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Original poster

NZ Name Pronunciation - Ngaire

27 replies

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 17/10/2019 10:36

Hi

I’m reading a real life memoir at the moment and the author’s first name is Ngaire. It’s important to me to respect her enough to pronounce it correctly even if just in my own head....

OP posts:
Rainbowqueeen · 17/10/2019 10:37

It’s pronounced Ny-ree

What’s the book??

IncrediblySadToo · 17/10/2019 10:40

Yes Ny- Ree.

I imagine you’ll just let your mind skip over many of the place names 🤣

LilyJade · 17/10/2019 10:43

I know a Ngaire, she says it's Ny-ra

Original poster
BathshebaKnickerStickers · 17/10/2019 10:49

It’s a book called “Behind Closed Doirs” by Ngaire Thomas - about life in the Exclusive Brethern

OP posts:
SuperDuperJezebel · 17/10/2019 10:58

Thirding 'Ny-ree'!

bellinisurge · 17/10/2019 11:14

Nyree.
Like Ngaio Marsh (Ny -oh). At least that's what my mum always called her.

mbosnz · 17/10/2019 11:21

Yup, Ny-ree.

That would be an interesting read, my mother's read it, but I haven't.

The exclusive bretheren are an interesting bunch, I went to school with a lot of them in NZ. I was quite friendly with one girl in particular, who was pulled out of school at 15, as that was deemed sufficient education for a girl. She was quite heartbroken by that, as she was very intelligent and able academically.

And a bretheren boy got drunk under the stage at school assembly one time - that was funny as hell, lol.

ShippingNews · 17/10/2019 11:34

Yup, Ny - ree.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 17/10/2019 11:37

The Ngaire I new pronounced her name Nah-ree.

mbosnz · 17/10/2019 11:49

Ngai in te reo (Maori) is pronounced as 'Nye' to rhyme with 'eye'.

Clawdy · 17/10/2019 12:47

Nyree Dawn Porter was a well-known NZ actress back in the day. Apparently her real name was Ngaire.

bellinisurge · 17/10/2019 14:28

I did think of Nyree Dawn Porter (I'm oldGrin). I never twigged she was a Kiwi and had anglicised the spelling of her name. Very glamorous in a Rula Lenska kind of way, as I recall.

ODFOx · 17/10/2019 14:32

The only one I've met called herself
N eye ee rie

Windydaysuponus · 17/10/2019 14:32

Looks too much like the N word imo...

SuperDuperJezebel · 17/10/2019 14:37

It's a very old traditional Maori name so I'm certain that any perceived resemblance is unintentional.

bellinisurge · 17/10/2019 14:42

@Windydaysuponus , it's a NZ name.

IncrediblySadToo · 17/10/2019 15:23

I Looks too much like the N word imo..

Spec Savers have a good offer on at the moment.

You’ll pull a muscle stretching like that.

mbosnz · 17/10/2019 16:31

Looks too much like the N word imo...

Can't wait to pass that one on to my Maori sister in law. Named Ngaire. . .

Dowser · 17/10/2019 17:09

Well I’m not the only one saying Ni -gaire in my head
Pronounced correctly it sounds very pretty

bellinisurge · 17/10/2019 18:25

Some languages aren't English.

BingoLittlesUncle · 17/10/2019 18:26

Looks too much like the N word imo...

Words fail me.

PerkyPomPoms · 17/10/2019 18:29

Yup definitely said as Ny ree

Apolloanddaphne · 17/10/2019 18:32

Nice name.

nzborn · 17/10/2019 18:32

Phonetically
Ni Ree

Had a cousin with this name but unless you have a Kiwi accent it will still sound a bit different

bellinisurge · 17/10/2019 18:41

This isn't a baby names thread.