation? Can't ask anyone irl due to embarrassment.

I'm in a real panic now and thinking of changing his name quickly before the 12 month deadline! I actually don't like the oshAN pronunciation at all but don't want him growing up saying his own name wrong!

Help.

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Hatecoffee · 25/08/2013 21:13

mythumbshavegoneweird well there is 7 Osians in DC school and we also know several Osians in sports clubs throughout Wales. It has become overused in the last 5-8 years and very popular all over Wales, not just the north!

Original poster
followed · 25/08/2013 08:48

People love it here. I'd say about 5% of people know it (more commonly the irish version).

Most people say just Osh actually.

I heard it had become v popular in Wales and I thought that work to my advantage as it would become slightly better known in England.

OP posts:
MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird · 25/08/2013 01:03

It does end An, but the stress is always on the last but one syllable in Welsh names. So I would say it OSH-an. In an English accent a lot of vowels get changed to an uh sound.

I am seriously considering it for DS2 but have also been out of Wales a long time. How does it go down in London? Can people remember it/get their heads round it? And Hatecoffee has it become a bit overused/over fashionable in Wales then? Quite like timeless names.

beedles17 · 24/08/2013 21:37

I'm sorry, but no matter where you are in Wales, it's OsiAn. My OH is from Cardiff, and I'm from Gwynnedd and so we have both ends covered there!!

Original poster
followed · 24/08/2013 21:13

Thanks for all your help so far everyone

At the moment I am experimenting with trying to be a bit more AN, but without tipping over the edge into sounding like I am taking the piss with a fake accent.

It is tricky!!

Still very interested in any other opinions though, as much from a purely intellectual/sociological viewpoint as a selfish help-me-out one.

OP posts:
Iwantacat · 24/08/2013 20:50

I have never heard Osian pronounced any other way. Not far from Cardiff here and always pronounced osh-AN in this area.

I suppose it depends on if you're happy with the way it sounds, I would be a bit worried that people would think his name was Ocean but that's coming from a fluent welsh speaker who pronounces all names above with an -AN.

LingDiLong · 23/08/2013 18:53

Followed, I would say all those names are pronounced with an -un at the end, even by Welsh speakers. Apart from Cian which is quite popular where I am in South Wales and does get pronounced Ci-AN.

Does that help or not?!

OverTheFieldsAndFarAway · 23/08/2013 17:26

Ok, I say Rowan like the tree, teachers call him RowAn. Makes no difference. My 3 DSs all have names ending in -an, even the non welsh names are pronounced with a hard -AN by Welsh speakers.

ClaraOswald · 23/08/2013 15:50

Grew up in West Wales, welsh speaking families (2) had Oshan

Now in South Wales, have heard both, Oshun being from a family with a broad Essex accent.

Alisvolatpropiis · 23/08/2013 15:46

When I say roe it sounds like row (as in row the boat).

My dp is called Ian and he says ee-un.

Original poster
followed · 23/08/2013 15:45

MabliD have you ever met an Osian in a non-Welsh area? if yes and they say -un, I am happy and will stop bombarding everyone with my pedantics!

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Original poster
followed · 23/08/2013 15:40

that is loe as in roe. although saying that is depends on the person and I would say it however they say it.

I have been trying to think how I say other names ending in an (including non-Welsh ones) e.g.
Rowan, Cian, Ethan, Ian, Declan, Aidan, Brian......

Do Welsh speakers pronunce the end of these names in a hard AN way too? I would say them all in a softer an/un type way. If the Welsh speakers DO pronounce the AN then this lends weight to Overthefields argument, that it is a quirk of pronunciation.

Can any Welsh speakers help me out with their pronucitations of the above list? Apple?

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Alisvolatpropiis · 23/08/2013 15:33

My aunt was a welsh first langue speaker from N.Wales.

Alisvolatpropiis · 23/08/2013 15:33

I just wondered on that as my aunt was x-Lowri and said it Lohree. However I work with a Welsh speaker (first language) who says Low-ree.

MabliD · 23/08/2013 15:30

OshAn, same as it is Duhlan and Lohree. However, there are plenty of Oshun, Dillon and Lowrees in none Welsh speaking areas. I doubt it'll make a big difference in England

Original poster
followed · 23/08/2013 15:18

Apple do you think it is wrong when you hear a non-Welsh speaker say Bethan or Megan? and/or does it annoy you?

I say Lowri as Loe-ree

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OverTheFieldsAndFarAway · 23/08/2013 13:16

To be a bit clearer.

OverTheFieldsAndFarAway · 23/08/2013 13:16

Loh-Rhee it be a bit clearer.

OverTheFieldsAndFarAway · 23/08/2013 13:15

Lo- ree

Alisvolatpropiis · 23/08/2013 13:13

I think we might need to acknowledge Welsh accents vary a bit?

Cardiff accent is vastly different to any of the other accents.

Out of interest - how do posters from other areas of Wales pronounce Lowri?

Applepiesky · 23/08/2013 10:29

OshAn....

I'm a fluent welsh speaker and I'm afraid that is the way it's pronounced.

Alisvolatpropiis · 21/08/2013 10:06

OP

I'm from Cardiff too - say Bethan in the same way as you do.

I think as with many names, accents affect pronounciation.

OverTheFieldsAndFarAway · 21/08/2013 08:42

I am also in North Wales, I have only ever heard Osh-an. I really don't think it matters too much though. It's a great name regardless of how you pronounce it. It's a bit like Dylan....Welsh speakers say Dul-an....but it's the norm to say Dil-an.

Original poster
followed · 21/08/2013 08:27

Frisky, that is the sort of difference I'm talking about yes. Where you might be a -en, -in or -un depending on your accent.

I guess the difference is that there are no Greek speakers to offend!

That is interesting you are North Wales hatecoffee, I think this has all come about because of my Cardiff accent. I can hear that it is OshAn in proper Welsh!

I suppose I just need to decide now whether to change my pronunciation or the whole name. Or just chill out a bit and assume North Waleans won't find me in London!

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FriskyHenderson · 20/08/2013 22:53

Even the English say Hel-lin and Hel-lun for Helen - is it that different?