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Help[Opinions] How do you pronounce Raphael?
I was talking to a few friends at work about the name and I was surprised at how they pronounced it. I pronounce raf-i-el, very quickly. They pronounced raph-i-el, with the first syllable stretched out. I HIGHLY dislike that pronunciation. And that's why I'm asking you guys how you pronounce it. I knocked Katarina off the list because so many people used kat instead of kaht...it might be time to knock Raphael off as well.
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Depends
Not sure why, but I use both pronunciations. When referring to the Renaissance painter (or Ninja Turtle, lol) I say rah-fye-ELL. When referring to the Archangel I say RAY-fee-ull. Those are really the only 2 contexts in which I've pronounced the name, and both seem right to me. I prefer the latter (RAY-fee-ull) pronunciation myself, and would use that one on a son. I think I like that one more because I like the nn Rafe and it seems to come more naturally from RAY-fee-ull than rah-fye-ELL.
Not sure why, but I use both pronunciations. When referring to the Renaissance painter (or Ninja Turtle, lol) I say rah-fye-ELL. When referring to the Archangel I say RAY-fee-ull. Those are really the only 2 contexts in which I've pronounced the name, and both seem right to me. I prefer the latter (RAY-fee-ull) pronunciation myself, and would use that one on a son. I think I like that one more because I like the nn Rafe and it seems to come more naturally from RAY-fee-ull than rah-fye-ELL.
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And we solely use the Ninja Turtle one. :-D
My boyfriend is pickier about the way names are pronounced than I am - which in this case is good. I really didn't care for Raphael Christian and am rather glad it's out. Tobias Christian is more my style (though we *might* get to use Nathaniel now.)
My boyfriend is pickier about the way names are pronounced than I am - which in this case is good. I really didn't care for Raphael Christian and am rather glad it's out. Tobias Christian is more my style (though we *might* get to use Nathaniel now.)
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RAFF-ay-ul
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RHAH:-fah-el
Pretty much the standard Dutch pron. In English I'd say something like RAH-fah-YEL, with the first and last syllable about equally stressed.
Pretty much the standard Dutch pron. In English I'd say something like RAH-fah-YEL, with the first and last syllable about equally stressed.
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So it's out.
I prefer the stress on the first syllable with Ishmael, Israel and Michael - but not so much Raphael. I suppose it's because I've heard the first three said that way while it was the opposite with Raphael.
I'm fairly certain it's the Spanish pronunication, which would make sense - I've heard Raphael mostly in Spanish circles while the other three were used in Jewish/Christian crowds.
I prefer the stress on the first syllable with Ishmael, Israel and Michael - but not so much Raphael. I suppose it's because I've heard the first three said that way while it was the opposite with Raphael.
I'm fairly certain it's the Spanish pronunication, which would make sense - I've heard Raphael mostly in Spanish circles while the other three were used in Jewish/Christian crowds.
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I say raf-a-ELLE. The a is like in may, just without the m sound obviously!
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I pronounce Raphael as ra-fay-EL
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RAHF-fa-al ... the only Raphael I ever knew pronounce it that way.
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Rahf-eye-ELLE
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Me three.
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Me too.
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Same here.
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This!
d
d
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raf-i-el
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I've always pronounced it RAH-fah-el, that's also the only way I like it.
This message was edited 11/15/2008, 9:19 AM
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I pronounce it similar to that. It's like a cross between rah-fee-EL and rah-fay-EL.
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Somewhere between rah-fie-ELL and raf-ay-ELL. I always put emphasis on the last syllable, though, not the first.
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I would say it like Rah-fah-ell and I don't stretch the first syllable. I put emphasis on the last syllable.
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Same
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I pronounce it rah-fah-YELL. I know one Raphael who pronounces it RAY-fee-ull, but even he admits he's baffled why his parents chose that pronunciation.
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