How do you pronounce Alcyone?

Girl Names
1

See the results of this poll: How do you pronounce Alcyone?

Respondents: 47 (This poll is closed)

  • al-see-OWN : 21 (45%)
  • al-SEE-oh-nee : 14 (30%)
  • other (please comment): 12 (26%)
2

I’ve never heard this name before but I would say it al-see-OWN on sight.

3

I’ve never seen or heard this name before, at first glance I would assume it is pronounced al-SYOWN (two syllables, rhymes with stone).

4

My grandparents were from Greece and they made me learn the language when I was little.
Both of the pronunciations you have are wrong. [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] (Αλκ”ονη) is pronounced /[name_m]AL[/name_m]-kee-oh-nee/

When pronouncing, do not stress the /kee/ like /al-KEE-oh-nee/, all the stress is on the /[name_m]AL[/name_m]/ part and then the last three syllables are to be said fluidly, like /[name_m]AL[/name_m]-keoni/.

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps. [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] is a very beautiful Greek name.

5

I say it [name_m]AL[/name_m]-see-own, but I’ve never seen it before so that’s just my knee-jerk.

6

I voted ‘other’ because I don’t actually know how to pronounce it! I would have to ask the person who’s name it was how their name is pronounced.

7

I would rhyme it with “halcyon” as in “halcyon days.” Close to [name_m]Hal[/name_m]-see-ahn. [name_u]Halcyon[/name_u] is also another name for a kingfisher. [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] was turned into a halcyon bird in the legend.

8

[name_m]Al[/name_m]-kee-OH-nee.

9

I’ll admit I never really looked up how to pronounce it, so the pronunciation I kind of made up when I see it is: al-SYE-oh-knee

10

I’ve always pronounced it al-[name_m]SIE[/name_m]-oh-nee.

11

My guess is al-SYE-uh-nee, but I have no idea really, I could be way off!

12

[name_m]AL[/name_m]-kee-oh-knee is correct for Greek, but I’ve heard [name_m]AL[/name_m]-see-oh-knee as well, in Latin studies, the more contemporary, anglicized version. [name_m]Just[/name_m] like [name_f]Circe[/name_f] is probably closer to “KURR-keh” or “[name_m]KEER[/name_m]-keh” than the usual “SEER-see” we use now.

13

Now that I know that our ideal pronunciation (al-see-OWN) is different from the Greek pronunciation, I guess my question becomes how much it matters that we would be pronouncing it the “wrong” way? I live in the US, where the soft C is more common, and “cy” is not pronounced with a hard C. I do think the Greek pronunciation is beautiful, but it loses all the association with the place name, which is really where the magic lies for me. What do you think?

14

English pronunciations of Greek names are often pretty far from the original. I would imagine a Greek [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] would pronounce her name something like al-kee-OH-nee. But I think English speakers are more likely to say something like al-see-OWN, al-SIGH-uh-nee or al-SEE-uh-nee.

15

I automatically want to say al-[name_m]SIE[/name_m]-uh-nee myself, but, as far as I know, in Greek, C’s are more often than not said with a hard C/K sound, and Y sounds often make an EE sound, thus [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] would technically, in Greek, sound more like [name_m]AL[/name_m]-kee-oh-nee (though it would also, technically be spelled Alkyoni too there, I’d suppose).

Honestly, I’m really not fond of the al-see-OWN pronunciation, but I do understand and appreciate your reasoning for wanting to use this specific pronunciation due to your past meaningful association – any other pronunciation due to that does diminish that special connection. I think that you’d be more likely to get this pronunciation than any other from most people though, so that would work out for your situation.

16

It’s Greek so I’d assume [name_m]AL[/name_m]-kee-oh-nee

17

Thank you all so much for your feedback! :sparkles: