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Seán or séan

  • 29-08-2025 09:25PM
    #1
    cj maxx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,269 ✭✭✭✭


    Sorry for writing iBearla but I'm having a disagreement in AH about the names Seán ( john) and the Irish for Shane .which I think may be Séan.

    Is this right ? Go a mhaith agaibh

    I see it's a zombie thread



Comments

  • #2
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,328 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Séan as a name is in Dinneen, I think.

    Expect to be addressed as Seán 90% of the time though...

    Not your ornery onager



  • #3
    spakman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭spakman


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767496#Comment_123767496

    Sorry, I don't understand what you're saying in that first sentence.



  • #4
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,328 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    'Dinneen' refers to an Irish-English dictionary first published in 1904, compiled and edited by Rev. Patrick Dinneen, MA

    Don't have my copies to hand.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #5
    Escapees
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 856 ✭✭✭Escapees


    Sorry, but isn't Seán the Irish for John?! That's what I grew up learning anyway...



  • #6
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,328 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Question is about Séan, with the fada on the 'e'.

    Not your ornery onager



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  • #7
    cj maxx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,269 ✭✭✭✭cj maxx


    Maybe It's down to local dialect / accent



  • #8
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,328 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767713#Comment_123767713

    How so?

    Nobody pronounces Seán as Shane...

    Not your ornery onager



  • #9
    apache
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,663 ✭✭✭apache


    Pronounced shan



  • #10
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,328 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767817#Comment_123767817

    No, the Irish word 'sean' (meaning old) is pronounced as 'shan'. Note neither the e or the a in this word 'sean' are accented (i.e. they have no fada over them).

    Neither Séan or Seán are pronounced like that. The are pronounced 'Shayn' and 'Shawn' respectively.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #11
    spakman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭spakman


    I've never seen the name Séan other than as a misspelling of Seán



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  • #12
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 31,129 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    There is at least one high profile Irish teacher on social media who spells it Séadhan, and you could see it as Séaghan as well.

    Simple enough explanation below:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_%28name%29

    Similar to how Eithne and Áine can be pronounced Enya, or Máire as Moya.



  • #13
    apache
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,663 ✭✭✭apache


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767841#Comment_123767841

    Depends on what part of the country. My uncle is Sea fadda n and prounced Shan



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