Why can't people pronounce my name?

Question

In the UK,where I'm from,my name is fairly well known and almost everyone can pronunce it,but in other countries(including USA) they can't.
My name is Ceri(pronouced Kerry) but why do people find it hard to say?

Answer 1

it's a matter of phonics. I'm assuming that your name is usually pronounced like "Seri". We are taught that the Ce- combination of letters makes an "s" sound - like the word cent and cedar. Honestly i can't think of any exceptions to that phonetic sound.

Answer 2

You have pretty much answered your own question, really. People in the UK can probably pronounce your name because it is a well-known name there. Every country has their own traditions, culture, language, and common names. In the USA (where I am from) these traditions and languages even vary from region to region. We all speak English, but the way we talk and the meaning of certain words can vary from area to area. I doubt that people have trouble pronouncing your name correctly once they hear it said. I imagine the true problem lies in people who see it written and then pronounce it incorrectly. When I saw the name Ceri written, I first would have guessed it to be pronounced with an "S" sound at the beginning. I think this is because in our English language, the letter "C" does not have it's own unique sound and either takes on an "S" sound as in the word city or a "K" sound as in the word cut or cute. Familiar words that begin like your name, with the "cer" spelling, are words like certain and certificate which have the c using the "s" sound. Now that I know it is pronounced like Kerry, I wouldn't have any trouble saying it.

Answer 3

I'm Irish and live in Irish but on YA people say they'd pronouce my name Ciara like Siearra (it's actually Keira!). I would have Keri (k-ear-e) but Yanks would pronouce it with a soft C like Seri. I feel your pain cause I get annoyed when people on the internet say my name is spelt wrong...... it's not it's actually 1000's of years old!! Just say ''No it's actually pronounced Kerry'' in a nice but firm manner! I'm sorry I'm misprononcued it!

Answer 4

Yeah I get that all the time. However I always like to try and pronounce names. Ive seen some crazy names in my time. One guys last name was Ronaldragan. How mad is that!

Answer 5

Because of the spelling most likely. I've never seen a name spelled like that, so truth be told, I'd have a tough time pronouncing it too. But it is a very pretty name

Answer 6

US English (and Spanish) generally uses the following guides to pronunciation for the "c" and "k" sounds since "c" can sound like "s" or like "k:"

ce, ci, cy = "S" sound
common English examples: ceiling, celery, cicada, Cincinnati, cycle, cyclone
common Spanish examples: cero, centavo, cinco, bicicleta

ca, co, cu = "K" sound
common English examples: cake, canary, cough, common, cut, current
common Spanish examples: casa, colegio, conejo, curioso

So, with the letters "ce" at the beginning of your name, and following the customary pronunciation of words here, most people would assume an "s" sound and something along the lines of "see ree."

Ravyn

Answer 7

It looks like an Irish name, seeing as in Gaelic you have lots of 'C's that are said as 'K's, that's just how the language is.

In America, even with it's very high Irish population, Gaelic is almost unheard of and excluded part of the dialect

Answer 8

I think it is because we are so used to seeing it spelled as Kerry or Carrie.

Answer 9

because in the US the c and the k can be pronounced differently.. Most people would probably say the C as an S and not a K.

Answer 10

because it starts with a C instead of a K, thats all :) although if it was Carrie then it would be easier, but you know you have a lovely name so dont worry about it, people misspronounce my name all the time! its Angele!