Pronunciation of "Presley"

[Seaviewer]

Seriously, is there an official pronunciation of Presley?
In Australia, Presley is most commonly pronounced "Prez-lee" but Americans seem to often pronounce it "Press-lee".
In much the same way, Aussie is pronounced "Ozzie", but Americans, at least until recently, read it with the soft s-sound.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Seriously, is there an official pronunciation of Presley?
In Australia, Presley is most commonly pronounced "Prez-lee" but Americans seem to often pronounce it "Press-lee".
In much the same way, Aussie is pronounced "Ozzie", but Americans, at least until recently, read it with the soft s-sound.

I think you've put your finger on it. The official pronunciation probably differs by region.

Here in the UK I've only ever heard the "Prez-lee" pronunciation. It's similar to the name "Wesley" and its diminutive "Wes", which have the same kind of "z" sound here, while Americans frequently tend to be more literal in pronouncing something the way it looks.

Along similar lines Barbara Streisand has had a couple of diva moments over the pronunciation of her surname in the UK and always insists on interviewers pronouncing it her way: "stry-sand". I can understand that reasoning since it's her family name and that's how she's used to hearing it, but still it sounds particularly odd when a Brit like Jonathan Ross uses that pronunciation rather than our usual "stry-znd".

And it's not just the Brits who get it:

 

[Karin]

So Siri got it wrong. Seriously I don't get why people use that kind of app. I mean why talk to a computer or a machine?

 

[Crimson]

While I happily concede regional pronunciations to words will vary, I don't think that should apply to a proper name. A name is a name. My name is Thomas. If someone of, say, Italian origin called me "TOWM-ahS", I wouldn't necessarily be irked but it's also not my name.

So the definitive answer here should be: how did Elvis (or Priscilla) pronounce the name?

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Here in the UK I've only ever heard the "Prez-lee" pronunciation. It's similar to the name "Wesley" and its diminutive "Wes", which have the same kind of "z" sound here, while Americans frequently tend to be more literal in pronouncing something the way it looks.

wait, so in the UK the mysterious man who may or may not have been Jock Ewing was "Wez" Parmalee??

 

[Mel O'Drama]

wait, so in the UK the mysterious man who may or may not have been Jock Ewing was "Wez" Parmalee??

He was indeed.

And if you think that's something, you should hear our pronunciation of Kit Mainwaring's surname.

 

[Alexis]

In my life I think about 10 people have correctly pronounced my name. It's so exhausting to correct people and explain that it sounds different to how it is spelled that I mostly just don't even bother anymore. So on a daily basis I am Colin, or Colum or Collem or Callum or Colm or anything in between. I have even been called Calvin.

Callan ▲ as a boys' name (also used less widely as girls' name Callan) is pronounced KAL-an. It is of Gaelic and Scottish origin, and the meaning of Callan is "battle; rock". From an Irish surname derived from Cathan, or a Scottish surname from "ail" meaning "rock". A male name in Scotland and Ireland.

 

[Richard Channing]

Now if we could just have a thread on the pronunciation of 'Priscilla' the trilogy would be complete.

 

[Alexis]

Now if we could just have a thread on the pronunciation of 'Priscilla' the trilogy would be complete.

When she was in Dallas I always pronounced it as Tiny Tears but that may just be a regional thing?

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

He was indeed.

And if you think that's something, you should hear our pronunciation of Kit Mainwaring's surname.

Kit Bow-loo!

 

[Sarah]

It's pronounced Linda Gray.

 

['V']

And if you think that's something, you should hear our pronunciation of Kit Mainwaring's surname.

That's right, Captain Mannering sir!

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

That's right, Captain Mannering sir!

Yeah it's spelt Mainwaring but pronounced Mannering.

 

[Seaviewer]

Along similar lines Barbara Streisand has had a couple of diva moments over the pronunciation of her surname in the UK and always insists on interviewers pronouncing it her way: "stry-sand".

In a televised concert she explained that her friend Liza got the "zee" but she got the sand.
For a while we got the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. I remember him once lecturing the audience that it was Stryz'nd NOT Stry-sand. I pronounced it that way until I heard her say precisely the opposite.

 

[Toni]

In my country something fun (and dumb) happened with Presley back in the 80s. She was one of the non-acting celebrities who often appeared in the covers of our tabloids (here called "pink press"). There also was another celebrity (famous for doing nothing) who had been married to our singer Julio Iglesias, called Isabel Preysler.
Just FYI, Cilla had been rumored to have had an affair with Julio too. So, many people who loved gossip sometimes confused both last names, and Priscilla became "Preysler" and Isabel, "Presley".
Given that Prissy was in Spain only famous for her marriage to Elvis and her affairs, I really hated her becoming Jenna 3. To me it was as if one of the Kardashians had been cast as Jenna instead. A nightmare? Probably, maybe.

"Confirmed: Julio Iglesias marries Priscilla Presley."
Go figure!​

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

wait, so in the UK the mysterious man who may or may not have been Jock Ewing was "Wez" Parmalee??

Well Yes and No!

Wes should be pronounced Wez, but in this case it's pronounced Jock. Parmalee is easy to pronounce too, it's pronounced Ewing!

Simples.