Pronunciation questions

[londonpenguin]

I'd like to know how to pronounce:

1) Nighy. As in the actor Bill Nighy.

2) Dalziel. As in the program (which I've never seen, otherwise I'd probably know how to pronounce it) "Dalziel & Pascoe." I want to say doll-zeal, but I seem to remember hearing it pronounced as deal.

Thanks!

 

[Dimplenose]

I think they're pronounced

Nye-ee
Dee-el

It's always tricky to spell a sound (isn't English a wonderful language? - mind you Irish names seem to be worse e.g. Niamh??!!)

Libby

 

[londonpenguin]

Thanks, Dimplenose!

Yeah ... Niamh. If it weren't for Ballykissangel, I'd still be pronouncing it to rhyme with Liam, and I'd be pronouncing Siobhan sy-o-bon.

There's a hilarious French & Saunders sketch where they're sending up The Cranberries, and Jennifer introduces the band:

"And this is our drummer, Jim, only it's spelt J-I-C-H-K-I-O-M."

 

[UKDEB]

Originally posted by londonpenguin
Yeah ... Niamh. If it weren't for Ballykissangel, I'd still be pronouncing it to rhyme with Liam

Go on then: put me out of my misery.

 

[Miffy2003]

It is pronounced Neeve. Lovely name!

 

[Night-train]

Here's a couple more Irish names to do your head in!

Caoihme and Grainne; Have a go at pronouncing those correctly!

 

[londonpenguin]

You've got me stumped with Caoihme, but I think Grainne is pronounced grahnya. ???

 

[Hilary]

I have a Scottish friend with a daughter called 'Kirtsy'. Straightforward enough, I thought, until I saw it written down something like

Kiorsteough

(Apologies for mispelling if I've got it wrong! )

 

[Night-train]

Originally posted by londonpenguin
You've got me stumped with Caoihme, but I think Grainne is pronounced grahnya. ???

Caoimhe is pronounced as Kee-vah, or, sometimes, Kwee-vah. My daughter's name is Caitline which we pronounce Kate-lin. However in Irish gaelic, it is pronounced as Cash-leen. It's enough to drive you to drink!

 

[Dimplenose]

I went to school with a Grainne - I though she was Dutch for weeks!

Libby