[Facts] How do you pronounce Llyr?
Replies
One syllable. For the "ll" put your tongue where you would to say "l" and blow. Then make an "ee" sound well back in your throat. Finally roll the "r". Ll--ee--r.
One syllable. To make the "ll" put your tongue where you would put it to say "l" and blow. Then make an "ee" sound as far back in your throat as possible. Roll the "r". Lleer.
A friend once told me that 'll' was pronounced as a breathy 'h' in Welsh. Was she totally off-mark, or could the 'l-and-blowing' sound be interpreted as an h?
I'm afraid that your friend was totally off-mark, as an "h" is in the back of the throat and "ll" is pronounced at the same spot of the palate as "l". English speakers often try "cl" as an alternative, but it's nowhere near and sounds pretty awful. The breathy "h" idea sounds like the Spanish jota.