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Hermes! How do you pronounce it

(152 Posts)
Audi10 Sat 27-Nov-21 15:55:31

Please settle a disagreement ? three in my family insist it’s Hermies, while I think it’s actually pronounced how it’s spelt! I could always ask the driver I suppose! It’s like Matalan a couple in my extended family insist it’s mataland ??

silverlining48 Sat 27-Nov-21 18:14:57

Nike is US I stand corrected. It’s Adidas which is Germsn, pronounced Adidas

silverlining48 Sat 27-Nov-21 18:11:23

If nike is German, (and I have no idea if it is )it would be neeker
If French Hermes might be er meh because in my experience the first and last letters are generally silent. Perhaps a . French speaker may be along shortly

Calistemon Sat 27-Nov-21 17:49:28

Oh thank you *kittylester, I began to question myself then!

kittylester Sat 27-Nov-21 17:47:20

That's what those of us who still live here call it too, calistemon.

Calistemon Sat 27-Nov-21 17:41:24

Sago

Nike as in bike.

The one that gets me is belvoir!
When I read out an address as “ beaver street” a colleague laughed her head off she had lived on the street for years and pronounced it bell vwar!

Nikie as in spiky, named after the Greek goddess.

Vale of Belvoir (Beever) is in Leicestershire, that's what we in the Midlands called it anyway.

Blossoming Sat 27-Nov-21 17:38:49

Nike as in spiky. Never mispronounce a Goddess, they do indeed get spiky if offended.

Oldnproud Sat 27-Nov-21 17:35:42

lemsip

it usually has an apostrophe over the e so hermeeze
Hermès

www.google.com/search?q=how+is+Hermes+pronouned&rlz=1CAGUZK_enGB980GB980&oq=how+is+Hermes+pronouned&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512j0i433i512j0i512l4j0i433i512j0i512l2.19366j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

That accent should make it 'her- mez', shouldn't it, not 'hermeez'?

But I call the company 'hermeez'. When I'm being polite, that is.

Not that I have a problem with our local Hermes courier. Just with the company itself, following a shambolic experience where it was impossible to get it through to them that they were trying to deliver to a completely wrong address over a hundred miles away.

Josianne Sat 27-Nov-21 17:06:00

Ailidh

Herr Meez for the delivery company and the Greek god.

Err Mehz for the French fashion house.

Yes, I agree.

I know the latter from how the shop assistants in John Lewis Oxford Street say it!

Chewbacca Sat 27-Nov-21 17:05:41

Also the protector of merchants and thieves!!
If ever there was a more appropriately named company, this is it.

Sago Sat 27-Nov-21 17:02:44

Nike as in bike.

The one that gets me is belvoir!
When I read out an address as “ beaver street” a colleague laughed her head off she had lived on the street for years and pronounced it bell vwar!

Lucca Sat 27-Nov-21 17:00:48

Ailidh

Herr Meez for the delivery company and the Greek god.

Err Mehz for the French fashion house.

If I was in France OK …
But living in Yorkshire I’d feel pretentious saying anything other hur meez

Calistemon Sat 27-Nov-21 16:58:36

Peasblossom

Hermes was the messenger of the Gods in Greek mythology. Also the protector of merchants and thieves!!

So it should be pronounced like other Greek names with the es as eeze.

As in Aristophanes.

Yes.

How do posters pronounce Nike? The winged goddess of victory and trainers.

Ailidh Sat 27-Nov-21 16:53:04

Herr Meez for the delivery company and the Greek god.

Err Mehz for the French fashion house.

MayBeMaw Sat 27-Nov-21 16:39:01

lemsip

it usually has an apostrophe over the e so hermeeze
Hermès

www.google.com/search?q=how+is+Hermes+pronouned&rlz=1CAGUZK_enGB980GB980&oq=how+is+Hermes+pronouned&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512j0i433i512j0i512l4j0i433i512j0i512l2.19366j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

That is NOT an apostrophe!
It is a “grave”(pronounced grahv) accent

NotAGran55 Sat 27-Nov-21 16:38:08

I had a tradesman here who told me that he previously worked for Hurms.

MayBeMaw Sat 27-Nov-21 16:36:01

Blossoming

It depends wether I’m talking about the Greek god, the French fashion company or the parcel delivery company.

Exactly! Although for me the Greek god is also my courier
Hermes-Her-mees

Hermès- “Air-mes “”

Charleygirl5 Sat 27-Nov-21 16:30:12

I pronounce it Hermaize.

Sago Sat 27-Nov-21 16:16:19

Notagran You are correct the French brand is pronounced “airmez”.

The courier company My Hermes is “Hermees “

Blossoming Sat 27-Nov-21 16:16:04

It depends wether I’m talking about the Greek god, the French fashion company or the parcel delivery company.

Peasblossom Sat 27-Nov-21 16:15:40

Hermes was the messenger of the Gods in Greek mythology. Also the protector of merchants and thieves!!

So it should be pronounced like other Greek names with the es as eeze.

As in Aristophanes.

NotAGran55 Sat 27-Nov-21 16:10:23

As it is a French brand I pronounce it with a silent H, so ‘air mays’ but it’s probably wrong!

lemsip Sat 27-Nov-21 16:09:36

it usually has an apostrophe over the e so hermeeze
Hermès

www.google.com/search?q=how+is+Hermes+pronouned&rlz=1CAGUZK_enGB980GB980&oq=how+is+Hermes+pronouned&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512j0i433i512j0i512l4j0i433i512j0i512l2.19366j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 27-Nov-21 16:04:58

I've always said 'her-mizz' but I stand to be corrected.

Shandy57 Sat 27-Nov-21 16:01:17

So you say hermes, like therms?

H1954 Sat 27-Nov-21 15:59:56

We always pronounce it HERMEEZE, but I guess it's a regional thing.