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Baby names

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Original poster

How would you pronounce Eirlys?

59 replies

soundsystem · 22/06/2014 20:53

I'd only ever heard this pronounced one way, but recently have heard it pronounced differently (in a way that actually sounds nicer, but I think isn't correct!)

If you're familiar with this name, I'd be interested in your thoughts on correct pronunciation, and whether there's more than one "correct" way (regional differences, maybe?)

If you've never come across Eirlys before, I'd love your thoughts on how you'd intuitively say it.

Thanks :)

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PeachTrees · 23/06/2014 12:10

my aunty was called eirlys and it was pronounced 'ire-liss' .

Alisvolatpropiis · 23/06/2014 12:08

Ayr-liss

MrsMikeDelfino · 23/06/2014 00:28

I've never heard of it, but I'd pronounce it Ire - Liss.

drudgetrudy · 23/06/2014 00:08

Ay-r-liss in North Wales. Means snowdrop. Pretty name-a lot of ladies in their 60s and 70s are called Eirlys in North Wales

Jinsei · 22/06/2014 23:16

I had a second cousin with this name. She pronounced it something like Ayer-liss.

littlejohnnydory · 22/06/2014 23:02

Yup, v hard to describe unless iyou speak Welsh, the phonetic sound doesn't really exist in English. I'm from North Wales and air-liss sounds wrong to me. Ey -rrr-liss is the nearest I can get!

PrincessOfChina · 22/06/2014 22:38

Interesting. There's one at nursery with DD and I've never been sure I've pronounced it right, especially as she's always playing with a girl called Alice too so it's quite a mouthful when said together!

Original poster
soundsystem · 22/06/2014 22:36

That's how I've always said it, but recently have heard it more like wireless without the "w" although hard to describe.

(In case you haven't guessed, I'm not a Welsh-speaker)

OP posts:
Original poster
soundsystem · 22/06/2014 22:35

Does this sound right, then?

www.forvo.com/word/eirlys/

OP posts:
Original poster
soundsystem · 22/06/2014 22:34

Thanks all :)

OP posts:
Nereida · 22/06/2014 22:02

I pronounce it Air-liss

Writerwannabe83 · 22/06/2014 21:48

I wouldn't even know where to start in trying to work out how it's pronounced Confused

GoAndDoSomeWork · 22/06/2014 21:33

depends whether you come from north or South Wales ....

hellymelly · 22/06/2014 21:29

I don't think anyone pronounces the E I sound properly unless they are welsh speakers tbh. And in South Wales it is pronounced with more of an "eye" sound than it is in the West, where the pronounciation is more accurate! It should be between "Eye" and the ay sound in "May" You hear each letter in Welsh, it is less of a blur than in English. It is impossible to describe, you have to hear it. But Eye r Liss is about as close as you will get in print I suppose! Like Aneirin or Eira, it is a sound that you don't hear in English.

TeamEdward · 22/06/2014 21:24

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TravelinColour · 22/06/2014 21:24

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ScarlettlovesRhett · 22/06/2014 21:22

"Earlies", as in 'the early shift' is how I would pronounce it having never seen it before.

It sounds lovely with the proper pronunciation though.

CatsAreLikeChocolates · 22/06/2014 21:20

I'm with bestiswest and MrsRuff . Sort of Eye-rrr-liss, and I'm in South Wales too. Very pretty name and as pp said the welsh word for snowdrop.

ouryve · 22/06/2014 21:16

I would read the name and say "Could you tell me how to say your name correctly, please. It's not one I've seen before and I really don't want to get it wrong."

SmellsOfBiscuits · 22/06/2014 21:15

I'rliss with the emphasis on the first syllable,

Roundbales · 22/06/2014 21:11

South Wales here too... I pronounce it exactly as bestiswest described.

MrsRuffdiamond · 22/06/2014 21:10

I've never come across this name before. I would have thought it was like Iris, but with the extra 'l' - Ireliss?

parabella · 22/06/2014 21:10

I know one, she has a Chinese mum and Welsh dad and they both pronounce it er lees
I think it's a beautiful name.

SauvignonBlanche · 22/06/2014 21:07

Like McGriffo says though I've only met Welsh ones.

MadScientistsRuleTheAsylum · 22/06/2014 21:05

Same as mejon but agree it is difficult to get properly right if not a welsh speaker. I'm not, but DH and DC's are, and we have an Eira which starts with the same sound so I have had lots of pronunciation lessons!