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Original poster

Saoirse pronouncing

156 replies

BHillary · 12/04/2018 18:30

How do you pronounce Saoirse?

Sur-sha or sear-sha?

I prefer the first but not if it isn't correct hmm.

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Original poster
BHillary · 13/04/2018 11:47

It's not the fact I can't pronounce the name, I was asking what the correct pronunciation was as I have Irish people in my family who all pronounce it differently and can't agree themselves one being DH. Incidentally I won't be using this name as it'll clearly always be said wrong.
A name is a name I dont really care what it means just what it sounds like and if I like It, baby is half Irish so definitely more than entitled to use an Irish name.

OP posts:
LipstickHandbagCoffee · 13/04/2018 11:36

If you cannot pronounce Gaelic names don’t use the name

MagicalRealist · 13/04/2018 11:22

Given that Saoirse means ‘freedom’ in Irish and is also associated with republican politics, perhaps it’s not appropriate for non Irish people to use it?

MayFayner · 13/04/2018 11:06

Please tell me that Sorcha = saw ra ka is a wind-up

😂 No...

abiirthdaycake · 13/04/2018 10:57

@TheDowagerCountess I don't think I have ever seen anyone pronounce "ch" in Irish as an "sh" in literally any other word, except for mispronunciations of Sorcha. I've had people try to "correct" me before on my own name and it's baffling. Fair enough if you're not Irish or just don't know any Irish, of course, obviously everyone isn't familiar with every single language's phonology, but if you do know Irish then you have probably noticed that "ch" can only be pronounced a very small number of ways, and the French way isn't one. I do let people off leaving out the schwa in the middle, as long as they get the hard consonants right :P I usually just tell people to mimic the word "surrogate" if they really want to get it right, always works

(just to clarity I'm saying "you" as in the general you, not any of you in particular)

NeverMetACakeIDidntLike · 13/04/2018 10:30

Honestly, I would have absolutely no idea now to pronounce it!

TheDowagerCuntess · 13/04/2018 10:27

Sorcha Cusack pronounces it "Sawsha" surely?

Confused

Why would she pronounce it like that?

You realise Sorcha is an Irish name?

Madhouse2018 · 13/04/2018 10:11

I was thought the Irish for freedom is pronounced Say-r-sha but Seer-sha is the most popular pronunciation for the name. Sorcha is pronounced Sur-ka or Sur-ick-a or Saw-r-ka which is Irish for Sarah. The sound of pronunciation depends on region and accent.

1haudyerwheesht · 13/04/2018 10:02

This is my daughters name. We pronounce it seer-sha. Ser-sha is also correct it's just different regions pronounce it slightly differently. The funniest pronunciation was by a GP, see-war-see. I didn't even twig it was my daughter they were calling for!

Slievenamon · 13/04/2018 09:56

Please tell me that Sorcha = saw ra ka is a wind-up

No, its how you say it. And how Sorcha Cusack says it too.

abiirthdaycake · 13/04/2018 09:53

Sorcha Cusack definitely pronounces her name sur-uh-kha (i.e. correctly), I'm named after her :D

I don't think there even is an Irish name that's pronounced "saw-sha". Seoirse is the closest I can think of but there's definitely an R in there. Also it's a boys' name.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 13/04/2018 09:09

Please tell me that Sorcha = saw ra ka is a wind-up.

No. Hmm it’s that or sorsha.

If sorcha cusack is saying sawsha then she is pronouncing her own name wrong.

Tamberlane · 13/04/2018 04:19

Western Irish here.
I'd pronounce is Seer sha but the accent changes across the country,
It means freedom/liberty and has traditionally been a name with very republican connections.

LastNightsMakeUp · 13/04/2018 04:12

Sorry! Post failed and then posted multiple times!

LastNightsMakeUp · 13/04/2018 04:11

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LastNightsMakeUp · 13/04/2018 04:10

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LastNightsMakeUp · 13/04/2018 04:07

m.youtube.com/watch?v=-FwAlRAM4W0

Bettyfood · 13/04/2018 03:24

Please tell me that Sorcha = saw ra ka is a wind-up.

Sorcha Cusack pronounces it "Sawsha" surely?

TamiTayorismyparentingguru · 13/04/2018 03:16

Angry autocorrect - “Saoir”!

TamiTayorismyparentingguru · 13/04/2018 03:15

It’s probably closest to Seer-sha, but actually, maybe more like see-er-sha. The “saor” bit is kind of halfway between one syllable and two

Shpongle9 · 13/04/2018 02:04

My dd4 is called saoirse and we pronounce it sir-sha, we choose it as it means freedom, and she definitely loves up to the meaning of her name

ClinkyMonkey · 13/04/2018 01:09

I'm from NI and would say Seer-shuh, but am by no means an authority on the matter!

Appuskidu · 13/04/2018 01:08

I would say Sore-arse as well! But I am not Irish!

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 13/04/2018 01:07

Ok so I’ve said Sair-sha and seer-sha out loud in my accent both sound the same...

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