Learn English – What’s the correct pronunciation of “Israel”

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From Google I have gathered there are several ways for pronounce Israel, I have pronounced it is-rye-el. From googling it some seem to indicate it acceptable and another says it is vulgar and should be avoided, so I come to you, which one is it, as it seems it is used often enough…

Edit: Adding links to the links I looked at before asking and referenced above.

Page that offers two ways of pronunciation neither is-rye-el

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=israel

Mention of several pronunciations including is-rye-el

http://www.choralnet.org/205055 . Mention that is-rye-el is vulgar and barbaric

More mentions of is-rye-el and how it is pronounced in the east.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091227010727AAygoKG

More mentions of is-rye-el and other common pronunciations, at least one commenter seems to think is-rye-el is the usual way it is said in America.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-623574.html

Best Answer

The OED says that one says /ˈɪzreɪəl/.

But one sings /ˈɪzra(j)ɛl/ in the opening of Mendelssohn’s Elijah:

As God the Lord of Israel liveth, before whom I stand: there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

That’s the standard sung pronunciation; it (meaning /ˈɪzra(j)ɛl/) is perhaps what people are hearing as your “rye” thing. It is hardly barbaric.

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