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Original poster

How do you pronounce Tamar?

84 replies

Ouchmytoe100 · 02/07/2022 08:58

I have pronounced it Ta (with a short 'a' sound, like the 'a' in 'cat') - Mar (to rhyme with car). With the emphasis on the second syllable, the 'mar'. This is how I've heard it used by the only Tamars I've known (but none of them are British).

I posted another thread asking between Tamar and another name what was preferred and people mentioned pronunciation issues with Tamar and also one person said they wouldn't like the nickname 'Tay'. I was confused as I didn't understand where that nickname would come from? Now I'm wondering if there's another pronunciation used in the UK (something like 'Tay-mar'), which is assume much have the emphasis on the first syllable?

I love Tamar (said the first way) and although I don't like in the UK, I'm British and still have family wnd friends back home so don't want to choose a name that sounds horrible with the typical British pronunciation!

So how would you pronounce this name? Like me? Or the second way?

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fugly1 · 11/07/2022 19:41

Wouldloveanother · 02/07/2022 08:59

Tay-mar

like the river

Yep, this!

Like the bridge into Devon

GrumpyPanda · 11/07/2022 19:38

Didn't realize it came from Hebrew. But yes, stress on the second syllable, as you suggest. My first thought would be of Queen Tamar. Nicknames Tamuna or Tako.

Cotswoldmama · 11/07/2022 19:26

I'd pronounce it the way you said

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 11/07/2022 19:25

The girl I went to school with was Tay mar

theclangersarecoming · 11/07/2022 19:24

As pp have said, it’s either a Hebrew name; or a Cornish / Devon name pronounced Tay-mar after the river. Obviously the Hebrew one is the oldest, but in the U.K. you’d probably find the other is better known.

FWIW Tay-mar would leap first to my mind (but I have Cornish family and a Cornish name myself!)

So it very much depends on whether you’ll be living in the U.K. and where, whether you or your social circle is largely Jewish, how much you’re happy with correcting pronunciation, and so on — which is all very much up to you whether you choose it as a name! I’d say have it if you want it!

JellyBellyNelly · 11/07/2022 19:23

Sorry, just to add I’m an Arabic speaker and know a few boys who are called Tamar.

JellyBellyNelly · 11/07/2022 19:21

It’s Ta as in Ta and mir as in myrh

Tamyrh

Balonder · 11/07/2022 19:15

I only know one, a friend of my 9 year old DS pronounced with a short Ta, stress on the mar. TaMAR. As you pronounced. I live in Ireland

FlamingoDust · 11/07/2022 19:10

Tay mar

SheepingStandingUp · 08/07/2022 17:26

Both.
I read it as Ta-Mar and then kinda corrected myself assuming it was Tay-Mar

Ultimately if my cousin said this is Ta-Mar I'd call him that.

MinglingFlamingo · 08/07/2022 17:24

I live in Cornwall so I'd pronounce Tamar like the river Tay-Mar

Mamapep · 08/07/2022 17:22

*tuh-MAR

Mamapep · 08/07/2022 17:22

short Tuh sound
longer Mah like car

tu-MAR

MassiveSalad22 · 04/07/2022 10:59

I’ve only ever known it to be Tay-mar. LOVE it!! I’ve known boys and girls called Tamar. Don’t like the ‘tammar’ pronunciation at all.

hellosunshineagainx · 04/07/2022 09:02

Im British and had a friend with the name, pronounced tay-mar

Ghostofborleyrectory · 03/07/2022 16:01

I'm a Tamar and it's pronounced Tay-Mar as after the bridge my mother weirdly chose to name me from, not the river underneath!

HardTimesHarder · 03/07/2022 15:55

I’d never heard of the river and know a Tamar. He pronounces it as you described

USaYwHatNow · 03/07/2022 15:52

I once read a book with the protagonist called Tamar. Her name was explained as pronounced as 'Tay-Mar'

Timide · 03/07/2022 15:47

Like Tuh-mar "tart + marsh"

BrownHairedQuirk · 03/07/2022 15:47

I’m British but have never heard of the river so would pronounce it like you do

AuntieStella · 03/07/2022 15:40

Tay-mar - like the river, the former HMS, and the usual Biblical pronunciation

Peppapig7262662 · 03/07/2022 15:38

I would pronounce it Tam (like jam) Arr (like car)

ReviewingTheSituation · 03/07/2022 15:36

Same as most other responses- I'd say it like the river.
I used to work with a Tamar who was (I think) Turkish, and he pronounced it the same way.

SheWoreYellow · 03/07/2022 13:54

I would guess Tay mar, but if corrected I’d go with what the child/parents said.

We know a few Mias/Elenas who have different pronounciations and you just go with what they say.

childrenanddogs · 03/07/2022 13:46

I'd say Tay-mar too, we cross the River Tamar a lot on our way to/from Cornwall so it wouldn't occur to me there's any other way to pronounce it tbh.

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