How would you pronounce Elena?

[Goscat]

Latin family loving in the UK. We want to use this name but are unsure how Brits (Scots specifically will pronounce it?)

It should be Eh-LEH-na

Kind of like this - same intonation but with more of an A (ie how you say the letter A) in the middle - Leh sounds like a shorter sound.

I’m a Londoner if that makes a difference!

Sounds like a mix 🤣 I guess we'll just have to go for it if we like it.

I'm not so worried about it being said like Eleanor because in Scotland people pronounce Eleanor with a heard R at the end, not diminished like English. It's more the elaine-a possibility.

This is the correct Spanish pronunciation so makes me feel better 🤣

Eh lay na

There was a similar thread a few days ago which I'll post if I can find it.
I'm not Scottish, not even born in the UK. I'd say Ellen-ah, although I know some say El-ay-na.

Do you like the name Elena? | Mumsnet

I know two, but they pronounce it differently.

One is Romanian and pronounces it Ell-ay-nah.
One is Spanish and pronounces it Ell-enn-ah.

If I didn’t know, my default would be Ell-ay-nah and await correction

Oh thank you! I'll have a search back through! Maybe it's becoming more popular here than we thought 🤣

El Lee na

No, it means that I posted (kind of) the same thing at the same time as another poster, so I hadn't seen her post when I posted mine!

Oh I see! Internet noob 🤣

I think the majority of English speakers would promounce it 'elaine-a', because that's what your 'eh leh na' pronunciation would actually sound like in an English accent. They'd pretty much have to put on a Spanish accent to make it not sound like that.

This is true. I'm just so used to hearing it in a Spanish accent that it's hard to imagine.

Might have to start asking random people to say it so I can hear 🤣

I should maybe add that I'm a languages teacher, so I've got long years of detailed experience of (and interest in) how English people tend to pronounce foreign words and names!

Eh-LAY-nuh. If you want EH-lun-a spell it Helena or Ellena.

This is true. I'm just so used to hearing it in a Spanish accent that it's hard to imagine.

Ok - I really don't think it will be said like you want it then. It will sound like 'Elaine-uh'. Tbh I would pronounce it like that unless I were actually in Spain or speaking Spanish to a Spanish person!

How on earth do people get El-uh-nuh from Eleanor?

I would assume El-ay-na.

Eh-lenn-a

Eh- len- uh

like how I say Eleanor (I don’t emphasise the r in Eleanor)

That's how most English people pronounce that name. Are you Scottish by any chance?

A - lay - na

El-ay-na but we've spent loads of time in Greece and all the people we know called Elena are Greek

Most English people pronounce the 'or' at the end of a word as 'uh'. Like in 'decorator', 'translator' etc.

With no 'n' sound? You are the second person to say this. Is this how it is pronounced in some country?

Northern Irish. I would say it how it's spelt so El-le-nor