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Original poster

How would you spell..

31 replies

Mausageandsash · 28/08/2016 17:32

People pronounce it in different ways usually Saf-eye-ah/Saf-ee-ah but how would you spell it? Thanks!

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WankersHacksandThieves · 31/08/2016 11:51

Yes, I'm Scottish so a bit Hmm at them sounding the same.

People who say they sound the same are also sounding them out completely differently which is confusing me. If you are saying Saf eye ah as Saf eye arr, then at least show that's how you are sounding it, because at the moment, one is sounded with and R and the other isn't (which is as it should be :) ) Also with Sapphire there isn't really a gap between they sounds as there is with Safiya. And I'm not getting into the Sophia debate.

NotAQueef · 31/08/2016 11:03

I know a Sophia pronounced So-FYE-ah

Alisvolatpropiis · 31/08/2016 10:46

Same manic.

Irish, Scottish and American people will pronounce their r's more strongly though.

manicinsomniac · 31/08/2016 10:30

I genuinely can't find a difference between Saff-ire and Saf-eye-ah

WankersHacksandThieves · 30/08/2016 20:09

Sapphire is Saff- ire
Sophia is So fee ah
To get Saf-eye-ah I'd spell it Safiya
To get Saf-ee-ah I'd spell it Safia

Both the latter sound Indian/middle eastern to me so I'd take advice from someone in the know in that case.

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/08/2016 16:16
RitesOfSpring · 30/08/2016 14:50

Depends where you're from, polly!

pollyblack · 30/08/2016 14:35

You don't pronounce Sapphire ending in a A sound, it ends with an R sound.

Fayaa · 30/08/2016 14:31

For saf-eye-ah, I would have Sapphire.

For saf-ee-ah, I would spell it Safiya or Safia, potentially Saphia (effectively, in the same way the same Sophia varies).

BendydickCuminsnatch · 30/08/2016 13:18

I know of a Saffia, love it! SA-fia, to rhyme with 'ear' but a soft/subtle 'R'.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 30/08/2016 13:14

Safia would make me think of Sofia (the non-English variant of Sophia) so I would say Sah-fee-ah. Sapphire, I would pronounce Sah-fire (I pronounce my 'r' sounds quite clearly as I have an Irish accent).

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/08/2016 13:11

The Germanic pronunciation of Sophia is essentially Sapphire.

It was more common in Britain than so-fee-uh until relatively recently.

Which is why Sophia Gardens in Cardiff is pronounced Sapphire Gardens.

Coconutty · 28/08/2016 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aisatsana · 28/08/2016 22:26

Emphasis on the first syllable too. So SAF-eeah. I've know 3 or 4 and it's always been pronounced that way.

aisatsana · 28/08/2016 22:24

Safia is saf-ee-a, no eye sound

user1471501988 · 28/08/2016 22:08

Sapphire

manicinsomniac · 28/08/2016 20:17

Saf- eye- ah would rhyme with fire wouldn't it?

MrsGsnow18 · 28/08/2016 20:09

I get you know OP! ( it makes sense)
Out of the two you suggested I would pronounce ee not eye.
So I would pronounce safia as saf--ee-ah.

I'm confused by people suggesting sapphire. Is it not pronounced like the gemstone? To rhyme with fire?

Eolian · 28/08/2016 19:31

Hard to tell which name you mean. Sophia and Sapphire are obviously two different names (pronounced Suh-FEE-a and SAF-eye-a). I've never heard of safiya or safiyya.

RedDogsBeg · 28/08/2016 19:31

Safia

Motherfuckers · 28/08/2016 19:27

Safiyya (sa-fee-ya)

manicinsomniac · 28/08/2016 19:20

I would say Saf-eye-ah is Sapphire and Saf-ee-ah is either Safiya or Sophia

HerdsOfWilderbeest · 28/08/2016 18:15

Do you mean Sophia

unicornthong · 28/08/2016 18:13

Safia. I had a friend with this name, pronounced Saff-ee-ah.

UmbongoUnchained · 28/08/2016 17:50

Do you mean sapphire?