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Baby names

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Original poster

How do you pronounce Xavier?

80 replies

BoilYerHeid · 14/02/2018 12:17

Have just seen this on another thread and as we are really struggling with boys names I'm adding it to our list.

Just wondered how you would pronounce it? I had been trying to steer clear of names with multiple pronunciations... I can think of

Zay-vee-ur (like saviour)

Or

Zah-vee-ay (French sounding)

Does that accord with others' thoughts? I have a Scottish accent btw...

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NinonDeLenclos · 14/02/2018 13:50

The American quote is wrong.

It's a French name, as others have noted and is pronounced:

Za (as in zigzag) - vee - ay

Evelynismycatsformerspyname · 14/02/2018 13:49

I thought it was the H pronunciation too.

Sounds like a recipe for 80 years of correcting people ...

tryingtobethebestican · 14/02/2018 13:47

It's a lovely name Smile

tryingtobethebestican · 14/02/2018 13:46

I thought it was Ha vee er. I didn't realise there were so many pronunciations.

BusterTheBulldog · 14/02/2018 13:44

I know a French one, he introduced himself as have-ee-ay

user1499786242 · 14/02/2018 13:33

I always Thought it was

'Ex-ay-vee-ah'

Oops
To be fair I've never met anyone with that name in my life 🙈

Undies1990 · 14/02/2018 13:27

Zav i err

DreamingofSunshine · 14/02/2018 13:25

This is BIL's name and he is French.
He pronounces it "zah-vee- ayyy" but it drives him to despair that it is pronounced differently so often or mispronounced/misspelt.

Americans call him X-ay- vee- errr.

exWifebeginsat40 · 14/02/2018 13:21

have-ee-ay. with a spanish ‘kh’ sound at the beginning.

MikeUniformMike · 14/02/2018 12:53

I would say Zave-yer to rhyme with Saviour.
Other people might say Ex-Ay-vee-uh, Zav-yer, etc.

I would avoid using it for this reason.

prettymess · 14/02/2018 12:53

Kza-vee-ay

FlexTimeCheekyFucker · 14/02/2018 12:44

Have-ear

cheshiremama89 · 14/02/2018 12:43

HA- VEE - EY

Original poster
BoilYerHeid · 14/02/2018 12:36

Hmm ok thanks for the replies. If we are trying to avoid a name with multiple pronunciations this may not be the one. It just looks so pretty!

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Knittedfairies · 14/02/2018 12:35

m.youtube.com/watch?v=zmNGxvMMtSQ

LinoleumBlownapart · 14/02/2018 12:34

Xavier is the Portuguese and Catalonian version of Zavier. I speak Portuguese so I say Sha-vi-air, in Catalonian I think it's Sa-vi-air with something between sh and s.

With Z I say Za-vi-air or Zay-ve-aye like Spanish or French.

Mum2OneTeen · 14/02/2018 12:31

Ex-ay-vier (Boy at DD's primary school)

frenchfancy · 14/02/2018 12:30

I know a few French Xaviers. All pronounced Zav ee ay

Hoppinggreen · 14/02/2018 12:30

Mind you that’s the French spelling so I suppose
Zav-i -ey

Arapaima · 14/02/2018 12:30

Za-vee-ay

Hoppinggreen · 14/02/2018 12:28

I speak Spanish so to me it starts with a H

twinone · 14/02/2018 12:26

Hav-ee-ay is how I would pronounce it, never heard of it as Zav before.

GlitteryPegasus · 14/02/2018 12:24

Zav-e-er

blackteaplease · 14/02/2018 12:24

Zah vee uh with a short a similar to xander.

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 14/02/2018 12:23

I would say Zay-ve-ur.