[name]How[/name] does everyone pronounce “[name]Lionel[/name]”? DH and I both pronounce it “[name]Lee[/name]-uh-nell” (3 syllables, more European pronunciation, after DH’s favorite futbol player, [name]Lionel[/name] Messi). However, I fear most Americans would pronounce it like [name]Lionel[/name] [name]Richie[/name] (2 syllables, “Lie-nell”). While I think most people in New [name]England[/name] (where we currently live) would be more inclined to the 3 syllable pronunciation, I think that most of my friends and family in the south would instantly say it like the singer. So, what’s the berry pronunciation?
I say it like [name]Lionel[/name] [name]Richie[/name], my husband says it like [name]Lionel[/name] Jospin ([name]Lee[/name] oh nell) Lionel Jospin pronunciation: How to pronounce Lionel Jospin in French I think this is an either/or name and if you explain to people how you want to pronounce it it would work
I pronounce it like Lie-uh-nell, and I’m in the north. I would only pronounce it the way you’re looking for if I knew its bearer’s native language was a romance one.
I pronounce it somewhere in between. The second syllable is there, but very subtle.
I’m from north [name]England[/name] and I’d pronounce it Lie-uh-nell.
I have heard it pronounced Lie-uh-nell too, but also Lie-oh-nell.
I pronounce it [name]Lion[/name]-ull. Or [name]Ly[/name]-un-ull. Whatever makes more sense
I would say Lie-null. I am from the Midwest and [name]Florida[/name]. I think whatever pronuciation you like better is fine, as long as you realize that this is a name that you would have to correct some people on how it is said. There are sooo many names like that though! Not only would the 3 syllable pronuciation would be easy to remember if you did correct someone, but it would be said correctly by others the first time. I generally only steer away from names that would never be said correctly the first time or ones that have MULTIPLE ways people might say it.