Message: "Re: Corinne" - Behind the Name

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[Opinions] Re: Corinne

by Manipura (glaucous)

5/14/2020, 9:51 AM

keh-RIN looks close to how I'd say Karen... keh-RIN, kehr-IN, KEHR-ən, KAIR-in.

I think I'd say Corinne as kuh-REHN (1st syllable with a schwa, 2nd syllable like Wren) or kuh-reen, and I get it confused with Corrine and Careen.

This message was edited 5/14/2020, 10:06 AM

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- Cake or Death (queenv) +5

5/14/2020, 10:40 AM

I say "KAA-ren". I'm sure there are some Americans who say KAIR-in and KEHR-en (imagine that an upside down e, I don't know how to type that.) But I've never heard anyone put the stress on the second syllable in Karen, as Americans do with Corinne, and that makes a huge difference, I think. I would never mishear Karen for Corinne or vice versa.

- Dracotorix

5/14/2020, 7:27 PM

I know one person called Karin (pronounced Karen). But if I just heard "keh-RIN" with no context, I'd assume it was something like Karin (or Karyn or Kerynn or something, which also look like Karen).

- honeypie +3

5/14/2020, 10:55 AM

I’m not suggesting anyone would mishear them for the same name, it’s just that the pronunciation keh-RIN is so bland and un-noteworthy compared to the French, or kə-REEN or even just plain ko-RIN that you might as well just use Karen.

The emphasis is different, yes, but the sounds are very similar, at least to a British English speaker who has heard the American pronunciation of Karen. To be honest, I’m not even sure how you get keh-RIN out of Corinne.

For what it’s worth, I pronounce Karen as KA-rən.

This message was edited 5/14/2020, 10:56 AM

- Cake or Death (queenv) +2

5/14/2020, 11:07 AM

I couldn't say how the American pronunciation of Corinne came about. Just for jollies, I looked up girls names ending with "inne". I actually couldn't find any other than Corinne, but there were plenty that end in "ine" and of those, only one, Jacqueline, do Americans pronounce with a final "in" sound as they do with Corinne. I dunno.

- honeypie +1

5/14/2020, 11:21 AM

It’s the first syllable that confuses me most! I would expect ko-RIN, with a short o.

- Amy (LuzDeTuVida)

5/14/2020, 4:03 PM

Personally I would say keh-RINN is a misleading way to spell it. It's more of a kuh-RINN or ker-RINN.

Here's a link to an audio clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pDtQ_FKXYA

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