New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Pronunciation of "a" in Tara, Sarah
I've noticed that while Americans pronounce these names with a long "a" sound - like in "care" or "wear" - those with say, British accents, pronounce the names more like "Tah-ra" and "Sah-ra" with the "a" sounding more like the "a" in "car," though a bit softer.
While I'm no fan of the names Tara and Sarah with the traditional American pronounciations, I love the way the names sound when the "a" is pronounced differently. I'm sure if I tried to name my kids Tara or Sarah the pronounciation I prefer would never stick, but I really like the sound the "a" takes on in these names when they're pronounced with a British accent...so I'm wondering if anyone knows of any names which, when pronounced by Americans, have this sort of soft "a" sound in them?
While I'm no fan of the names Tara and Sarah with the traditional American pronounciations, I love the way the names sound when the "a" is pronounced differently. I'm sure if I tried to name my kids Tara or Sarah the pronounciation I prefer would never stick, but I really like the sound the "a" takes on in these names when they're pronounced with a British accent...so I'm wondering if anyone knows of any names which, when pronounced by Americans, have this sort of soft "a" sound in them?
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
An American Tara could easily be TAH-ra or TAIR-uh. I've known both, and it's just a matter of making your preferences clear. A Sarah or Sara in the U.S. is always going to be SAIR-uh. I don't think there's any way around it without resorting to a creative spelling such as Sahra.
Some names with a similar sound:
Mara
Lara
Cara (often KAIR-uh)
Samara
Ara
Zara
Margo
Clara (though this often becomes KLAIR-uh in the the U.S.)
Xiomara
Amara
Some names with a similar sound:
Mara
Lara
Cara (often KAIR-uh)
Samara
Ara
Zara
Margo
Clara (though this often becomes KLAIR-uh in the the U.S.)
Xiomara
Amara
1
Hmmm..
My name is Tara, pronounced the way you don't like it. All my life people ask me, if they've read my name first, "Is it pronounced Tah-ra or Tear-a?" (Like, tear a piece of paper.)
Or they'll say, "Tah-ra?" And I'll say, "No, Tear-a" And they'll respond, "Oh, because I have a friend/aunt/cousin who pronounces it 'Tah-ra'"
So, I am of the first hand opinion that both pronunciations are equally legitimate and in use. It has never been a big issue for me, and like i said, either pronunciation may take a moment of correcting because they're both legit, but it has never caused me much grief.
My name is Tara, pronounced the way you don't like it. All my life people ask me, if they've read my name first, "Is it pronounced Tah-ra or Tear-a?" (Like, tear a piece of paper.)
Or they'll say, "Tah-ra?" And I'll say, "No, Tear-a" And they'll respond, "Oh, because I have a friend/aunt/cousin who pronounces it 'Tah-ra'"
So, I am of the first hand opinion that both pronunciations are equally legitimate and in use. It has never been a big issue for me, and like i said, either pronunciation may take a moment of correcting because they're both legit, but it has never caused me much grief.
1
I also dislike "Saira" accent... Suhra too.
1
I'm American. If I knew a Sara who insisted the pronunciation of her name was what you describe as the British way, I would think it quite pretentious. Sorry.
1
I'm American. If I knew a Sara who insisted the pronunciation of her name was what you describe as the British way, I would think it quite pretentious. Sorry.
1
I live in the U.S., I pronounce Tara TER-a and Sarah SER-a.
I think that as long as you pronounce it the way you want, then most people will follow. I know a girl named Tara (prn. TAHR-a) and she lives here in the U.S. She usually ends up correcting people, but after awhile everyone gets the point.
I think that as long as you pronounce it the way you want, then most people will follow. I know a girl named Tara (prn. TAHR-a) and she lives here in the U.S. She usually ends up correcting people, but after awhile everyone gets the point.
1