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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How do you pronounce Joseph?

122 replies

SeriousSeal · 30/08/2018 18:24

DH and I have called our newborn baby son Joseph, which we pronounce "JO-siff". However, I've noticed that most other people say "JO-ziff", and I wondered if it was a dialect thing or just personal preference. How do you say Joseph and where are you from? I'm in SE England.

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weebarra · 30/08/2018 21:05

Jo-seff - Scotland

VioletCharlotte · 30/08/2018 21:37

Jo- ziff (south east)

LemonysSnicket · 30/08/2018 22:01

Jo-ziff I'm from Yorkshire now live in London

LemonysSnicket · 30/08/2018 22:01

DP also Jo-ziff and he's from West London

Armchairanarchist · 30/08/2018 22:03

As it's spelt. I'm married to one.

Faster · 30/08/2018 22:03

Jo-ziff. Yorkshire.

MaisyPops · 30/08/2018 22:03

Joe-seff

MikeUniformMike · 30/08/2018 22:04

Jo-zif

LemonysSnicket · 30/08/2018 22:04

If I say it in a posh RP accent it naturally comes out with an S though, so clearly it's just what's a natural Jo-to z/s blend in your accent

elliejjtiny · 30/08/2018 22:05

Jo-zeff and i'm in South West although come from home counties so my accent is a bit mixed. It's a lovely name op,my youngest is called Joseph

legofansmum · 30/08/2018 22:10

Jo-Siff

It's my DS name

South West x

legofansmum · 30/08/2018 22:13

My DS is insistent he's only called 'Joseph'
Not Joe, he is 11.

Cosmoa · 30/08/2018 22:38

Jo-seff

DieAntword · 30/08/2018 22:42

Jo seph but the e is very short so I can understand why some people make it an i sound. It’s almost joe-suf and the s is close to a z but still too soft.

Sallycinnamon17 · 30/08/2018 22:45

We have a Joesph here, we say jo-suff and so does everyone else we know. We’re north west.

Enko · 30/08/2018 22:58

Jo-seff SE here.

MeyMary · 30/08/2018 23:42

Joe-sf in English, Yo-sef in German...

sosolateatnight · 30/08/2018 23:50

@SeriousSeal I'd say Jo-Siff. I have a Josephine and if shortened to Josie I pronounce it Jo-See with two very clear syllables. Everyone else seems to pronounce it Jo-Zee, still two syllables but almost rolled into one of that makes sense. It drove me mad for a while because I'd never given much thought to people pronouncing it wrong differently but now I've accepted it Grin

Pemba · 31/08/2018 01:20

I couldn't think but repeating it over I think I do say 'joe-zif'. Seems howjsay agrees with me, though they are not always right on everything:

howjsay.com/searchResult.php?word=Joseph

I certainly wouldn't bat an eyelid at anyone saying 'joe-seff' though, they are pretty much interchangeable pronunciations really.

WhyIsntGeorgeCalledPeterOrPaul · 31/08/2018 01:22

I'm from SE England and pronounce it with a soft s like rose, hose, prose, nose.

I've never heard anyone say it with a hard s.

GhostPerfume · 31/08/2018 01:33

Josuff

SecretWitch · 31/08/2018 01:44

Jo-Fuss, that’s what my three year old niece calls her brother. The rest of us call him, Jo-ziff.

Monday55 · 31/08/2018 01:54

Jo-Zef

moredoll · 31/08/2018 02:06

Jo ziff. Originally from Scotland, now living in London.

prettygreywalls · 31/08/2018 02:42

Joe seff
Two clear syllables

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