Gaelic pronunciations for McElmurry

**McElmurry** · 31st March 12, 08:50 AM

How are Mac Giolla Mhuire and/or Mac Gille Mhoire pronounced today? How much does the pronunciation vary between Gaelic speaking regions? How much has the pronunciation changed over time?
Thank you in advance for any help you might be able to provide.

**Nick the DSM** · 31st March 12, 09:47 AM

From my limited knowledge.

"Mac- Geel-e-mur" However the lenition of the Mh would make it silent but I've seen variations where it has been MacGillemuire, Ghillemuire, and so on. Hope someone else with more knowledge can chime in, I'm still working on pronunciation myself.

**Blackrose87** · 31st March 12, 04:35 PM

I can't help with Scots Gaelic as such, but in Irish it would be pronounced:
Mac al wora

The g of Giolla is normally silent, but this can vary depending on the dialect.
The Mh is pronounced as W, or as V in some places

**figheadair** · 1st April 12, 04:33 AM

Originally Posted by McElmurry

How are Mac Giolla Mhuire and/or Mac Gille Mhoire pronounced today? How much does the pronunciation vary between Gaelic speaking regions? How much has the pronunciation changed over time?
Thank you in advance for any help you might be able to provide.

Mak-ill-vuree agus/no Mak-ill-vorie

**creagdhubh** · 1st April 12, 06:24 AM

Check out: www.savegaelic.org

Beannachd libh,

**Blackrose87** · 1st April 12, 06:35 AM

Were you wanting to know about pronunciation variations in Gaelige or Gàidhlig?

**Nick the DSM** · 1st April 12, 08:31 AM

Think he meant Gaidhlig...

**Blackrose87** · 1st April 12, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

Think he meant Gaidhlig...

Ah right, I won't be much help then. Regional dialects are beyond my limited grasp of Gáidhlig

**McElmurry** · 1st April 12, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Blackrose87

Were you wanting to know about pronunciation variations in Gaelige or Gàidhlig?

Since the name has been in use for over 500 years on both sides of the Irish Sea I thought it would be interesting to understand how the pronunciation varies from region to region. The pronunciations given so far are pretty consistent. The biggest change to the English pronunciation of McElmurry seems to be pronouncing the m as in English rather than a v sound.

**Blackrose87** · 1st April 12, 09:22 AM

I think the biggest difference in regions will be the lenited M.

Without the possessive lenition Moire (or Muire in Gaelige will still be pronounced as the same as 'M' in English.

When it becomes Mhuire (due to Giolla, son of), the Mh can change pronunciation through Ireland.

In Ulster Irish, it is pronounced as 'W' as it precedes the vowel u.
In Connaught Irish, it can be pronounced as a 'V'

And in some areas, it may be silent.

Edit: Sorry, got mixed up there. Giolla would mean servant or follower