Why Irish names are tongue-twisters for English speakers | Séamas O’Reilly

A new baby in the family means learning to pronounce a new name - and a bit of cruel fun for parents

I have a new niece, as my sister Fionnuala and her husband Adam welcomed Sadhbh (pronounced: Sadhbh) into a grateful world this week. At time of writing, she is three days old, but she seems very sound and her sister Clodagh is delighted by her company. My kids haven't met her yet, but are wholly infatuated. They insist on watching the few videos we've been sent on a loop, and attempt to learn her name as they do so.

My son sees Sadhbh written down as I show him pics from our family WhatsApp group. The pile-up of consonants taxes his English brain a little too hard for intuitive speech. Give it a go, we tell him, baiting an age-old trap beloved of all Anglo-Hibernian relationships. He tries Sadib' and Sahiddybib', which draws cruel laughter from his loving parents. It's sigh-v' we tell him, like five, but with an S instead of an F.'