Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
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