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Help[Opinions] Zoe pronunciation
Is it strange to pronounce Zoe as ZO, not ZO-EE? I notice the ZO pronunciation is not included where you look the name up on this site. Have you ever heard it pronounced ZO? Does it seem strange to you?
I ask because it was my mother's name and in her case it was pronounced ZO, and also, my college roommate's name was Zoe, and she also pronounced it ZO.
I ask because it was my mother's name and in her case it was pronounced ZO, and also, my college roommate's name was Zoe, and she also pronounced it ZO.
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Replies
Maybe before Zoe became popular most American assumed the pronunciation was Zo and over time the Zo pronunciation became correct, at least in America. I don't know about elsewhere.
But then, as the name became more familiar to American's, they started to learn the original pronunciation. But really, I'm only guessing here.
Personally, I much prefer Zo-ee. Zo seems very abrupt to me.
But then, as the name became more familiar to American's, they started to learn the original pronunciation. But really, I'm only guessing here.
Personally, I much prefer Zo-ee. Zo seems very abrupt to me.
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I've never heard it pronounced Zo at all, so I'd be put off a bit if I were to meet a Zoe prn. this way. It would take some getting used to for me.
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I've never known anyone to pronounce it ZO. It doesn't seem that strange though.
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I *have* heard it pronounced as Zo, but I've heard ZO-ee more often. I think it's just a generational thing.
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Zoe= ZO. Zöe= ZO-EE...
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Isn't it Zoë?
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Oops, yeah, I was contemplating on which spelling to use. xD
This message was edited 7/21/2009, 3:06 PM
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It's strange to me as I've always understood the name to be pronounced ZO-ee. I'm just now warming to it, too. Quite cute.
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I don't think it's strange. I've always prn is like that. ZO-ee doesn't sound right to me and not as beautiful either.
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I pronounce it Zo-ee. I never heard of anyone called Zo until you mentioned it. I don't find Zo strange or terrible. I do prefer Zo-ee more though.
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It's overly strange plus not established, and ZO-ee is so beautiful.
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Agree..
It would be like pronouncing Chloe "KLO" or "CHLO".
It would be like pronouncing Chloe "KLO" or "CHLO".
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Yes, it does seem strange to me. I've heard it pronounced zo-EE and zo-AY, but never ZO. I doubt that ZO is the correct pronunciation though I can't be sure.
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I've known Zoe pronounced ZO as a name for a dog a classmate of mine named when she was in kindergarten, but that's it. However, I also know a Zoë who is very annoyed whenever someone pronounces it ZO because her name is spelled with the umlaut.
In the end, I guess you could pronounce a name however you want if it's your own name--like I could insist my name of Hannah is pronounced 'potato' if I really wanted to, so I guess it isn't necessarily strange if that's how your mother and roommate wanted it to be pronounced.
In the end, I guess you could pronounce a name however you want if it's your own name--like I could insist my name of Hannah is pronounced 'potato' if I really wanted to, so I guess it isn't necessarily strange if that's how your mother and roommate wanted it to be pronounced.
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Yes, it would be strange to have the name Zoe pronounced as "zoh." I've never heard that. I live in teh U.S., by the way, if that makes a difference. Where do you, your mother and college roomate live? (just out of curiosity.)
I've seen Zoe without the diaeresis mark over the "e." But the pronunciation is still understood to be "ZOH-ee," the same as Chloe.
I've seen Zoe without the diaeresis mark over the "e." But the pronunciation is still understood to be "ZOH-ee," the same as Chloe.
This message was edited 7/21/2009, 11:58 AM
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My mother was born and lived her entire life in New Jersey, and my roommate was from Missouri. I grew up in New Jersey, but have lived all around the country.
I don't know, my mother's parents just always pronounced it ZO, and that's just the way her name was pronounced. As a result, when I first heard ZO-EE, I thought THAT was strange.
I'm beginning to find it interesting that my mom had the name Zoe, because she was born in 1928, when it was a very very unusual name. I know she was given it because it was my grandmother's middle name, and she was born in 1906, when the name Zoe in the U.S. was just about unheard of. I wonder how it got started in my family, who first thought of using such an unusual (for the time) name, because I believe that I heard that it was my grandmother's paternal grandmother's name.
I didn't realize until reading the comments page for Zoe how uncommon it is to pronounce it ZO. I had always thought it was a legitimate alternative pronunciation.
I don't know, my mother's parents just always pronounced it ZO, and that's just the way her name was pronounced. As a result, when I first heard ZO-EE, I thought THAT was strange.
I'm beginning to find it interesting that my mom had the name Zoe, because she was born in 1928, when it was a very very unusual name. I know she was given it because it was my grandmother's middle name, and she was born in 1906, when the name Zoe in the U.S. was just about unheard of. I wonder how it got started in my family, who first thought of using such an unusual (for the time) name, because I believe that I heard that it was my grandmother's paternal grandmother's name.
I didn't realize until reading the comments page for Zoe how uncommon it is to pronounce it ZO. I had always thought it was a legitimate alternative pronunciation.
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I will take a running jump, and say, "Bet they got it from a book."
A novel, that's to say. Not a baby name book.
We have a friend, a priest (male, need I say), named Eymard.He's French-speaking, but is the only bearer of that name anyone knows..he says his mother ..got it from a book.
I also have a friend, Carlotta, not in the least Latina..same story.
A novel, that's to say. Not a baby name book.
We have a friend, a priest (male, need I say), named Eymard.He's French-speaking, but is the only bearer of that name anyone knows..he says his mother ..got it from a book.
I also have a friend, Carlotta, not in the least Latina..same story.
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I knew a woman named Dom-Angelique, though she was commonly called Angel. Her mother got it from a book.
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I suppose people did this, pre-t.v.
Dom-Angelique is pretty impressive. Wouldn't see three or four of those in the same kindergarten.
Dom-Angelique is pretty impressive. Wouldn't see three or four of those in the same kindergarten.
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Interesting. Thanks for the info.
I suppose your great-great-grandmother could have been Greek. Or, she could have been English / British since they loved to use Greek names way back when. Heck, she could have been anything since everyone loves to use Greek names. :-)
I first saw / heard the name in connection with Dame Zoe Caldwell, the British actress. I always associated it with the classics and Greek drama -- that's how my mind melded the two images. So when I come to these name boards and read that many think of it as a 'new' name I have to shake my head. "No!" I type. "Zoe is a classic!" Yes, it sounds cute and all. But it's definitley a classic. (Sorry to rant. I know you know better. It's just a pet peeve of mine about the name.)
ETA: Heck is a name?
I suppose your great-great-grandmother could have been Greek. Or, she could have been English / British since they loved to use Greek names way back when. Heck, she could have been anything since everyone loves to use Greek names. :-)
I first saw / heard the name in connection with Dame Zoe Caldwell, the British actress. I always associated it with the classics and Greek drama -- that's how my mind melded the two images. So when I come to these name boards and read that many think of it as a 'new' name I have to shake my head. "No!" I type. "Zoe is a classic!" Yes, it sounds cute and all. But it's definitley a classic. (Sorry to rant. I know you know better. It's just a pet peeve of mine about the name.)
ETA: Heck is a name?
This message was edited 7/21/2009, 12:19 PM
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I've only ever heard it pronounce ZO-ee. I would think that anyone pronouncing it ZO was just uninformed (like my SIL...) and it would make them sound unintelligent. That's interesting that you've known two Zoes who pronounced it that way.
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I've never heard of it formally pronounced ZO. However, I have heard ZO-ee use ZO as a nickname
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I prn it like ZO as a kid until my mom corrected me. I've heard of it, but it seems like a a strange (and slightly ignorant) prn for adults to use. After all, I've never heard of any Chloes calling themselves KLO.
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I have only heard it pronounced ZO-ee, although many of the Zoe's I have known have gone by Zo as a nickname.
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