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Original poster

Ethne pronunciation?

36 replies

CityFox · 12/02/2016 20:19

Is it Eth-nee? I know it's a Gaelic name and so possibly not said the way it looks in English.

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MitzyLeFrouf · 15/02/2016 16:32

1630s?

That's what's known as a blow in.

DamsonInDistress · 15/02/2016 16:25

Eth-nee may be 'wrong' but like I said earlier, my mil is Irish back to the 1630's, and her parents and grandparents never left Ireland in their lives, and she is an Eth-nee.

ConesOfDunshire · 15/02/2016 10:34

I think Ethne and Eithne are really different names.

I know an English Ethne in her thirties and she is universally called Eth-nee.

WinterWinnie · 14/02/2016 19:37

I would say it: Eth-nee

Embolio · 14/02/2016 17:29

I've only ever come across Eth-na/nuh (in Northern Ireland) all old ladies. It's quite old lady chic though, maybe due a come back?

squoosh · 13/02/2016 21:42

Yes the Eth-na/neh/nuh pronunciations all sound basically the same.

Eth-nee is wrong.

Havalina1 · 13/02/2016 21:36

Yeah, Eithne, said Eth-neh

I don think I know any though (am Irish too).

Sgoinneal · 13/02/2016 20:47

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Sgoinneal · 13/02/2016 20:45

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FiFiIsAPoodlesName · 13/02/2016 16:06

I know loads of people called Eithne and I've only ever heard it pronounced as Eth-na/Et-na (depending on accent) although I believe in the north then sometimes say enya.

Never, ever, ever eth-nee or eth-nay.

Maryz · 13/02/2016 10:53

This reply has been deleted

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Alisvolatpropiis · 13/02/2016 10:49

Um blabber, Welsh people speak Welsh not Gaelic.

Original poster
CityFox · 13/02/2016 09:20

I'm guessing the old lady Et-na is akin to the English Edna, old lady and should probably stay that way.

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BabeBettaKnow · 13/02/2016 09:14

Another Irish MN-er and have only ever seen it as 'Eithne', pronounced Eth-na or Et-na. Its an old lady name.

MazzleDazzle · 13/02/2016 09:12

Eth-nay or Eth-nee depending on your dialect.

seven201 · 13/02/2016 09:05

I teach an Aithne and hers is pronounced Ethnee. Probably not much help!

Original poster
CityFox · 13/02/2016 08:59

I don't suppose it really matters, so far it can be pronounced:

Eth-na
Eth-neh
Eth-nay
Eth-nee
Et-na
En-ya

OP posts:
Jemimapuddleduk · 13/02/2016 08:54

I know one and it's pronounced Eth-nay and I really like it!

bb888 · 13/02/2016 08:54

What about Xanthe or Ianthe for a similar sound?

Pidapie · 13/02/2016 08:51

eth-ney was my first thought.

socktastic · 13/02/2016 08:43

From reading it, I'd pronounce it eth-nay a bit like Esme

Original poster
CityFox · 12/02/2016 22:57

Wow, so many different pronunciations!

OP posts:
DamsonInDistress · 12/02/2016 22:41

My Irish mil is Eithne pronounced Eth-nee.

IoraRua · 12/02/2016 21:06

If you pick an Irish name, pronounce it properly. It's Eithne (eth-nah) here.

mrsschu · 12/02/2016 21:05

Agree with the Eth-na pronounciation. The youngest one I know is about 35 so it's more unusual these days.

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