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Oh the language thing!

MelD16MelD16
in Baby Names
We have a name but I've been thinking about different ways to write it. We picked Joel. In Spanish, its pronounced like Noel (2 syllables). I just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on how to spell it so that people read it with 2 syllables, instead of one.
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Re: Oh the language thing!

  • lifesaboutmusiclifesaboutmusic
    The only way I can think of is spelling it the way girls do. Joelle.
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  • wheelenlwheelenl

    That's funny-I pronounce Noel as one syllable, if it's a boy's name. If it's the French Christmas song, that's different.

    This is a boy, right? The two-syllable English pronunciation is usually spelled Joelle, which is very feminine.

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  • lapalourdelapalourde
    Well, in French, Noel has a trema or two dots over the e.  That means that you should pronounce the two vowels separately, geting  NO-EL.  You can d the same thing for JO-EL if you just add the trema over the e.  But, it is kind of annoying having a name with an accent in the US, because most people forget it, leave it off, think it's not important.  But it really does change the pronunciation, and it is indeed spelled wrong if you don't have the accent.  Other than just correcting people and telling them you pronounce it the Spanish way, that's my only idea. 
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  • aoverlockaoverlock
    i think you will have to tell people it is two syllables, they probably won't read it that way.
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  • shanBmcgshanBmcg
    So, if it's a Spanish name wouldn't it be pronounced ho-el? Isn't the Spanish J the equivalent to the English H? Sounds to me you are taking parts of the English name Joe and combining it with the Spanish ending -?l. I could be wrong though. Either way I don't know how to solve your problem. I personally would use the accent mark, keep it spelled Jo?l and just educate people on the name.
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  • FutureMrs.SteenFutureMrs.Steen
    I know a number of Joels and no one mispronounces it. It's Joel with 1 syllable. 
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  • sacey21sacey21
    I know a Jo-el....I'm just not sure how he spells it. It's pronounced with a J and not and H sound and he is Spanish. I'm sorry that I cannot help you with the spelling! I just wanted you to know that I know the difference between Joel and Jo-el. Good luck :)
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  • lovesazzielovesazzie member

    imagelapalourde:
    Well, in French, Noel has a trema or two dots over the e.  That means that you should pronounce the two vowels separately, geting  NO-EL.  You can d the same thing for JO-EL if you just add the trema over the e.  But, it is kind of annoying having a name with an accent in the US, because most people forget it, leave it off, think it's not important.  But it really does change the pronunciation, and it is indeed spelled wrong if you don't have the accent.  Other than just correcting people and telling them you pronounce it the Spanish way, that's my only idea. 

    I agree with this. I actually know someone named Noel and it is pronounced one syllable. You need to have the trema if you want it to be two syllables in my opinion.

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