St_Jacques Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Hi we have named our new baby son (born thursday!) Éloi.However we are getting confusing messages about how it is pronouced!Some say ell-waa, others ill-waa, others ay-waa, please could someone give us the definitive version for our poor boys sake!!!!Many thanks Dale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samdebretagne Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 I think I'd say a-lwa (or ay-lwa to show the pronunciation of the A).It's odd that you didn't think about this beforehand...or maybe this is just a wind-up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suandpete Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 HiI so hesitate to say this - but why are you using a name when you are not sure how you want to pronounce it, never mind everyone else!Best wishes to you both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Congatualations Dale. [kiss]If the locals are giving you three different versions I'm not going to attempt to say what the right pronunciation should be.Are you certain they are all locals?[:)][:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert the InfoGipsy Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 It does seem a trifle odd that you have chosen a name without knowing how to pronounce it. Given the spelling I'd go for , assuming you are not referring back to the Syriac, in which case I was brought up to pronounce it but many scholars prefer variation on .Your names aren't Mary & Joseph, are they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 As in Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistral Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Going from how Saint Eloi is pronounced in the song "bon roi Dagobert" I would use Ell-waa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I don't think you say if the baby was born in Britain or France. I don't know anybody called Éloi, but I have of course come across the female version (presumably) Eloise, which in Britain is usually ell-o-eese. So I think the British will tend to pronounce his name either ell-oy or ee-loy. If you are in Britain, and not French, then I think saddling him with a French version, such as ell-wa, will be regarded as pretentious rather than charming by most of the population, who don't have much of an interest in things French. If you are in France, then there is definitely a case for using a French pronunciation, but if you are British living in France it should be perfectly OK to pronounce it in a British way should you wish.I think what I mean is that it's your choice, but do bear in mind how those with whom the child will be interacting as he grows up will say his name.Edit - congratulations, by the way. But do bear in mind that it is common for Upper case letters in French to be written without accents. For another interpretation of Eloi (rather than Éloi) you might like to look at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eloi. And as it is, as Dick indicates above, Aramaic for 'my God' then it may be seen as disrespectful, or even blasphemous, in certain less tolerant religious circles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 What's wrong with 'John-Pierre'...............................................? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I hope this baby is kept safe from the Morlocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Ell-waa, because of that é. Would it be pronounced El-loy in english. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 [quote user="samdebretagne"]I think I'd say a-lwa (or ay-lwa to show the pronunciation of the A).It's odd that you didn't think about this beforehand...or maybe this is just a wind-up?[/quote] Samedebretagne, I would have thought that if that first E had been an è it would have have been ayl-wa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 From my memory (my Aramaic is weak) the initial E certainly sounds like it has an acute accent, and the oi is pronounced as a diphthong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I thought Sam got it right in the very first reply.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samdebretagne Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I don't know, I'm pretty sure that in French, the "é" is pronounced separately from the "loi", giving ay-lwa, and not ell-wa (which would be more so an English pronunciation of it).At least IMO, "è" is pronounced "eh" with your lips sort of stretched out (like in "mère) and "é" is pronounced more so a short "ay", like in "parlé".PS. I just asked my (French) OH what he thought and he said "a-lwa" or "ay-lwa". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 [quote user="Teamedup"] Samedebretagne, I would have thought that if that first E had been an è it would have have been ayl-wa.[/quote]Of course like très is pronounced treaz and prés is pronounced pray ?[:-))] I think either my French teacher cannot speak French or you have your accents going in the wrong direction TU.I agree with the first reply, if you don't even know how to pronounce the name why choose it in the first place??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beryl Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 [quote user="Cassis"]I hope this baby is kept safe from the Morlocks.[/quote][:D]That was what sprung into my head when I saw the first post![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarnGranny Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I agree with Ron Avery and samdebretagne.The French will pronounce it a-lwa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 [:D][:D][:D] Hmmmmm, yes. I am very bad at getting ay er eh and eh er ay mixed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 [quote user="Teamedup"][:D][:D][:D] Hmmmmm, yes. I am very bad at getting ay er eh and eh er ay mixed up. [/quote]Sounds like a Jimmy Jewell impersonation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Did Ron Avery post? My neighbour had me ay eh er'ing many years ago, to remember. I 'm pretty sure that I am dislexic or some such thing as I can very easily say them in the wrong order. I won't edit, I just did it again. Some things are very hard for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I know onew family who wanted to name their French first born Connor if he was a boy, they were politely persuaded by the neighbours that it wouldn't be a good idea to send their son to school with a name pronounced like an obscenity.Luckily they had a girl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Jacques Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Hi - thanks for all your replies and we are still it seems none the wiser!!!!We named him Eloi after devotion to the French Saint of that name. I am a Catholic Deacon.Yes, ok I accept the point why use a name you are not sure how to pronounce but we have always presumed it was pronouced al-waar, until a relative of ours telephoned after speaking with a French friend and said they said it was pronounced -ill-waa.We are british but intend to move to France in the near future so he will be bought up there.Dale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RumziGal Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 There is indeed a Saint Eloi. There is also a Montpellier hospital called St Eloi. And a make of tinned peas.In French, it is pronounced aylwa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Saint's day is 1st December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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