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Original poster

How do you pronounce Joseph?

99 replies

fairybeagle · 26/10/2019 22:36

Joe-sef or Joes-ef?

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inwood · 26/10/2019 23:10

I've only ever heard one pronunciation and that's jo-sef.

redspider1 · 26/10/2019 23:11

Joe-siph

SwampOfDeath · 26/10/2019 23:12

These pronunciation threads sometimes make me feel really stupid; I am standing here trying both suggested pronunciations back and forth, but I can't actually tell the difference. Like being asked which shade of grey would look best in the living room, and they both look pretty much the same, but everyone else has a firm favourite.

Mrsmummy90 · 26/10/2019 23:14

Joe-cif

LeftoverPizza · 26/10/2019 23:15

Jo-sif

LL83 · 26/10/2019 23:15

Joe-sif

Tillygetsit · 26/10/2019 23:17

I have one. He's Joe-sef

Shagged · 26/10/2019 23:17

Joe-sif

ferrier · 26/10/2019 23:17

Always a z sound here (south-east). Same for Denise.

BetweenTheMoon · 26/10/2019 23:18

I was just thinking EXACTLY the same @SwampOfDeath!

flowery · 26/10/2019 23:21

All these people pronouncing it with an s. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone pronounce it with a s rather than a z!

BreconBeBuggered · 26/10/2019 23:22

I've only just noticed this, but this thread has made me realise I pronounce it both ways. The Josephs I've known in real life have been Jo-zifs, but for Joseph as in Technicolor Dreamcoat I'd say Joe-sef.

superfandango · 26/10/2019 23:22

Yeah, if you’re bothered about how people say it, choose a different name. There will always be some regional differences to some names and if the idea bothers you, don’t put yourself in for years of annoyance.

MrsNoMopp · 26/10/2019 23:42

JO-ziff

Fabuleuse · 26/10/2019 23:46

I don't like the "z" pronunciation. It doesn't have a "z"! Joe-seph

moofolk · 26/10/2019 23:46

Joe-suf

GertiMJN · 26/10/2019 23:48

inwood

I've only ever heard one pronunciation and that's jo-sef.

Despite the spelling of the word, the 'iff' sound at the end is a really common pronounciation.

I had exactly this conversation yesterday with a friend whose son is called Joseph Grin

Peggywoolley · 26/10/2019 23:48

Having said it out loud a few times...

I say Mary and Joe-sef.

But I also say Joe-zef and his Technicolor dreamcoat.

In my family they have mostly been called Joe Smile

DramaAlpaca · 26/10/2019 23:52

This thread makes me really glad I used it as a middle name, not DS's first name. I'd have been driven demented by hearing it pronounced with an 's' rather than the 'z' sound I prefer Grin

GertiMJN · 26/10/2019 23:54

But do you say iff or eff at the end DramaAlpaca ?

AtSea1979 · 26/10/2019 23:54

Joe-ziff

DramaAlpaca · 26/10/2019 23:58

GertiMJN I say 'eff' at the end. I don't like 'iff'. I'm very fussy Grin

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 26/10/2019 23:58

Joe-zuf.

MissOrganisedMe · 26/10/2019 23:59

Joe-seff

GertiMJN · 27/10/2019 00:02

DramaAlpaca Grin

Who'd have known it could be so controversial!

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