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Help[Opinions] Helena & Tamara
in reply to a message by molly
US: Hel-AY-na
UK: HELL-en-a
US: Ta-MAH-ra/ Ta-MAIR-a
UK: TAM-a-ra
There are some regional differences here, but this is generally what I've found.
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I'm in the US and I say HEL-en-a. I believe there is no one true US pronunciation for Helena. You'll find HEL-en-a, he-LAY-na, and even he-LEE-na.
My mother almost named me Tamara, and we would have pronounced it TAM-ra/TAM-a-ra. I've heard those pronunciations and ta-MAIR-a (especially after Tamera Mowry became famous) in the US, but not ta-MAH-ra.
My mother almost named me Tamara, and we would have pronounced it TAM-ra/TAM-a-ra. I've heard those pronunciations and ta-MAIR-a (especially after Tamera Mowry became famous) in the US, but not ta-MAH-ra.
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Ta-MAH-ra is almost the same is Ta-MAIR-ah, just not as harsh. It rhymes with Sara, which is SAAH-ra as opposed to Sarah which is SAIR-ah.
Also, Tamara Mowry didn't inspire this pronunciation. The way she pronounces it is the way it's pronounced in almost every European language (Russian, Spanish...). It just seems more natural to people of those cultures.
Also, Tamara Mowry didn't inspire this pronunciation. The way she pronounces it is the way it's pronounced in almost every European language (Russian, Spanish...). It just seems more natural to people of those cultures.
This message was edited 10/18/2011, 9:46 PM
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I'm from the US (Wyoming) and I've only ever heard HELL-en-a for Helena. I know of people who live in hel-AY-na regions just from this board, but I've never heard it that way IRL.
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I'm from the NW US and I read Tamara with an emphasis on the first syllable. The other pronunciation is just ... awkward to me.
Helena is correct, though, at least where I live.
Helena is correct, though, at least where I live.
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I've been all over Britain and nobody I've met has ever pronounced 'Tamara' as TAM-a-ra. It's always been ta-MAH-rah
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I'd pronounce Tamara "tuh-MAR-uh". I alwys thought "TAM-uh-ruh" was a US pronunciation.
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Interesting, I've never heard TAM-a-ra at all, that is hard to say! I would say ta-MAH-ruh
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Really? I pronounce Helena like HELL-eh-na and I live in the US. Also I don't know anyone in the US who pronounces Tamara as TAM-a-ra, everyone I know says ta-MAIR-a.
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