polenta

I have another question about the pronunciation of two names. They are GRAHAM and STEPHEN.
Is the H in Graham pronounced like we do in the word HAM?
I've heard they say something like GRAM. Is this correct?
As for Stephen, is the PH pronounced like a V or like a F?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

Dragon

Usually the H in Graham is silent so it would indeed sound like Gram.
Stephen is pronounced the same as Steven so in that case the PH sounds like a V. I a lot of other words though it has an F sound such as the word Graph which sound like Graf.

Dragon

I should say that sometimes the name Graham sounds a little different being pronounced sort of like Gray-em but you still don't hear the H.

polenta

Thanks Dragon you've been very helpful. I had that idea but wanted to confirm.

maddyjean08

So, from "I NEED HELP WITH ENGLISH" to this type of conversation, we can conclude that subjects change, even when this forum isn't made for the chat.

Baldur

maddyjean, this is still 'Help with English", polenta is looking to better understand pronunciation of the words

mouse

Polents

Graham-- yes H is silent --does sound like "Grey um'

On Stephen. Here in my neck of the woods it is pronounced like "Stef in" Not to be confused with Steven which is another name, similar but not the same. Steven sounds like "Stee van"

polenta

Thanks mouse.. so around you the PH in Stephen is pronounced F. English is kind of crazy in its pronunciation. It's like if the T in OFTEN is pronounced or not.... it always depends on the region, the area etc. Thanks mouse

mouse

Yes, English is a very confusing language. Even for those of us for which it is our first language. Just like in other countries, regional dialects alter the pronunciation. One instance that stands out in my mind--My cousin lived in the state of Oklahoma. I am from Western Pennsylvania. We were visiting her. My dad was going to the store and she asked him if he would pick her up some "fims & bubbs" ????? Turned out she wanted film and flash bulbs for her camera. TRUE STORY

matthew

My favorite in in New England where if a word has the letter "R" near the end, they do not pronounce it... So "Water" = Wata & "Car = Ca...

Pak the ca at the pak by the wata = Park the car at the park by the water...

Shanley

And that's how they get some cool rhymes easily .

Baldur

In New England we also pronounce 'ER' ' whenever a word ends in 'A'
Polenta = Polenter
Pasta = Pahster
Zebra = Zebrer

polenta

you a a good teacha when you pak yo ca. LOL
Listen Polenter wants to eat pashter Baldur. I see that in New England it's more like British English then because they don't pronounce the Rs and they also join something like Baldur says.

puzzler

In Great Britain the feast of Saint Stephen is on the 26th December (boxing day) and is always pronounced 'Steven'.

polenta

Thanks Puzzler. It's great to have you all.

polenta

I have heard and read the expression MERRY CHRISTMAS and also the expression HAPPY NEW YEAR. It seems that they are fixed and you use MERRY for Christmas but HAPPY if it's New Year.
I've also sometimes seen HAPPY CHRISTMAS but really fewer, fewer times. Can you also say HAPPY with Christmas or it's wrong?

Login

Perfectly Ok to say 'Happy Christmas', polenta. When I was young, we used to say just that. 'Funny how expressions change over time.

Dragon

Login's right, nobody's going to look at you funny if you say Happy Christmas. We do always seem to say Merry Christmas, I've always kinda thought of Happy Christmas as a sort of UK saying. I don't ever recall it being common in the areas I grew up in, we always used Merry.

polenta

Thanks Login and Dragon for your kind answers and MERRY AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS then!!!!!

maddyjean08

In my area, we say MERRY Christmas, but different people will speak different ways, so it's ok to say HAPPY...