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Original poster

How would you pronounce Clementine?

95 replies

BotBotticelli · 11/01/2015 21:29

Clemen-teen or Clemen-tyne?

I think it looks lovely written down but I only really like the 'teen' pronunciation....

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sleepywombat · 26/01/2015 05:45

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mathanxiety · 26/01/2015 04:51

It's mandarin, not mandarine.

Clemen-teen is really a hybrid pronunciation.

reuset · 24/01/2015 10:41

I don't think the Clemen- teen pronunciation is necessarily just French, as Churchill's wife used this, and she was English.

This thread Grin

You're right. An English person uses a, any French pronunciation and that makes it 'not necessarily just French'.

reuset · 24/01/2015 10:26

By that logic (being a fruit) Mandarine would be pronounced Manda-ryne!

No it wouldn't. Hmm

shoobidoo · 24/01/2015 07:24

By that logic (being a fruit) Mandarine would be pronounced Manda-ryne!Grin

Messygirl · 24/01/2015 06:32

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sleepywombat · 24/01/2015 05:57

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NadiaWadia · 24/01/2015 03:45

Both are acceptable. Do you think maybe the 'tyne' pronunciation is actually American, but got to be known over here because of the song? But then we have 'Caroline' with an 'yne' sound, don't we? - so maybe not.

I don't think the Clemen- teen pronunciation is necessarily just French, as Churchill's wife used this, and she was English.

I like them both but maybe 'Clemen-teen' is slightly prettier. I don't think it matters about the fruit, that's a red herring. (No, it's a fruit Smile)

reuset · 24/01/2015 03:01

Charlotte potatoes, Anya potatoes or Edward potatoes are all pronounced like the name, why on earth would the Clementine be pronounced differently, just because it happens to be a fruit?!

^This

shoobidoo · 23/01/2015 15:38

Clement-een. Both the name and fruit.

As was already stated above, the fruit was discovered by Frenchman Clément Rodier - so pronounced Clementeene.

Charlotte potatoes, Anya potatoes or Edward potatoes are all pronounced like the name, why on earth would the Clementine be pronounced differently, just because it happens to be a fruit?!

atticusclaw · 21/01/2015 19:44

tyne name, teen fruit.

TheHorseHasBolted · 21/01/2015 19:42

Tyne.

mathanxiety · 21/01/2015 18:32

True, but if you choose the -teen pronunciation I don't think you have to go all French with the Clem-on-teen or Cley-mon-teen pronunciation. (In all likelihood an English speaker is going to get that first N wrong anyway.)

reuset · 21/01/2015 18:29

I don't agree. They, the English, more usually say clementyne

mathanxiety · 21/01/2015 18:22

In my case, to distinguish the fruit from the name.

I think Clementeen is as sturdy a pronunciation for English speakers as Josephine is (as opposed to Zhozefeen).

reuset · 21/01/2015 18:19

Why do you think it is tyne for the fruit? What reasoning?

It's more likely to be the other way around. Clementine, the fruit named after a French person named Clément.

I'd also spell it Clémentine using accent if using the french pronunciation of cle (cley) mon teen.

mathanxiety · 21/01/2015 18:19

Caroline is -lyne, but then Jacqueline is -leen.

So are
Celine
Alexandrine
Josephine
Francine
Justine
Delphine
Christine
Emmeline
Pauline
Nadine

chuggies · 21/01/2015 18:06

We have a Clem-on-teen.

Tyne for the fruit.

PisforPeter · 17/01/2015 17:00

Tyne
Love that name btw

Jackieharris · 17/01/2015 17:00

Tyne

reuset · 17/01/2015 16:58

I'm surprised so many people are saying teen. I've never heard it called that way before.

I have, just not in the UK. That bit does surprise me, I agree. And then, with my European relations, it is clem on teen, not clem en teen

reuset · 17/01/2015 16:54

How then do you pronounce Caroline, bigblue? Using that logic Wink Do you also pronounce the European way.

reuset · 17/01/2015 16:52

If you're using 'teen' then you need to go the whole hog and pronounce it clem- on -teen, like my French grandmother does. Otherwise you can sound like a twit.
I know one person with a three or four year old Clementine who pronounces it clem- en -teen, in a broad northern accent, and it sounds awful.

Blueberrybaby · 17/01/2015 09:05

I say Tyne. I've met a baby Clementine before and forgot her mother used the 'teen' pronunciation. A few times I've bumped into her and said hello to Clementyne only to be corrected (which is fine but I'm not sure I could be arsed!)

SauvignonBlank · 16/01/2015 19:47

Tyne. The only one I know is aka Clemmie, and behind her back, ClammieGrin

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