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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How would you pronounce...

109 replies

Babynamechangerr · 06/10/2019 03:52

Xavier?

If you saw the name Xavier written down and had to say it out loud, how would you pronounce it?

I know there are different ways to pronounce, I just want to see what the most common is.

Would be useful to know if you're British or from elsewhere (as I know this may influence pronunciation).

Thanks for your help!

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Clitoria · 06/10/2019 15:35

Zave-ee-ur

SluggishSnail · 06/10/2019 13:54

My friends son is zah-VEER (emphasis not on 1st syllable)

Before him, I had always known the same as zah-vee-AY (from French textbooks!)

I'm British

Nailsfordays · 06/10/2019 13:51

Zay-vee-er

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 06/10/2019 11:57

I'd pronounce Xylophone as Gsy low phone

So would I. How would you say it?

Danglingmod · 06/10/2019 11:03

Really?

Grufallosfriends · 06/10/2019 11:01

I'd pronounce Xylophone as Gsy low phone

GaraMedouar · 06/10/2019 11:00

Zav ee ay

QueenofPain · 06/10/2019 10:59

Hav-ee-ay

Antonin · 06/10/2019 10:58

Young boy I know (about 14) with English parents fluent in French, call him Zav ee ay Zav for short.
Great name.

Tyrotoxicity · 06/10/2019 10:57

Would depend on whether I was a) in the company of people who'd appreciate a comedic mangling of a foreign name or b) really drunk.

If a) then it'll be a really embarrassingly awful version of either the French or Spanish pronunciations.

If b) then Zaev-yeh, because all foreign words come out in a very local accent when I am pissed.

IWantToBeNynaeve · 06/10/2019 10:55

I'd say Zay-vee-er but my dh would say Zsah-vee-ay (soft z) because he has a French colleague with that pronunciation so thats his first thought. Both Irish.

Danglingmod · 06/10/2019 10:48

Grufallo - how do you pronounce xylophone??

Grasspigeons · 06/10/2019 10:48

Ha vee uh

bevelino · 06/10/2019 10:43

Hav ee air. I have a dd named Ximena and pronounce it He men a.

Alpacathebag · 06/10/2019 10:38

Zave ee er to rhyme with saviour. I’m northern.

LadyGAgain · 06/10/2019 10:37

I'd say zavv-eee-ayyy (blended) but I know someone who upon announcing their son Xavier was born then said "and it is Exx-ayyy-Vee-ahh before anyone gets it wrong". Which I definitely would have.

Grufallosfriends · 06/10/2019 10:31

It's spelled Xavier and not Zavier!

So pronounced Xa vee er and not Za vee er

The x sound is best described as gs

CouscousEvaporator · 06/10/2019 10:14

Hav ee air
But all blended quickly

Dlpdep · 06/10/2019 10:08

Like Saviour with a Z.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 06/10/2019 10:04

Zav ee uh

Morado · 06/10/2019 09:53

I also make sort of a silent g sound like gzay-vee-er

blackistheneworange · 06/10/2019 09:14

Zav-eee-ay

Was previously engaged to a French Xavier. Always called him Zav though!

RhubarbAndMustard · 06/10/2019 09:05

Ha-vee-ah here too.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 06/10/2019 08:30

Ha-vee-ay. I'm British

ImpeachTrump · 06/10/2019 08:29

Zav E AY

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