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Original poster

Claudia - pronunciation please

39 replies

stclair · 06/07/2009 10:51

DH and I both like Claudia but prefer the pronunciation Clowdia. How do you say it properly - Clow-d-ia or Clowd-ya?? Thanks!!

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Jodyray · 08/07/2009 22:08

I pronounce it Claw-di-a too but thats because my name is Claudine pronounced the same way. The meaning is 'Lame' but its never really bothered me, i just like having an unusual name.

missmem · 07/07/2009 10:26

On a personal note I am british so if I choose a name I am not going to decided to make it sound foreign. That's like choosing to call Peter: Piers or John: Hans IMO. It only sounds like Cou-dia because of Italians accents but we are not Italian.

Of course I am biased because it is the name I've chosen should I have a DD and it will be Claw dee ah.

Niecie · 07/07/2009 09:34

The male version is surely Claw-ed, isn't it? It would be in France (Don't think I know of any British Claudes).

Based on that it would make sense that the female version was Claw-dee-ah. That is what I would say if uncorrected.

AvengingGerbil · 07/07/2009 09:30

I assume Clor-dee-ah (not Clor-dya), based mostly on Claude being Clorde not Clowd. Now there's a name to conjure with.

posiedullardparker · 07/07/2009 09:28

I know a Cl'ow'dia and she doesn't/hasn't had a life of correcting people.

posiedullardparker · 07/07/2009 09:27

I like the italian way too.

VAB · 07/07/2009 09:26

I LOVE Claudia but husband has said no I would pronounce it Cloud-ia, as I'm Dutch and it's just pronounced that way (nicer in my opinion) but I just know it'll lead to a life of correcting people who say Claw-dia.

Original poster
stclair · 07/07/2009 09:02

Thanks ladies! Certainly a good mix here! I agree, it has an awful meaning but according to my baby name book Claudia was mentioned in the New Testament and was married to someone-or-another and was a good woman! Sometime before Emperor Claudius and his dodgy leg, I'm guessing, so that's the version I'm sticking to! Think I'm still going with the Clou-dia option though, I'll prepare myself, and her, for a lifetime of corrections

OP posts:
TitsalinaBumsquash · 06/07/2009 21:28

Claw - dia, i have a couple of friends called Claudia and it is said Claw - dia.

missmem · 06/07/2009 21:26

Prefer Claw dee ah. Clou-dia reminds me of clown!

jellybeans · 06/07/2009 20:56

I prefer Claw-dia and thats what I would assume unless told otherwise. Not keen on Clow-dia.

treacletart · 06/07/2009 16:51

Lovely name and I'd pronounce it Clordia, I like Claudette too

Mammina · 06/07/2009 16:49

Cloud ee aah

SoupMeerkat · 06/07/2009 15:45

It means Lame I think.

frankbestfriend · 06/07/2009 14:31

sonniboo, why shame about the meaning? Have I missed something? German for Halfwit perhaps?

suwoo · 06/07/2009 14:27

If I saw it written down, I would automatically pronounce it Clor-dia. I know two, one english pronounced Clor-dia and one german pronounced cloud-ia.

You've had a mixed bag of responses, I would add each pronunciation up- but I can't be arsed .

stickylittlefingers · 06/07/2009 14:26

call her Cloud for short and spell it Cloud and people should get it. I think it's cute!

pasturesnew · 06/07/2009 14:17

If I met a Claudia, Claw-dia would be my default pronunciation.

I would say Cloud-ia if I was told it was that, as above if she was of German or Italian heritage etc. then fair enough. If she was English then I would still try to remember but would probably forget quite often and fall back on Claw-dia.

sonniboo · 06/07/2009 14:13

I know a Clowd-ia, she has a German mum, so thats why they pronounce it that way.

Have to say I prefer that to Clawd-ia.

Lovely name (shame about the meaning, though).

elsiepiddock · 06/07/2009 13:29

I have a friend who's Cloud-ia, but her parents are Italian so that's the way they pronounce it. There is a Claw-dia in ds2's class. I think the Italian way sounds best - softer somehow.

hifi · 06/07/2009 13:28

clou dia is nice, cloudey for short

stillstanding · 06/07/2009 13:26

I would say Claw-dia to start and then change to Cloud-ia when corrected but would struggle to remember. Guess you have to prepare for a bit of confusion!

bratley · 06/07/2009 13:24

I would say Claw-dia.

I love Cleodie, but by the same thread, you'll probably end up correcting pronunciation.

frankbestfriend · 06/07/2009 13:15

I have only ever used the claw-di-ah pronounciation, and I agree with others that she will be destined to be forever correcting people if you go for the alternative cloud-i-ah.

Love crumpet's suggestion of Cleodie, though.

throckenholt · 06/07/2009 13:13

clou-di-a is the German way. Uk way would normally be Claw-di-a