From: lecuyer@wam.umd.edu (CLIS library) Newsgroups: alt.pagan Subject: Re: Samhain pronounced? Date: 8 Oct 1993 16:58:38 GMT In article , A. Channing wrote: > I used to think it was pronounced Sam-hane But know I think it is > Sam-hawn. I'm new to paganism and don't know how to say this so can > someone please tell me what is correct? What about Beltane while > your at it? Well it depends on what kind of Gaelic you are speaking. Samhain - "Sow - in" with empasis on 1st syllable or "Sha- vin" or "sow- wan" "wan" pronounced like WANing moon. These last two are less common. Most people I know pronounce Beltane with the long "a" . But I've heard some Brits pronouce it with the short "a". I've also seen it spelled without the "e" on the end. === From: cortese@netcom.com (Janis Maria C. C. Cortese) Subject: Re: Samhain pronounced? Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1993 18:30:00 GMT DINGDINGDINGDING!!! You've just advanced to the next higher level of Pagan Awareness by asking this, the one question that all Pagan practice boils down to! I don't know one single person who really knows how the hell this word is said. I've heard something similar to salmon, I've heard sam-win, I've heard something that sounds vaguely close to saowin with a nasal 'a.' I'm willing to bet that nobody on the planet knows how the hell to say this word. Post to soc.culture.celtic. They might flounder more creatively than we. Blessings, Janis === From: rob@helium.gas.uug.arizona.edu (rob w fernie) Date: 8 Oct 1993 20:49:37 GMT From a smidgeon of knowledge of Scots Gaelic, I know that the 'mh' combination is either pronouced like a 'v' or is silent. From a Gaelic dictionary, I found the entry "Samhiunn" which referred to the festival of "November Eve" and was pronounced "saowin". === From: an40979@anon.penet.fi Organization: Anonymous contact service Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1993 15:52:10 UTC Well, I know it as Samhain, from the Irish Gaelic, which is pronounced Sow-in, (sow, as in 'how'). The term 'Halloween' in Irish is "Oi'che Shamhna" which is a bit nearer it's original meaning. Beltane is normally seen as Bealtaine and is pronounced (wait for it !!) "be-owl-tin-eh" , more or less. Months of the year in Irish : Eana'ir Feabhra Ma'rta Aibrea'in Bealtaine (Hmmm, sounds familiar Meitheamh Iu'il Lughnasa (From the god Lug, or Lugh) Mea'n Fomhair Deireadh Fomhair Samhain (Hmmm, again !) Nollag Hope this is of some use, Blessed Be! Pete (using anon again, coz I still cannot post !!) (Peter Cassidy - Dublin - peterc@comm.mot.com - peterc@garbo.uwasa.fi)