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Pronounce Caolán!

  • 17-06-2014 10:10pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,009 ✭✭✭


    So, I have a wee leanbh on the way and shortlisting names. One is Caolán. Now I'm originally from west of Ireland (Sligo to be accurate) and my pronunciation of this name seems to be different than some other peoples from the north or from other dialects. So I'm wondering if this name is one of those that is dependant on dialect?

    I'd pronounce it closer to "Kway-lawn". But other people have varied from:

    Kay-lan
    Kwee-lawn
    Kee-lan

    I like Kway-lawn best, but I'm now doubting my pronunciation? How would you pronounce it? Or is this one of those dialect things?

    Go raibh math agaibh!


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 3,329 ✭✭✭deise08


    KarmaGarda wrote: »
    So, I have a wee leanbh on the way and shortlisting names. One is Caolán. Now I'm originally from west of Ireland (Sligo to be accurate) and my pronunciation of this name seems to be different than some other peoples from the north or from other dialects. So I'm wondering if this name is one of those that is dependant on dialect?

    I'd pronounce it closer to "Kway-lahn". But other people have varied from:

    Kay-lan
    Kwee-lahn
    Kee-lan

    I like Kway-lahn best, but I'm now doubting my pronunciation? How would you pronounce it? Or is this one of those dialect things?

    Go raibh math agaibh!



    KWAY LAWN


  • Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭BelleOfTheBall


    Is that a boys name?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,052 ✭✭✭Un Croissant


    Is that a boys name?

    I hope so :/


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,009 ✭✭✭KarmaGarda


    Yeah it's a boys name. Look up Caolán Mooney, Aussie rules player. He pronounces it something like Kay-lan


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    Up in Donegal I've only come across the Kee-lan pronunciation and quite a few kids with the name spelt the Anglicised way - Keelan. In Monaghan/Cavan it's often Kay-lawn. I would have Connacht Irish and it'd be Kway-lawn to me.

    At the end of the day, however, if your child will be reared where you live, the name will be pronounced in the local way, so I wouldn't worry too much about pronunciations elsewhere.

    The area of Irish names can be a bit of a minefield and you'll find plenty of discussion on the baby names thread.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,934 ✭✭✭Renegade Mechanic


    KarmaGarda wrote: »
    So, I have a wee leanbh on the way and shortlisting names. One is Caolán. Now I'm originally from west of Ireland (Sligo to be accurate) and my pronunciation of this name seems to be different than some other peoples from the north or from other dialects. So I'm wondering if this name is one of those that is dependant on dialect?

    I'd pronounce it closer to "Kway-lawn". But other people have varied from:

    Kay-lan
    Kwee-lawn
    Kee-lan

    I like Kway-lahn best, but I'm now doubting my pronunciation? How would you pronounce it? Or is this one of those dialect things?

    Go raibh math agaibh!

    Definitely cant be Kee-lan anyway. That sounds awful and rather naff tbh. Your own pronunciation seems right to me at least.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭feargale


    deise08 wrote: »
    KWAY LAWN

    Correct


  • Registered Users Posts: 221 ✭✭therealme


    K-lawn or K.way-lawn. A fada makes an "awe" sound.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭feargale


    deise08 wrote: »
    KWAY LAWN

    Correct


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,009 ✭✭✭KarmaGarda


    Good stuff, sounds like most pronounce it the same as myself.

    I agree with the "Kee-lan" pronunciation seeming incorrect as the á needs to be elongated to make an "awn" sound.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭feargale


    Correct if spelt Caolàn. I knew a girl called Keelin, at least that's how she pronounced it in English. Don't know what the Irish version of that was or if it's the same name.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,052 ✭✭✭Un Croissant


    feargale wrote: »
    Correct if spelt Caolàn. I knew a girl called Keelin, at least that's how she pronounced it in English. Don't know what the Irish version of that was or if it's the same name.

    Caoillfhinn.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭dubhthach


    There's an important isogloss in Irish with regards to prononunication of "ao"

    ao-isogloss.png

    In Connacht and Ulster Irish "ao" is prononunced identically to "aoi" (long i eg. í --- ee for english speakers). In Munster it's pronounced as long e (eg. é/ae --- "ay" for english speakers).

    Due to emphasis often placed on Munster Irish historically in education system you get result that many non-native speakers will use munster pronunciation even though they are from areas that never historically did use it. Good example is pronunciation of "naomh"


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,952 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    Caoilfhionn - qwee linn
    Caolán - qway lawn

    It is my sons name,himself loves the 2 names but I only let him use one of them:)


  • Registered Users Posts: 216 ✭✭AnLonDubh


    In the original dialect of county Sligo it would have been pronounced KWEE-lawn, with stress on the initial syllable.


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