Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation

Subject: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Maryrrf
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 08:37 PM

What would be the correct or generally accepted pronunciation of Tuatha de Danaan - those mysterious beings from Irish mythology. I've heard the "th" pronounced as in "thought" and also heard the th pronounced like an "h". Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 09:04 PM

In Gaelic the "H" renders the "T" silent. Sounds as too-ah.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Declan
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 05:43 AM

Can be pronounced Too-ah as Sandy says or sometimes too-hah, depending on regional variances too-thah would be incorrect.

There's a lot of mythology around about De Dannan ... some of the stories I've heard about Frankie Gavin ! But I digress.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 06:03 AM

I've heard it pronounced Twatha (but then an Irish guy fell off his chair laughing).

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Declan
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 06:07 AM

I once met a member of De Dannan in a pub.

I walked up to him and said "Hiya Twatha".


The long fella was in the corner writing furiously.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: smallpiper
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 06:25 AM

So would that be Too - aha?
That question is addressed to the long fella with the pen and the pint of plain

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: ard mhacha
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 07:21 AM

Like Declan says, pronounced as Too-hah. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Áine
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 07:39 AM

Declan agus Ard Mhacha,

Now wouldn't my Irish teacher from Killybegs be shaking her finger at the both of you for telling these folks that there are only two syllables in the word 'tuatha'! *BG* Even though you wouldn't necessarily hear the third one, if you were using the word in a phrase . . .

Le meas, Áine

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Maryrrf
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 08:46 AM

Thanks to all who responded. Seem pretty clear now that the "t" is silent.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: daithi
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 08:53 AM

Quite so Aine, with the emphasis on the "Too" - how about pronouncing the Dé bit? For some folks it's "djey" others say "day".

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: nickp
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 09:07 AM

And then there's the 'Dannan' or 'Danaaan'. Although not 'into' Irish music particularly I've always wondered how to say it. Good old Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Declan
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 09:50 AM

I'm open to correction here but I think its de Danann rather than Dé Danann.
The de means of, whereas Dé means God.

Dé would be pronounced cloce enough to Day whereas de is pronounced deh, pretty close to the way most Dublin people pronouce the. As far as I know they were the followers of the god Danú (whose name is being used now by another excellent young traditional group).
Danann is pronounced Dan-ann (as in the names) with the emphasis on Dan.

You do hear a lot of people pronounce the groups name as Day Dan-ann, but I think this is incorrect. I'm also fairly sure there's only one a in the second syllable.

You're right of course Áine about the three syllables but it can be tricky enough to get the phonetics of this written down, wihtout trying to explain how the inaudible middle syllable sounds. If you were to hear a good native Irish speaker, the inaudible can be heard clearly, if that makes any sense.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Maryrrf
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 10:10 AM

Um, Now I'm a little confused. If anybody can come close, can someone write out approximately how the three syllable pronunciation would sound. I was thinking "TOOha day DanAAN" based on some of the posts.    Would this be too far off base? It's part of a song and I'd like to pronounce it as correctly as possible. It would fit better in the song if I pronounced it "To -ah - ha" but if that's wrong I'll adapt it. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Declan
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 10:18 AM

To-ah-ha is not far off, but don't put too much emphasis on the middle syllable, sort of run the two h's together. This is difficult to put into writing. The emphasis in the second word should definitely be on Dan rather than ann (not aan). and its deh rather than day.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 10:29 AM

Too-a-ha might be closer, with the stress on the first syllable, and both the a's short. And short a's for all the a's in Danaan, and a short e in de.

At least that's how I'd pronounce it, but I haven't the Irish - so I stand to be corrected by someone who has, such as Áine.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: ard mhacha
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:49 PM

Don`t worry Maryrrf, if you are in the Gaelteacht and you say Toohay day dannann, they will ask what your mates drinking. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Nerd
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:51 PM

I believe it is Dé Danann, where the Dé means "god." In some manuscripts they are referred to as simply the Tuatha Dé. But here's the thing: I haven't seen any of the actual manuscripts or even facsimiles, only transcriptions, so I can't be sure how it was written in the middle ages.

Interestingly, the band changed the spelling of their own name from Danann to Dannan, during their career. There is one album where they are making the switch, and they use a sort of double n character to obscure the spelling! I can't remember the album title, but it's one of the ones with Mary Black.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: GUEST,Celtic Princess
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 09:05 PM

Look, let me help you all out here, because your in serious need or help.. Tuatha De Danaan is pronounced as followed. (tua day dhanna).

Lemme guess you all would like a description as well right?

Tuatha De Danaan
Here goes..A highly advanced race of immortal beings that settled in Ireland thousands of years before the birth of christ. Called by many names: Children of the Goddess Danu, the True Race, the Gentry, the Daoine Sidhe; the are most commonly referred to as the Fae, Faery or Fairy. Although frequently portrayed as shimmering, dainty creatures of diminutive size that flit about exuding effervescent good humor and a penchant for mild mischief, the true Tuatha De are neither so delicate nor so benevolent.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: GUEST,Irish Lass
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 07:30 PM

CORRECT pronunciation: Tua Day Dhanna

And in case any one is tripping over this one,

Daoine Sidhe is pronounced: Deena Shee

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: GUEST,descendant of Nuada Lámhairgid.
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 03:43 PM

Tuatha De Danaan is Pronounced Tooah Day Danaan, because we are the Children of the goddess Dana/Danu.. Celtic Princess is correct.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: GUEST,Ireth
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 05:07 PM

Very informative. ^^ I'm featuring Celtic mythology and terms a lot in my novel, and I need the pronunciations for a glossary. Could any of you help me with the correct pronunciation of "Mag Tuireadh" and the name Lóegaire? Thanks in advance!

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 11:44 PM

Celtic princess might be correct. She is also an arrogant person. She might understand the tales and language, but knows nothing of Irish sensibilities. Seems very full of herself.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Paul Burke
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 12:21 PM

Lios Tuathail in Co Kerry is pronounced "Listowel" and not, as one friend had it, "Liars Twathill".

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 10:43 PM

Link to an audio pronunciatiion

http://www.forvo.com/word/tuatha_d%C3%A9_danann/

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 03:25 PM

Here's a blicky for the link above: http://www.forvo.com/word/tuatha_d%C3%A9_danann/

When I visited Ireland (for my first and -- so far -- only time), I traveled from Holyhead to Dun Leary by ferry.

Once in Dun Leary, it took some time until the penny dropped that all those intriguing "Dun Laoghaire" signs I was seeing were pronounced the same way as the "Dun Leary" signs; felt a bit silly for not realising it sooner, but it was one of those "Aha!" moments...

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Haruo
Date: 25 May 13 - 10:46 AM

"Celtic princess might be correct. She is also an arrogant person. She might understand the tales and language, but knows nothing of Irish sensibilities. Seems very full of herself." (said Big Mick)

True enough, but then she's a princess, I understand, and may have slept on top of a legume last night.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 11:17 AM

Tuatha Dé Danann, pronunciation
"Too Ah Ha Day Don-an"
http://forvo.com/word/tuatha_d%C3%A9_danann/
Recordings of 3 Irish speaking people.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 02:34 PM

The Carolan lyric, Sí Beag Sí Mór, contains a verse which includes the phrase "Tuatha de Danann." It is sung to a triple-meter rhythm. So "Tuatha de Danann" has to be lined up with triplets in order to demonstrate which syllables are stressed and which syllables are unstressed. I know less about Gaelic than any of you, I'm just contributing this because of listening to a recording.

Sí Beag Sí Mór, sung by Graínne Yeats

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 02:45 PM

video not available.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 03:32 PM

I was brought up to say TOO-uh-huh nuh DAA-nuhn.

Subject: RE: Tuatha de Danaan - Correct pronunciation
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 04:02 PM

Sorry, that should of course be TOO-uh-huh day DAA-nuhn, with the first TOO having the T pronounced in the French way, not the English way; not a spitty sharp T but a soft strike of the tongue tip on the back of the upper teeth.