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Original poster

How do you pronounce William?

98 replies

wwoonn · 28/11/2016 23:21

I say it with 3 syllables, but it's supposed to only be 2? Confused

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PinkCrystal · 02/12/2016 18:38

I'm up north and have only heard

Willy um

DailyMailJournosSmell · 30/11/2016 21:52

Will-ye-um

Eminybob · 30/11/2016 21:41

I have a William. I say will-ee-um, DH says will-yum.
No wonder the poor thing can't even say his own name (though tbf he's only 2)

Backingvocals · 30/11/2016 21:30

Yes actually Clarrie goes for Wiw Yum.

Backingvocals · 30/11/2016 21:28

Beaten to it by lottie. I also wanted to mention Clarrie's Will Yum.

I am posher than Clarrie Wink and my version comes out at 2.5 syllables. Will eeam.

sj257 · 30/11/2016 21:22

3 syllables

Ontopofthesunset · 29/11/2016 23:01

You know when the 'l' is pronounced almost like a 'w' - sawt, miwk, terribuw, impossibuw; it's a common pronunciation but in most of the country the 'l' in milk is pronounced as a light l.

ScarletSienna · 29/11/2016 22:59
  1. Cannot get it into two syllables despite several attempts.
TownMouseCuntMouse · 29/11/2016 22:27

Ha, my sahf east london toddler DD says miwk, giwls, and 'Wiwwiam'. DH is Will and they all call him 'Wiw' round here. Unfortunate.

NotAMammy · 29/11/2016 22:09

Will-yem but if I was doing it in my strongest accent it would be 'wull-yum'
I've been trying to say 'Will-ee-um' outloud but I can't seem to manage it.

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 29/11/2016 22:07

Will-ee-um
Definitely 3 syllables the way I say it
(up north)

cheekyfunkymonkey · 29/11/2016 22:05

Three here, never realised it was pronounced with two, every day's a learning day Wink

VelvetThunder · 29/11/2016 22:05

Also Kent, I've always said William with 3 syllables and have always heard it pronounced that way too.

n0ne · 29/11/2016 22:04

Willy-yum - Essex/London

SatsukiKusakabe · 29/11/2016 21:58

I've looked up dark l - never heard that description - and I see what you are saying, but agree with Lola that it is regional and the l is generally pronounced in milk.

In estuary/south Essex it would be mi-wk but also definitely William with 3 syllables.

whirliegig · 29/11/2016 21:33

sorry - I should have proofread

a dark "l" as in milk - so it's almost pronounced mi-wk. Likewise, Wiw - yum

There's a funny autocorrect thing going on that rendered that post incomprehensible..... I can see it in action, changing what I type as I go....

lola111 · 29/11/2016 21:13

the dark 'l in mil - mi-wk
that's a very regional thing.In most of the country it is pronounced with a definite 'l'

..and William is 3 syllables to me

AtSea1979 · 29/11/2016 21:09

3

gillybeanz · 29/11/2016 21:06

I have one and it's willy-am

rainbow99 · 29/11/2016 21:04

I say it with 3 too

Crunchymum · 29/11/2016 20:36

3 here... London

SatsukiKusakabe · 29/11/2016 18:26

but it's a very dark "l" so it's almost not pronounced "l" but more like Wi-w-yum like the dark 'l in mil - mi-wk). Just to confuse things even more

Well, yes, that has absolutely confused me Smile

Ponders a 'dark l' and what is meant by "mi-wk" Grin

OliviaBensonOnAGoodDay · 29/11/2016 18:13

I'd say William. I am not posh, at all! Last in a long line of Cockneys. I think Willyum sounds quite plummy!

whirliegig · 29/11/2016 18:09

will-yum

but it's a very dark "l" so it's almost not pronounced "l" but more like Wi-w-yum like the dark 'l in mil - mi-wk). Just to confuse things even more :-)

Artandco · 29/11/2016 18:06

Evelyn I would say 3 syllables as well.
Ev-eh-Lyn