to want in laws to correctly pronounce my very ordinary name?

[DrSeuss]

I have a very ordinary, English-of-Greek-origin name. Spelled in the traditional way, couldn't e simpler, really.
For over twenty years, ILs have mispronounced it. For twenty years, I and my husband have periodically corrected them. Not a huge thing, granted but it grates every time they say it wrongly.

AIBU to slightly mispronounce their names just a little, e.g. Sarah becomes Sorah, Jim becomes Jom? Childish, I know, but it is pretty much the only thing I have asked of them in twenty years! Other family members ask for and receive special food despite having no real grounds for this or meals served at a particular time despite having no children. I'd just like them to say my name without me mentally wincing!

I'm not Helen, but my (southern) mum always says "Hell-in" and it really annoys me. I know it's just how she says it but it sounds so stuck up to me.

OTOH chicken IMO is pronounced "Chick-in" but exP always pronounced it "Chick-UN" which also annoyed me.

I don't really think it natters how you naturally pronounce a name, you should always pronounce it the way the person whose name it is pronounces it.

But if you're Welsh you're not going to pronounce a name like Dave the same way someone from London or Yorkshire does and you'll sound silly putting on a Cockney or Yorkshire accent

DrSeuss

So, are we to conclude that they Just Don't Like You That Much?

'Cos you are discounting all other explanations

My married name is German but DH's family were from Alsace so it is not pronounced the way Germans say it . Once at Vienna airport a snooty check in girl told me I wasn't pronouncing it correctly......

I have no idea which I say! They sound the same to me!

I cant tell the difference either! Sorry YABU

My mum pronounces Hospital as Ossbidall

Is your maiden name Archer OP? 😄

I feel your pain, my inlaws do this too.

And ambulance as am-ba--luns

It sounds more like "Hellun" when I say it as well!

I think I remember many years ago watching the James Herriot series & Robert Hardy saying "Hellin" & thinking that that must be how posh people pronounced it!

Could you compromise on Hels?

move to wales. we all say Hel-en.
YANBU, I had an old house mate who after weeks and weeks of saying my name correctly suddenly started mispronouncing it and it drove me MENTAL!

My Dad cannot pronounce Stuart...he says Steward every single time. Im very thankful that isn't DH's name.

For posters saying they can't tell the difference between 'Helen' and 'Hel-in' try saying 'en' as in hen and 'in'. Totally different!

I find "posh" vowels fascinating.

Hello = Her Ler

So in your pronunciation, the second "e" rhymes with the first?

I say Helin and ellin for Helen and Ellen, it would require a humongous degree of concentration to say them differently. It would be like trying to say something in a different language I barely speak.

(Neither of my pronunciations have "hell" as the first syllable, the "e" in that does not resemble the first "e" in Helen, for me. The first "e" is Helen is similar to the one in "yes" or "egg", "hell" i pronounce similar to the name "Hal" as in "Halfords.")

ummm I am extremely extremely familiar with this name and for the first time in my life am not exactly sure how I say it myself. Maybe Hellun. I have a swedish friend called Helena and I definitely can't do her name the Swedish way correctly. I just say sorry a lot.

My MIL actually did linguistics and language acquisition at uni. Which would be tricky if you can't hear differences in pronunciation!

Mountain, molehill, whatever. I suppose I find it symptomatic of their attitude to me. My SIL's husband is very demanding to host so hoops are jumped through. I require a bed and something to eat, try to fit in with whatever is required. I'd just like to be correctly addressed!

DrSeuss

What are the chances

I pronounce it Hell-an but its definitely down to my Bham accent. I can imagine someone with a posh accent pronouncing it Hell-in though.

Sorry, it's not funny, but it is ironic

Your name is indeed very ordinary, but most people who spell your name the way you do, pronounce it the way your pils do. They have probably met dozens of Helens who pronounce the name the way they do. Did they see it written down before they met you? That way they would have read it as Hellin. It sound as if you pronounce your name like the French Helene with the stress on the second syllable (but no silent 'h') which is quite unusual. Despite your correction they probably just can't get there heads around it. Yanbu to be annoyed but tanbu to just of get it.

So is it more an emphasis on the "ll's" then that you're wanting?

Well, I'm southern England, reasonably posh accent, and I'd really struggle to say Hell-en without really thinking about it. I'd just say Hellin or Hellun naturally. I'd get a bit stressed out and scared to say it if someone was getting upset over it. I would try, however. I had friends as a child called Helen, I always pronounced it Hellin - as did they!

I think you maybe need to cut them a bit of slack. I think it's an accent thing rather than a vindictive or lazy thing.