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Original poster

How do you pronounce Viola?

78 replies

Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 25/03/2021 14:40

Is it Vi-ola or Vee-ola? I much prefer the first...

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daisypond · 27/03/2021 10:00

The name is VYE oh la.
The instrument is Vee OH la.

The name is often pronounced more like VYE-la - (viler) - which does put me off.

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 27/03/2021 09:31

Oops, should have read on. I see someone else has made the same point. Sorry.

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 27/03/2021 09:29

@TatianaBis

Whoever told you that was wrong.
No they weren’t. There are definitely a couple of points in the play where Viola needs two syllables for the line to scan.
LegendDairy · 26/03/2021 21:08

Vio-la.

Frazzled2207 · 26/03/2021 21:04

Not what you asked but I really like it and considered it before finding out I was having boys.

There is a great scene at the end of Shakespeare in love when Viola (gwyneth p) walks into the sea to sort of become Viola in another play (twelfth night I think)

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 26/03/2021 17:53

Vi- ola. (As in Violet)

NameChangedForThisFeb21 · 26/03/2021 17:05

@merrymouse

Viola was introduced after the Great Vowel shift and therefore retains it’s Italian pronunciation.

And what was the great vowel shift of not a change in pronunciation?

I think that’s massively downplaying the great vowel shift...

The Viola didn’t become very popular in the U.K. until the 18th Century, which is when we start to see British composers including it in orchestrations. The Great Vowel Shift happened between 1400-1700. It’s always been Vee-OH-la. The pronunciation didn’t change. It still hasn’t changed. Musicians call it the Vee-OH-la. Ill informed people incorrectly pronounce it as the VY-oh-la.

Frazzled2207 · 26/03/2021 15:26

@FayLivvie

I know someone called viola - actually pronounced Yolla. She's Welsh
That’s interesting pronunciation-letter v doesn’t exist in Welsh!
Frazzled2207 · 26/03/2021 15:25

@rbe78

I would say VIE-o-la for the name, and vee-O-la for the instrument
Me too. I play the viola too.
RainBow725 · 26/03/2021 15:24

I've played the vee-ola for 30 years. 'Nuff said! ||{

merrymouse · 26/03/2021 15:15

Viola was introduced after the Great Vowel shift and therefore retains it’s Italian pronunciation.

And what was the great vowel shift of not a change in pronunciation?

FayLivvie · 26/03/2021 14:21

I know someone called viola - actually pronounced Yolla. She's Welsh

NameChangedForThisFeb21 · 26/03/2021 09:50

@merrymouse

Calling a Viola a Vy-o-la is the equivalent of saying “well where I come from we say Sello, Pyanoo and Flut to rhyme with slut.

Except that I would guess that this is why we don’t say ‘veeolin’.

I’m not suggesting that vyola is the common English pronunciation of the instrument, just that pronunciations change, particularly name pronunciations.

I also think that the name relates to the flower, not the instrument.

I have no issue with the name being pronounced Vy-o-la.

It’s 100 % wrong to call the instrument a Vy-ola. It’s a Vee-OH-la.

Violin. Sigh. I really don’t want to have to get into linguistics but the word Violin was introduced into the English Language prior to the “Great Vowel Shift” hence it being “Vy”. Viola was introduced after the Great Vowel shift and therefore retains it’s Italian pronunciation. In Italian a Violin is “Il Violino” (vee-o-leen-o), the name/character is Violetta (vee-o-lett-a) and so on. In English it’s VY-o-lin and Vee-OH-la. We do have quite a nonsensical language. But the instrument is universally a vee-OH-la.

merrymouse · 26/03/2021 09:34

Calling a Viola a Vy-o-la is the equivalent of saying “well where I come from we say Sello, Pyanoo and Flut to rhyme with slut.

Except that I would guess that this is why we don’t say ‘veeolin’.

I’m not suggesting that vyola is the common English pronunciation of the instrument, just that pronunciations change, particularly name pronunciations.

I also think that the name relates to the flower, not the instrument.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 26/03/2021 09:27

@TatianaBis

I’ve played 2 instruments since I was 3 and only very rarely do you hear viola pronounced vye ola by musicians. It’s usually non-musicians.
Agree. I play the vee-ola.
Synchrony · 26/03/2021 09:20

I pronounce the name, the flower and the instrument all as v-eye-OH-la.

MimiDaisy11 · 26/03/2021 08:44

I think this thread would put me off the name lol. Though I think the vote seems to be that the girl's name and instrument are pronounced differently.

I wouldn't have known about the instrument but for the girl's name I would have said the "vi" part to rhyme with "eye".

NameChangedForThisFeb21 · 26/03/2021 08:25

@LudoTrouble

The instrument is pronounced vee-OH-la. Never vye-OH-la.

I would say the name VYE-oh-la but I think it can go several ways, like the name Elena.

Thank you for making this clear yet again!

This thread is making me irrationally angry with all the people who so confidently pronounce the instrument completely incorrectly. Which is really silly I know!

If I see “Vi-o-la” or “vy-o-la” “like the instrument” one more time I will combust.

For the last time and the love of God...

THE INSTRUMENT IS ALWAYS VEE-O-LA. UNIVERSALLY. IF THAT’S NOT WHAT YOU CALL IT, YOU ARE WRONG.

Think of other musical instruments. Cello. Piano. Flute. Does dialect come into those? No. Calling a Viola a Vy-o-la is the equivalent of saying “well where I come from we say Sello, Pyanoo and Flut to rhyme with slut.”

Vee-OH-la = instrument

hedgehogger1 · 26/03/2021 08:01

Named after the flower vyola after the instrument veeola. Assume you want the flower

Pinchoftums · 26/03/2021 07:54

Oh now I've said both I've no idea Grin

LudoTrouble · 26/03/2021 07:52

The instrument is pronounced vee-OH-la. Never vye-OH-la.

I would say the name VYE-oh-la but I think it can go several ways, like the name Elena.

LoveCauliflowerCheese · 26/03/2021 07:30

I think Violet is a much better name though.

LoveCauliflowerCheese · 26/03/2021 07:29

I'd say Veee O la

midnightstar66 · 26/03/2021 07:27

I don't pronounce either of those things as you've said 😆. @Violetlavenders . Vi as in your username violet (V eye I guess)

Violetlavenders · 26/03/2021 07:21

Those saying Vi ola? Does that mean Vee (Vinegar) or Vye ((Vile)?

I prefer Vi (ee) ola.

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