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Original poster

Elias - How do British pronounce it?

61 replies

SantaClausss · 18/12/2022 21:59

It’s natural to me, as I read it, to pronounce it as Eee - lee - as.

Is it the way it is pronounced in the Uk?

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winonarose · 23/12/2022 21:57

Eh-lee-as for me

KirstenBlest · 20/12/2022 11:03

@Anothernameanother , Ilyas is the arabic for Elias.
I know several of different ages and of different heritages.
Ilyas is a transcription of الیاس, and Arabic has no E equivalent. Ilias and Elias are transcriptions.
If they choose to say it as El-ee-as, then that's up to them.

Anothernameanother · 20/12/2022 10:30

KirstenBlest · 20/12/2022 10:12

@Purplemagnolias , muslim languages say it as ILLy-as, not El-LEE-as

Not in my experience. I suspect it varies, partly due to having different speech sounds in Arabic and related languages.

There is a separate name Ilyas which I have also come across - Turkish apparently.

It's actually a fascinating name, as it has so many different versions and has been used by many cultures. It is thought to be Greek in origin, but has been used by Christians & Muslims from a huge range of countries.

KirstenBlest · 20/12/2022 10:12

@Purplemagnolias , muslim languages say it as ILLy-as, not El-LEE-as

Purplemagnolias · 20/12/2022 09:33

It's not just Muslim languages that say Eh LEE as, but most European languages too.

BettyOBarley · 20/12/2022 09:25

I know a little boy with this name and it's el-eye-us

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/12/2022 09:24

El-lie-us, which is the standard English pronunciation

When it was less well known I think you’d have got people saying it as El-ee-ass - but less likely now (unless you are Muslim, judging by comments above)

mishl · 20/12/2022 09:20

I would say ih-LIE-uhs in English. Traditionally in the English language the letter "I" in Biblical names is often pronounced like "eye" e.g. Elijah, Jeremiah, Levi.
It's eh-LEE-as in many other languages though.

xprincessxjanetx · 20/12/2022 02:09

Eh-lie-as

ConkerBonkers · 19/12/2022 22:22

i-lie-ass. I would use a soft i at the start as per indigo, and a soft double s at the end as per carcass

Thighdentitycrisis · 19/12/2022 22:20

Eh - lee- us

Blueduvet22 · 19/12/2022 21:57

Purplemagnolias · 19/12/2022 19:57

I know a female Eliana and it's pronounced Eh lee ah na.

And NOT Eh lye ah na

Same! I know an Eliana that is pronounced as Eh- lee - Ana !

Why Elias is like Elijah and not like Elliot or Eliana is a mystery …

Yarrawonga · 19/12/2022 20:03

Ell-lie-us

Purplemagnolias · 19/12/2022 19:57

I know a female Eliana and it's pronounced Eh lee ah na.

And NOT Eh lye ah na

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 19/12/2022 17:23

I know two - both Eh LIE as

walkinthewoodstoday · 19/12/2022 17:10

Elle igh as

zurala · 19/12/2022 17:08

The lie bit is same as Elijah - eh-lie-jah.

zurala · 19/12/2022 17:06

I wouldn't really be sure!
Ee-lie-ass is my first instinct, then elly-ass.
I'd have to ask.

Blueduvet22 · 19/12/2022 16:49

Purplemagnolias · 19/12/2022 16:30

Eh - lee - as.

I also pronounce Eliot as Eh - lee - ot

I don't know where the lye comes from

Exactly! This is the part I don’t understand too…

I pronounce Elliot the same way as you.

Purplemagnolias · 19/12/2022 16:30

Eh - lee - as.

I also pronounce Eliot as Eh - lee - ot

I don't know where the lye comes from

jtaeapa · 19/12/2022 15:36

I know one

Ee lie as

DreamingOfAGreenChristmas · 19/12/2022 15:35

A couple in my DC’s schools, both el-LY-us

H1Drangea · 19/12/2022 15:30

Eee lie us

Greensleevevssnotnose · 19/12/2022 15:28

SantaClausss · 18/12/2022 21:59

It’s natural to me, as I read it, to pronounce it as Eee - lee - as.

Is it the way it is pronounced in the Uk?

Eee lie ass

Jellyjam36 · 19/12/2022 15:27

Eh Lie As