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Original poster

Scottish folks - how to pronounce Beatrice?

58 replies

SunnyL · 23/02/2016 14:46

Beatrice is my mother's middle name and is on our shortlist for girls names. I'm dragging my heels as I'm not entirely sure how I should be pronouncing it.

DH is English and is very clear how he would pronounce it. I'm Scottish and we live in Scotland so want to be sure I pronounce it the way it commonly would be.

So is it:
Bee-ah-trice or
Beer-trice?

Help!

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deste · 01/03/2016 22:17

Bee-a-triss.

YouMakeMyDreams · 28/02/2016 08:27

My mum says bee-a-triss I would lean more towards beer-triss but the r wouldn't be as strong or as obvious as if I was saying beer on its own.

elor11 · 28/02/2016 08:20

Bee- triss

CormoranStrike · 27/02/2016 16:10

Bee a triss, like is is spelt; no random r for me.

Nospringflower · 27/02/2016 15:03

Beetriss (Edinburgh) - can't believe Scottish folk are saying beer.

Original poster
SunnyL · 27/02/2016 14:55

Honestly that link to how you say it in Italian is totally swinging me towards putting this at the top of the shortlist. Sounds gorgeous!

OP posts:
weebarra · 27/02/2016 11:50

Midlothian here. Bee-a-triss. But a very short "a".

GreatAuntLavinia · 27/02/2016 11:48

I'm from West Lothian, but lived in London for 25 years ... my family say 'Beetriss'. I've retained my accent (so I'm told) but would now say 'Bee-ah-triss'. No 'r's!

derxa · 27/02/2016 10:36
Pronounce it the Italian way Grin S Lanarkshire here 'Bee a triss'
Walkingonsunshine00 · 27/02/2016 10:25

Bee-a-trice! I'm scottish

ophiotaurus · 27/02/2016 10:22

Beertriss here Aberdeenshire.

dotdotdotmustdash · 27/02/2016 10:14

Edinburgh here. Bee-triss

SunnyScot89 · 26/02/2016 08:35

beer-tris. I stay in edinburgh.

lostscot · 25/02/2016 21:01

Bee triss (Edinburgh)

tabulahrasa · 25/02/2016 20:54

Be a triss...from the north west originally now live in the east central belt, I have no idea what accent I have though as it's neither of those really, so maybe geography is a bit irrelevant? Lol

Tomorrowisanewday · 25/02/2016 20:52

Bee-triss - I'm in northern scotland x

Juliecloud · 25/02/2016 20:49

Beer triss here (from Edinburgh).

Sgoinneal · 25/02/2016 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

museumum · 25/02/2016 20:45

Dundonian tbh it's not a name I'd use due to the awkwardness of that bit in the middle. However I say it just doesn't sound right or nice. Sorry.

LinghamStyle · 25/02/2016 20:42

Ha! Pleased to see I'm not the only person that hasn't added r to it.

How do all you r-adders say the shortened version then? Beer? Be-ah? Grin

BloodyDogHairs · 25/02/2016 16:04

Be-a-triss or Beer-a-triss, it all depends how quickly I say it.

also from Stirling, hi Jessie Smile

JessieMcJessie · 25/02/2016 16:00

I don't know - if you ever add an "r" to it (beer-trice) then a few posters on here (myself included) would think that was wrong!

But maybe the casting vote goes to your Mum, whose middle name it is? She must have decided a long time ago how to say it.

Original poster
SunnyL · 25/02/2016 15:54

Thats my problem Jessie - I feel like i pronounce it differently every time I try. its like the more I try the less sure I get of how it should be pronounced.

However I'm pleased to hear there isn't a wrong way judging by the comments on here.

OP posts:
JessieMcJessie · 25/02/2016 14:37

How do you pronounce it OP?

JessieMcJessie · 25/02/2016 14:35

I too am astounded that any Scottish person would add an "r" where there is none. We don't do it with any other words (like the English "draw-ring") or between words with vowels (like the English call "JessicaR Ennis". )

It's Beet-riss or be-a-triss to me; I'd take the lead from the parents as I think both are acceptable alternatives.

(I'm from Stirling)