How do you pronounce William?

[wwoonn]

I say it with 3 syllables, but it's supposed to only be 2?

I'd say William. I am not posh, at all! Last in a long line of Cockneys. I think Willyum sounds quite plummy!

but it's a very dark "l" so it's almost not pronounced "l" but more like Wi-w-yum like the dark 'l in mil - mi-wk). Just to confuse things even more

Well, yes, that has absolutely confused me

Ponders a 'dark l' and what is meant by "mi-wk"

3 here... London

I say it with 3 too

I have one and it's willy-am

3

the dark 'l in mil - mi-wk
that's a very regional thing.In most of the country it is pronounced with a definite 'l'

..and William is 3 syllables to me

sorry - I should have proofread

a dark "l" as in milk - so it's almost pronounced mi-wk. Likewise, Wiw - yum

There's a funny autocorrect thing going on that rendered that post incomprehensible..... I can see it in action, changing what I type as I go....

I've looked up dark l - never heard that description - and I see what you are saying, but agree with Lola that it is regional and the l is generally pronounced in milk.

In estuary/south Essex it would be mi-wk but also definitely William with 3 syllables.

Willy-yum - Essex/London

Also Kent, I've always said William with 3 syllables and have always heard it pronounced that way too.

Three here, never realised it was pronounced with two, every day's a learning day

Will-ee-um
Definitely 3 syllables the way I say it
(up north)

Will-yem but if I was doing it in my strongest accent it would be 'wull-yum'
I've been trying to say 'Will-ee-um' outloud but I can't seem to manage it.

Ha, my sahf east london toddler DD says miwk, giwls, and 'Wiwwiam'. DH is Will and they all call him 'Wiw' round here. Unfortunate.

1. Cannot get it into two syllables despite several attempts.

You know when the 'l' is pronounced almost like a 'w' - sawt, miwk, terribuw, impossibuw; it's a common pronunciation but in most of the country the 'l' in milk is pronounced as a light l.

3 syllables

Beaten to it by lottie. I also wanted to mention Clarrie's Will Yum.

I am posher than Clarrie and my version comes out at 2.5 syllables. Will eeam.

Yes actually Clarrie goes for Wiw Yum.

I have a William. I say will-ee-um, DH says will-yum.
No wonder the poor thing can't even say his own name (though tbf he's only 2)

Will-ye-um

I'm up north and have only heard

Willy um