How many syllables do you think are in the name Miles? I think it's technically a one-syllable name, but sounds like two to me. Just curious what others think. TIA!
I think it's one. In elementary school we were taught to find out how many syllables a word has by putting our fists under our chins as we speak. Every time your jaw hits your fist, it's a syllable. When I did it, it was only one.
Agreed. One but it comes out with a "y". That's called a glide and it is because the "L" is a liquid and in standard American English and some northern dialects, we voice (pronounce/keep vocal cords humming)while repositioning our tongue making the semi-consonant "y" sound. You didn't want that much info, did you? LOL
Be happy you don't live around here. FIL pronounces it "mal"...yes, even the plural. He has four "tars" on his truck, too.
I'm from VA and maybe it's just a southern thing but I'd say it's two. I probably hold out the i too long instead of rushing to the l.
I don't get the chin thing, was never taught it. I tried and this happened: Pursed lips for the M, opened for the I, jaw half closed and tongue up for the L, closed for the S. I think that I'm half closing it for the L makes me say it's two syllables. Someone said it's similar to Anna and Charles, but I say both as two.
I spent 6 years in speech pathology as a child so I'm slightly familiar with the idea of over analyzing my tongue and mouth positioning when forming word sounds and it keeps coming out as 2 syllables for me!
I think it's one. In elementary school we were taught to find out how many syllables a word has by putting our fists under our chins as we speak. Every time your jaw hits your fist, it's a syllable. When I did it, it was only one.
Re: Miles ~ How many syllables?
I think it's one. In elementary school we were taught to find out how many syllables a word has by putting our fists under our chins as we speak. Every time your jaw hits your fist, it's a syllable. When I did it, it was only one.
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Agreed. One but it comes out with a "y". That's called a glide and it is because the "L" is a liquid and in standard American English and some northern dialects, we voice (pronounce/keep vocal cords humming)while repositioning our tongue making the semi-consonant "y" sound. You didn't want that much info, did you? LOL
Be happy you don't live around here. FIL pronounces it "mal"...yes, even the plural. He has four "tars" on his truck, too.
Cole Joseph 7/05/07
Nora Anne 11/03/12
9lbs, 6oz
It's similar to Charles and Grant. My brother is Grant and it was always so hard to yell at him when I was mad. Gray-yunt!!
Miles is our boy name.
I'm from VA and maybe it's just a southern thing but I'd say it's two. I probably hold out the i too long instead of rushing to the l.
I don't get the chin thing, was never taught it. I tried and this happened: Pursed lips for the M, opened for the I, jaw half closed and tongue up for the L, closed for the S. I think that I'm half closing it for the L makes me say it's two syllables. Someone said it's similar to Anna and Charles, but I say both as two.
I spent 6 years in speech pathology as a child so I'm slightly familiar with the idea of over analyzing my tongue and mouth positioning when forming word sounds and it keeps coming out as 2 syllables for me!
Yup, me too.
THIS!
How someone's accent affects the pronunciation of a name does not affect how many syllables the name actually has.
Miles has 1.
Agreed - Miles is 1 syllable. There's not really a debate IMHO.
Miles = 1 syllable because it has only one vowel sound (the long /i/). The /e/ is silent.
Me too. I pronounce it with two.
::Headdesk::
Get hooked on phonics, people.