How to pronounce this name

[Pennymixture]

Xavier

I always thought it was pronounced "Zay-vee-ar"

But I've heard people saying "ex-zay-vee-ar"

Which is correct or can you say either?

I’d say Zay vee ah

Have ee air

Oh good god it's not "Ex ay viar" please don't hurt my ears

The one I know (French) is Zav-ee-ay

Ok, listen up:

Xavier (English) - Zay-vyur
Xavier (French) - Za-vee-ay
Javier (Spanish) - Ha-vee-air.

We have a friend who's son is Zay-vee-er.

My brother did a French exchange with a Xavier. It's a French name pronounced zav-ee-yay.
Americans butcher it and say ex-ay-vey-yer

I'd say Zav ee air.
Was one of the main characters in my French text book in the 70s/early 80s. However, my French teacher had a full on Bedfordshire accent and I doubt they had ever set foot in France so not much to go on!

I have 2 Spanish friends with this name. They both pronounce it chav ee air. Or chavi for short

zay-vee-uh

That’s most common in the UK I think

Yes this

And US (at least sometimes) Ex-zay-vee-er, which is the only one I’d describe as butchery

Depends on the country, but for Spanish Javier I'd say 'hab-ee-ur' (but a lot quicker). For Xavier I'd roll the J slightly more to make it more 'Zjabier'

Spanish speakers often pronounce 'v' as 'b' - not always, but sometimes. So a town sometimes called Javea is also referred to as Xabia. It sounds almost exactly the same, but it's a regional thing.

This thread illustrates why you shouldn't use the name. Imagine this happening every time someone reads your name for your whole life!!

It depends, as the pronunciation varies between languages.

It's a very common name in Catalan, the most famous international example being the footballer Xavi. The X is pronounced like a sh/ch in English (varies a bit according to accent).

Ja vee er (soft j)

As the Spanish do- Javier (khavier)
The other pronunciations are frankly rediculous.

Correct <gavel>

It has multiple correct pronunciations. None of them begin with an ‘ex’ sound.

Zzz ay-ve-er
rhymes with savior

Z not an x sound

Zav-ee-ay

@ZoyaTheDestroyer
@SomethingNastyInTheBallPool

It has multiple correct pronunciations. None of them begin with an ‘ex’ sound.

Where has the "ex-zaviour" pronunciation come from? It's not just x men movies as it crops up in an old Richard Scarry cartoon.

Just an American pronunciation?

Hav ee ay

But Javier is not the same as Xavier. That's like insisting that the name Sean should be pronounced John.

Both Xander and Xenophon begin with a 'z' sound, so I'd go with that, to be consistent.

Over 40 years ago I heard the ex-ay-vee-ur pronunciation.