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Original poster

Pronouncing baby's name wrong

234 replies

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 15/10/2017 07:58

Friend has had a baby girl - Anaïs.

Lovely name, but they pronounce it Annay, and not An-eye-ees.

I saw it written down before I heard them say it, and said “I love the name Anaïs” to the grandmother (also my friend). She told me that that’s not how it should be pronounced.

Should I explain what a diaeresis is for?

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stevensupersquirrel · 15/10/2017 09:22

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DPT3ybznWhjw&ved=0ahUKEwi7k9numPLWAhWCxxoKHTDEBmEQwqsBCB4wAA&usg=AOvVaw3AZMgIQlAx_7EiiL-7Bi3a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DPT3ybznWhjw&ved=0ahUKEwi7k9numPLWAhWCxxoKHTDEBmEQwqsBCB4wAA&usg=AOvVaw3AZMgIQlAx_7EiiL-7Bi3a

YokoReturns · 15/10/2017 09:12

It’s An-eye-eess - as is the perfume. The umlaut (not sure of its French name) over the ‘i’ means you pronounce the ‘a’, ‘i’ and ‘s’ separately.

Obviously they can pronounce it however they wish, but the poor girl’s in for a lifetime of ‘correcting’ people...

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 15/10/2017 09:06

The perfume is Ann eye ees too Grin

I wouldn't say anything,I doubt they'd take it well.

AuntieStella · 15/10/2017 09:05

I would read it as An-eye- ees

Which is the correct French pronunciation, and how the perfume should be pronounced too,

Yes, she will have a lifetime ahead of her explaining the pronunciation (especially if she ever moves to an area with a reasonable sized francophone population - which could of course mean London!)

You OTOH, will have to grit your tech and pronounce it as requested (if it's possible to say anything through a clenched jaw) or never refer to her by name (often easier that you'd imagine, sweetie)

blueskyinmarch · 15/10/2017 09:01

I would pronounce it Annay too. I loved the perfume and always called it Annay Annay as did everyone else i knew. I guess it is their child and they can pronounce her name as they wish.

NapQueen · 15/10/2017 08:58

I thought it was pronouned Annay?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 15/10/2017 08:57

My friends baby is called Anais, pronounced Annay !
I think like the perfume.

SumAndSubstance · 15/10/2017 08:54

Oo, if someone told me that’s not how you’re supposed to say it, I think I would have to correct them. I might just about manage to bite my tongue if they said, “that’s not how we’re pronouncing it” (but probably not because I am a terrible pedant)

SuperBeagle · 15/10/2017 08:41

Eeeeek.

I see loads of Youtubers pronouncing it Annay as well (when referring to the brand Aden + Anais). I'm assuming this is where people get that pronunciation from.

I'd probably say something but I've no tact

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