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 thought Ka was a pun on car and is Japanese for mosquito. It was advertised as a little nippy buzzy car - that was the point I thought.

Mammy is Irish I think - I have family who use it. I get that it has other connotations though, (US history?)

I'm now going "Hel en, Hel in, Hel un." I definitely say chicken with "in" at the end. "Chick en" sounds all wrong, but I think I say "Hel un." West Country.

"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."

Not if it goes against your accent. For example, if you come from an area where 'r' isn't pronounced unless it's between vowels you're not going to copy the Scottish pronunciation of Robert are you? You'd say it Robut while the Scot would say it as Roburt. Otherwise Scottish Robert would think you were taking the p.

It's different if the name is in another language of course. Then you follow the rules of that language to the extent that you can so a French Charlotte would be pronounced with the 'r', but an English one wouldn't.

Actually - good point - who says chick-en?? Chikkin for tea!

Ellen

I'm from SE and agree that chicken sounds like chick-in, and is not pronounced the same as Helen, seven or even.. Ellen!

This is like hyacinth bucket. Definitely not bouquet! haha

It's definitely a Ford Kay-Ay

Helen is pronounced Hellun here.

North west here and I say somewhere between hellun and hellen, but definitely no emphasis on the second 'e' and I have never heard anyone else pronounce it that way. It reminds me of a woman my sister worked with whose name was Doreen, but liked it pronounced D'reen.

I don't think Scottish Robert would think you were taking the piss if you pronounced his name Robert, he would just hear his name normally. It might sound odd to you it wouldn't to him.
I can't understand how you can pronounce Charlotte without an r, wouldn't it just sound like shallot.

Absolutely is an accent thing.

My Scottish friend Claire would say her name as something along the lines of 'clear' but with the Scottish 'r' at the end, doesn't mean her name is 'clear', or that she gets cross if people call her 'Claire'!

There's a certain accent from the north where the 'oh' sound comes out as 'er' so 'hope' becomes 'herp' (Linda Barker anyone??). But it doesn't mean they're pronouncing it wrong, it's just the accent!

I've just googled pronunciation guides for "Helen"

• the first one I googled said it's Hel-un, with "un" rhyming with "sun"
• the second one sounded like Hel-in
• the 3rd one, for "Helen Mirrin" also sounds like Hel-in to me.

(Just found another one, a Spanish Columbian pronunciation, think that's the closest yet to Hel-en, but still not quite there.)

YANBU I detest it when people say Hel-in instead of Hel-en.

I am not even called Helen.

I also hate it when people say Carolyn when someone's name is actually Caroline.

Same question as puppymonkey, then. Are you saying seven should rhyme with hen too?

Sandra and Cara laughed as they walked up the path to the baths! (North/ South)

Harry and Henry had a horrible holiday in Essex! (An 'orrible 'oliday!!)

they say "Ka" on the advert - that must be what they're expecting people to say, surely?

My name gets a whole new syllable where I live now. And it's Mam or Mammy usually too, although if someone found it offensive I would certainly not say it to them.

Helen and Ellen do rhyme for me (with the -un ending). Not chicken, though. If I say chick-un, I sound like my nan (welsh borders).

I agree, it's an accent thing. I thought it was going to be Zoe pronounced Zoo-ey or something!

It is definitely not Kay-ay.

Also the word 'Helen' just sounds weird now I've repeated it so many times. I can't get it to sound any different. Must be an accent thing

Broad Lancashire and I say Helun. I thought you were going to say your name was Eleanor, you wouldn't believe how many ways people can find to say or spell Eleanor.

To add, the Scottish Robert would definitely think you were taking the piss if you couldn't do a Scottish 'r'. Has anyone heard Stephen Mangan doing a Scots accent? Like that!! If you're bumbling along talking normally then throw in this ridiculous out of place consonant that's not from your accent!

Like if you're talking to an American you wouldn't just drop into an American accent for the names, how very daft!

It's also pronounced "Car" by Ford, on adverts

And as Kay Ay by Ford Croydon when providing one as a courtesy car :)

I suspect the Hell-en Hell-in thing is just accent and they may not hear the difference and think they are saying it like you do. XH used to take the piss out of how I say theatre. As far as I can hear, I say it the same as anyone else.

In laws are French. My Name is completely changed to a French name because they can't be bothered to even try and say my real name correctly however often I've asked. I don't expect my in laws to pronounce my name perfectly correctly, just to say my actual fucking name in a French accent would be a start. So for me, I'm wondering how come this a battle worth fighting Helen. If they're difficult in laws, I think I'd pick my battles better.

Ka as per the advert voice-over. Never heard anyone say Kay Ay?

For K.A. ??? Hahaha that is brilliant.

It's spelt Ka for a reason.

Hmmm, I am posh Southern and would say Hel-en. Hel-in sounds really try hard to me, like someone is trying to sound posh.

I was doing group interviews recently for an internship and one woman corrected every single person she introduced herself to (they all had name badges on) Everyone who shook her hand and said "Nice to meet you Janine" was immediately told "No - It's JANNeen"

Needless to say, she didn't get the job. I can do without someone who alienates everyone they meet within seconds.

"No, Helen. Both e sounds are the same."

Really? I was sure you meant Hell-un as I've never heard Helen in English before. That's how I'd pronounce it in Welsh and it's the most logical way, but I can see why English speakers find that difficult, it doesn't match how English words usually are i.e. the second 'e' would normally be a schwa.