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Original poster

Welsh name help!

35 replies

MummyMcCabe · 10/06/2017 07:52

Hi. We live in Wales but don't speak Welsh and really like the name Rhian. The way we pronounce it is 'rhiun' and not 'rhiAnne', is that ok? I've heard people be called both see. Thanks!!

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MikeUniformMike · 10/06/2017 14:48

Rhiannon. Lovely name but I would say it as two syllables or as Rhee- ANN-on. Not Ree-Annan

SoyUnPerdedor2 · 10/06/2017 14:18

Sorry.
I may be confusing it with rhianon?
That would have more of about ANNE in the middle?

MikeUniformMike · 10/06/2017 14:05

Soy. You are mistaken. In Welsh the emphasis is almost ALWAYS on the last but one syllable. Rhi-Anne is as horrible as pronouncing Debora as De-BOR-a or Rachel as Ray-CHEL.

MikeUniformMike · 10/06/2017 14:02

The RH sound is not the same as R. It is like a Scottish/Spanish R said at the same time as H.

Rhian does not rhyme with Ian (EE-un) or like Leanne (Lee-ANNE).

Instead it is RHEE-ann. Think of how you say Leanne but instead of saying Lee Anne you put more emphasis on the Lee bit.

SoyUnPerdedor2 · 10/06/2017 13:59

Rhe-un would seem to be the more English (lazy) pronunciation.
More emphasis on the ANNE ending would be the Welsh way.
I would think.

SamiZayn · 10/06/2017 13:44

Mike I might be being thick but I can't work out the difference between the second pronunciation given by op and yours. I know both pronunciations

MikeUniformMike · 10/06/2017 12:03

It is neither. It is RhEE-an - the an is like the an in can.
The Rh is R and H said at the same time.
I work with a Rhian (in England) and I get comments about how I am the only one who says it properly.

Please think twice before giving your child a name you can't pronounce.

llangennith · 10/06/2017 11:36

I've only ever heard it pronounced Rhi-anne.

Onceafortnight · 10/06/2017 11:24

I know a 'Rhiun' and a 'Rhianne'. Either is fine.

Blondielongie · 10/06/2017 07:53

The way you say it is right.

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