Page 3 | How would you pronounce Maya

acrossthebay · 2024-07-28T11:02:27+00:00

Out of interest? I like the name but hear variations in pronunciation.

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yikesanotherbooboo · 28/07/2024 17:41

My-a in our family but I have come across May-a .

PrincessHoneysuckle · 28/07/2024 16:20

May -a

Frlrlrubert · 28/07/2024 16:02

I'd assume:

Maya = May-a
Mya = My-a
Mia = Mee-a

But having taught many, they tend to be spelled and pronounced pretty much interchangeably.

NannyR · 28/07/2024 15:58

BoleynMemories13 · 28/07/2024 13:41

Don't you just love a thread that turns into snobbery over accents? Why do some people always assume their accent is 'correct pronunciation' and others are wrong? Why can't we just accept that people pronounce things differently?

Maybe some people need to google 'schwa' to understand a bit better that not ever sound in a word needs to be stressed! Just because some accents stress certain sounds, not all do. For example, a and er will both come out as 'uh' in many accents, whereas others will stress them so you can hear a difference. It's so petty to belittle others who might pronounce those sounds the same, as if they're wrong or stupid for doing so 🙄.

As for the name in question, I would always check rather than assume pronunciation if I saw this name written down as I've known it to be both May-ah or My-ah. I instinctively read it in my head as May-ah, but understand that My-ah is the most common pronunciation globally.

It's just one of those names I guess, like Evelyn, Esme, Sara etc.

Well said!!!

Clueless2024 · 28/07/2024 15:28

Maya & Mya are two different names!

May, as in the month of May with an A on the end

My, as is "my" with an A on the end.

Birdsongsinging · 28/07/2024 15:24

May-a as in month of may

WildGreyKoala · 28/07/2024 15:22

acrossthebay · 28/07/2024 12:06

Yeah I’d have said Maya rhyming with player too but I’ve heard the rhyming with fire one too.

I used to, but both the Mayas I know pronounce it Mya

Moonlaserbearwolf · 28/07/2024 15:21

I know a few Mayas and only one for them pronounces it May-a. I’m sure My-a is the more common pronunciation, but my brain always wants to say May-a.
I find it a most frustrating name as I always have to think before pronouncing it, in case I get it wrong!

Izzynohopanda · 28/07/2024 14:54

Off to Google what non rhotic accent is..,

Turophilic · 28/07/2024 14:12

CharlotteRumpling · 28/07/2024 12:20

Maya to rhyme with papaya is the Asian way.

Best rhyme in the whole thread!

Turophilic · 28/07/2024 14:09

GourmetLettuceMix · 28/07/2024 12:59

I would pronounce it My-a. I worked with someone who pronounced it Moya.

Brummie? Small brummie nephew tells us “these toys are moyn” when we visit.

We have three across (very) extended family. Two My-a, one May-a.

mathanxiety · 28/07/2024 14:04

Also the infamous "draws" for "[chest of] drawers"

mathanxiety · 28/07/2024 14:03

Maelil01 · 28/07/2024 12:18

How on earth could Maya rhyme with player?
-er isn’t pronounced the same as -a!

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People with non rhotic accents don't understand the confusion they cause with their ERs pronounced as As.

And I've seen words like "palaver" spelled "palava" here...

mathanxiety · 28/07/2024 14:01

My-a

BoleynMemories13 · 28/07/2024 13:41

Don't you just love a thread that turns into snobbery over accents? Why do some people always assume their accent is 'correct pronunciation' and others are wrong? Why can't we just accept that people pronounce things differently?

Maybe some people need to google 'schwa' to understand a bit better that not ever sound in a word needs to be stressed! Just because some accents stress certain sounds, not all do. For example, a and er will both come out as 'uh' in many accents, whereas others will stress them so you can hear a difference. It's so petty to belittle others who might pronounce those sounds the same, as if they're wrong or stupid for doing so 🙄.

As for the name in question, I would always check rather than assume pronunciation if I saw this name written down as I've known it to be both May-ah or My-ah. I instinctively read it in my head as May-ah, but understand that My-ah is the most common pronunciation globally.

It's just one of those names I guess, like Evelyn, Esme, Sara etc.

2chocolateoranges · 28/07/2024 13:34

maya , I know 2 both pronounced Ma-ya
Mia , I know 2 pronounced Me -ah, 1 pronounced ma-ya

Jemimapinotduck · 28/07/2024 13:31

Maya- may-uh
Mia- me-uh
Mya- my-uh

willWillSmithsmith · 28/07/2024 13:28

PaTuBo · 28/07/2024 12:45

I'd agree with the spelling change. My cousin did this with her daughter's name, was one of those with different pronunciations. She didn't want her DD spending her life correcting people so she tweeked the spelling so there was no ambiguity

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I’d probably go for Maeya (for May er) but that would probably still confuse people. I’m not sure how I’d spell it to get consistent accuracy.

Shinyandnew1 · 28/07/2024 13:28

NoWordForFluffy · 28/07/2024 13:09

I knew a Mia who was Me-uh.

I have never known a Mia who didn’t pronounce it like this.

Izzynohopanda · 28/07/2024 13:27

Mia

Mee - uh

Izzynohopanda · 28/07/2024 13:26

May - uh
or May -er

willWillSmithsmith · 28/07/2024 13:21

Sparklyhat · 28/07/2024 12:11

Maya to rhyme with Fire surely?

Never heard of it to rhyme with player

Is it a ‘surely’ pronunciation though? It doesn’t look obvious to me.

I used to think it was May until I kept hearing it as My.

LegendInMyOwnLunchtime · 28/07/2024 13:10

My- a

And afaik that is correct in the choice text of the origins of the name

Liv999 · 28/07/2024 13:10

May-a, would only pronounce it My-a if it was spelt that way

NoWordForFluffy · 28/07/2024 13:09

I knew a Mia who was Me-uh.