Irish Speakers... Méadhbha

[Summer210]

Any Irish speakers able to give me a phonetic pronunciation of Méadhbha? Can't find one online (other than the more widely used Meadhbh/ Maeve/ Méabh). TIA

It'd just be Maeve with an a sound at the end wouldn't it? Can't say I've ever heard it as a name though. Mayve-a.

Like Maeve with an extra uh at the end (I think!).

May-uh-vuh

Just ridiculous spelling a name no one can pronounce or even spell!!

There's a 'Maeva' on Made in Chelsea.

It'd be MAY-vah.

Mayv-ah. Would avoid like the plague though, with how popular Maeve is in Ireland it'll be a constant stream of "oh, Maeve is it?". Just an unnecessary flounce to it.

It's pronounced me-oh-wah

@thepinkstuff that's very rude , it's perfectly pronounceable to native speakers - or should everyone have to use an anglicised name? There are other cultures you know .

Thank you everyone for your replies. Much appreciated

@dailycaffiend I have heard this pronunciation before and wasn't sure where the 'w' sound came from? To me th dh=silent and bh=v. Although I guess it's is similar to the traditional pronunciation of Siobhán ('Shewan')?

@thepinkstuff

Just ridiculous spelling a name no one can pronounce or even spell!!

Look, it’s fine to say you don’t know how to pronounce or spell a name that’s from another language, it’s not a failing. What isn’t fine is to make out that everyone else is exactly like you and people who speak that language are wrong to, er, speak that language.

It’s a pretty common name in France among the early 20’s.

Though it’s Tahitian not Irish 🙂

I have a friend called this- she pronounces it Mee-oh-wah as @Dailycaffiend says. Native speaker from Donegal if it’s relevant!

I like it

I haven't come across this name before, but have heard of Meadhbh being pronounced differently to the usual Maeve sometimes, as in this link here.

forvo.com/word/meadhbh/

The pronunciation of Meadhbha given by Sideofnoreturn and Dailycaffiend seems similar (if you add an ah to the end).

Bh in Irish is not always pronounced to sound similar to (though not the same as) an English v, OP. In fact it often isn't, and this varies depending on its position in the word and on dialect. Sometimes it isn't pronounced at all. As you said yourself it's often closer to a w sound. Hence Shewawn for Siobhan in some areas. Similarly, Sadhbh was pronounced Sow in many areas, but this is no longer seen as attractive because of the similar sounding English word meaning female pig. Still found in the song Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh though.

I've a question too. I've usually seen the older Meadhbh written without a fada, while the more modern Méabh has one. Does your friend from Donegal spell her name with a fada @Sideofnoreturn? I'd be inclined to leave it out, but very much open to correction...

@LizzieAnt no, my friend doesn’t have a fada.

Thanks Sideofnoreturn.

Hi if youre still thinking of this name , Its my own name and i pronounce it (May-va). Great name if I'm not biased. Always wanted to see someone else with the name Meadhbha

what a narrow-minded thing to say. How about we celebrate the Irish spelling of names instead of trying to say how difficult the spelling is , we need to get out. of that mindset

Irish here! Its maeva, the spelling without the a is 'maeve' I have cousins with both names. Although please don't gatekeep names if someone likes a name and at least respects the culture or origin then it's fine. Also, don't disrespect anothers spelling of the name like @thepinkstuff it's narrowminded and hindering the usage of the name.

Unless the OP is an elephant I'd say she's had the baby by now.

Yes and it was a boy in the end. So, nevermind...😂

I personally struggle with Irish name spellings but they always fascinate me how they are pronounced as the pronunciation is so simple. But it's easily solved with a quick sorry how do you pronounce your name. Now seeing how you pronounce it I really like the name very pretty

Meadhbha is a lovely name OP, maybe for the next one 😉