How do you pronounce Vafai?

February 12, 2007 6:46 AM

How do you pronounce the last name Vafai? I think that it is Iranian.
posted by ND¢ to Writing & Language (8 answers total)

Best answer: It is Iranian, and is pronounced Va-faa-yee.
posted by Menomena at 7:12 AM on February 12, 2007

Response by poster: So the Va is an ah sound like ah-ha, and the faa is too? So it is vah-fah-yee? I am glad I asked because I thought it was vah-fay.
posted by ND¢ at 7:23 AM on February 12, 2007

Best answer: I didn't know either; I had to ask my dad (who lived most of his life in Iran--I was just born there).

You've almost got it:

The "a" in Va is the same as the "a" in bat,
The "a" in Faa is the same as the "a" in law,

So it's Va-Faa-Yee.

Does that make more sense?
posted by Menomena at 7:44 AM on February 12, 2007

Response by poster: Yes that sounds better when I say it than the way I was doing it. Thanks a lot. I think that this will greatly improve my first impression. I really appreciate your help, and thank your dad for me too.
posted by ND¢ at 7:50 AM on February 12, 2007

no problem :)
posted by Menomena at 8:04 AM on February 12, 2007

Just in case you're curious, it's from the noun vafā (from Arabic wafā) 'loyalty, constancy, keeping faith.' There's a break (glottal stop) between the long a and the final -i, which is why it's not a diphthong (ay).
posted by languagehat at 11:02 AM on February 12, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks to you too hat.
posted by ND¢ at 12:16 PM on February 12, 2007

Response by poster: I pronounced the hell out of that name. To good effect it seems. Thanks again all.
posted by ND¢ at 7:46 AM on February 16, 2007