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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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MrsAvocet · 03/07/2022 13:40

I know someone called Tamar pronounced with a short a, in fact the a is almost not there. It's more like T'mar as a PP said. She's also Jewish. I've never met anyone else with this name but would have assumed this to be the standard pronunciation. I like it.

Dancingwithhyenas · 03/07/2022 13:35

Definitely the first way - Ta-mar like the more common Tamara but without the ‘a’

YorkshireSunshine · 03/07/2022 13:32

I’m from the UK and would say Tay-mar

ladygindiva · 03/07/2022 13:30

Wouldloveanother · 02/07/2022 08:59

Tay-mar

like the river

This. I live in Cornwall, it HAS to be Tay-mar. Which I think is a lovely name by the way, wish I'd thought of it myself !

yikesanotherbooboo · 03/07/2022 13:29

The only one I have known in life was named Tamar for the river and pronounced accordingly.

Pieceofpurplesky · 03/07/2022 13:28

I teach a Tamar, pronounced as you pronounce it (Hebrew pronunciation I think)

ShinyMe · 03/07/2022 13:25

There was a TAYmar in Eastenders for quite a while.

Runwayqueen · 03/07/2022 09:45

I know a Tay, they always say 'like the lion tamer not the river', but that may be her personal preference.

eatsleepswimdive · 03/07/2022 09:42

persephone19 · 02/07/2022 09:08

I've one known one, and she pronounced is T'mahr. I understood that this is the Hebrew pronunciation (she is Jewish) but I may be wrong

This. It’s the only way I’ve heard if

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 03/07/2022 09:35

Tam-mar like the Georgian Queen. But I think most British people would say Tay-mar because of the river.

SpaceJamtart · 03/07/2022 09:32

As I never heard it I would assume boys name too

SpaceJamtart · 03/07/2022 09:31

T'marr as a guess but I've never met one, or heard of the river

ChagSameachDoreen · 03/07/2022 09:17

In Hebrew it's TAMM-arr.

pimlicoanna · 02/07/2022 23:18

Tay- mar

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/07/2022 23:18

Ta-marr

But I’ve only seen it written down

Copasetic · 02/07/2022 13:49

In the 70s my sister had a school friend called Tamar - pronounced Tay-mar. I've never come across one since. Her brother was Dawland (I think) and I've never come across another with that name either.

powershowerforanhour · 02/07/2022 10:58

I'd only know it from the river (knew it was in GB somewhere, didn't even know if Scottish or English 😶) and have only ever seen it written down and thought it was TAM-ar or Ta-MAR so looked it up
m.youtube.com/watch?v=NedCR7jwZgY
and now I want to go there it's so pretty.

misskatamari · 02/07/2022 10:41

First pronunciation is how I'd say it. I've never heard the river Tamar pronounced out loud, I think I read a book with it in recently and assumed it was Ta-mar.

I think it's fine to use it and specify pronunciation, lots of names can be pronounced a few ways and you just let people know which one it is (eg Maya)

mrsfoof · 02/07/2022 10:40

TabithaTittlemouse · 02/07/2022 09:05

Tay mar as in the Tamar bridge?

The bridge gives me the rage. You have to pay to get in to Plymouth but not Cornwall. That’s not right!

Most toll bridges / tunnels are pay one way aren't they? Like the Severn bridge into Wales (although you don't have to pay at all anymore). I think they assume most people go there and back so just put the charge one way to keep traffic flowing.

mrsfoof · 02/07/2022 10:38

Tay-mar

420Bruh · 02/07/2022 10:35

Wouldloveanother · 02/07/2022 08:59

Tay-mar

like the river

This

Shinyandnew1 · 02/07/2022 10:31

I’ve only ever known two and they were both Taymar

yui · 02/07/2022 10:28

I would pronounce it to rhyme with Lamar. This is the pronunciation I heard in church. I associate Tamar with the Bible figure(s) of that name. I've never heard of the river but I don't live anywhere near Cornwall.

daisypond · 02/07/2022 09:43

I would say T’mahr too. I’m English.

Staters · 02/07/2022 09:41

I’d pronounce Tamar;
Ta like Tap
Mar like Marsh