Can anyone tell me how to pronounce this name, please?

[Heliotroping]

The name is Nqoe. The lady in question comes from Zimbabwe. Anyone know how to pronounce? Many thanks in advance.

Why don't you ask her? Or haven't you met her yet? If you haven't met her, surely you just say "Hi I'm Anna..." and she says "I"m Nqoe"

Can't say for absolute sure but I'd say it like this - with very little emphasis on the 'u', nasal on the n, short on the 'koo' so

unkoo

And - if it's not like that it's like this - same up to the 'koo' but the 'koo' becomes 'kway'

Hope it's one of these!

Just ask.

The “q” I believe (on the basis that I once worked with a Nqobile and presume Nqoe is similar) is a click sound and the one you make by placing your tongue to the roof of your mouth - so “N-click-eh”.

But agree with others - ask! It’s an unusual name even in Swahili speaking countries let alone the UK, it isn’t rude to ask. Just say you’ve never come across the name before and how is it pronounced?

It’s professional to ask rather than stumble and get it wrong.

Op could be about to make a phone call or have to announce the name to meet the person.

Every-time I go to the hospital they say they've been trying to practice my name before they have to announce it they then ask me the correct pronunciation.

Whatever you do op please don't do that awkward laugh and 'that's a very unusual name isn't it?' with head on side and expect the person to laugh along with you.
I absolutely hate people expecting me to laugh at my own name (albeit surname) and now just give a dead pan look until they've stopped laughing.

Thanks, all.
I have asked before, but really couldn't hear the answer properly (it was a noisy room), and feel terrible about the prospect of her having to tell me again. I'm worried it might seem like I couldn't be arsed to learn properly first time. Also, I've seen her lots of times since then and we're quite friendly, so it would seem much too late.

Thank you for the responses. I've tried looking on Google, YouTube etc, and can't find the relevant info.

that's a very unusual name isn't it?' with head on side and expect the person to laugh along with you.

My name is unusual and I've never had anyone be so rude as to do this. Thank god.

OP, of you're quite friendly you might just have to bite the bullet and tell her exactly what you've told us. It sounds like one of these situations when you've wanted to ask but never found the right time and now feel it's gone past that stage?

Well that changes things.

Can you do some gentle eavesdropping what other people call her?

Do you work together OP? If so could you discreetly ask a workmate?

It's either an Ndebele or Shona name if she is from Zimbabwe. The N is pronounced like 'in'

Maybe then 'In Koo'

I would just be honest and say the following with a friendly smile:

"I'm really sorry could you tell me how to pronounce your name again? I know I asked before at XYZ but it was so noisy I couldn't hear properly and I'll make a right bodge out of it if I try to guess!"

I am terrible at remembering names....I am working on that but I just say "I'm so sorry....I know you've told me your name once before but it's gone from my head! I'm bad at remembering names...and I don't like not knowing."

People actually seem to like it...because it's obvious you're putting yourself out there to ask them.

My name is unusual and I've never had anyone be so rude as to do this. Thank god.

I get it every single time I meet someone new. I think it's because I'm blonde with blue eyes so they don't think they're being racist.

I'm so British with things like this. I'd basically never call her by her name for the rest of our friendship.

The N wouldn’t be like the one at the start of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, would it? Only that is just a sort of nasal n sound, not a full-on N.

Xhosa is one of the Zimbabwe languages apparently.

(There are 15, including English )

Agree though that asking is the best way

In fact I’ve just listened to a recording & they seem to swallow the N altogether