pronunciation of Sirena?

[gnld]

I, probably like most English-speaking people, saw the name of Oceania's new ship, Sirena, and assumed it was pronounced Sir-eena.

 

But a recent email from Oceania included a video on the ship wherein it was pronounced See-rain-ah.

 

Turns out Sirena is Spanish for mermaid (hence the ship's logo). And See-rain-ah is the Spanish pronunciation.

 

I wonder as time goes on, which pronunciation will prevail?

 

Regardless, we're booked on the ship in October, for my birthday.

[Mura]

We are also booked on SIRENA in October for MY birthday. I'm wondering which cruise you are on ... we leave Barcelona on October 4th.

 

I have been calling it by the Spanish pronunciation, just because I thought that was what it should be ... have been willing to be corrected, however!

 

Mura

[wally_bushy]

Just off the Marina and the Oceania Club Ambassador referred to it the Spanish way when promoting future cruises

Edited March 3, 2016 by wally_bushy

[ORV]

I believe I posted this a couple of months ago.

[kuldalai]

Interesting us Aussies would pronounce it as Sigh Reena .

[Jay23]

I pronounced it Sigh-reena from Sirens of the sea who lured sailors into the deep.

That would be the UK (English) pronunciation But then I have no knowledge of the Spanish word. J

Edited March 3, 2016 by Jay23

[Iamthesea]

And I have been pronouncing it Sah-Wren-a

Wren, like the bird. :rolleyes:

 

And See-rain-ah is the Spanish pronunciation.

 

How about Sea-rain-ah. :D Easier to remember.

Edited March 3, 2016 by Iamthesea

[tropicalkerry2002]

I also have been thinking it's Sigh-reena...must be a Brit/Aussie/Canadian thing!

Also, we don't take Spanish in school, so wouldn't think of pronouncing it that way.

[Tansy Mews]

Not this Canadian! I assumed it was pronounced the Spanish way (not that I knew it was the Spanish way!) I don't like the reena sound and prefer the raina sound.

[LHT28]

Interesting us Aussies would pronounce it as Sigh Reena .

me too

[Pet Nit Noy]

I, probably like most English-speaking people, saw the name of Oceania's new ship, Sirena, and assumed it was pronounced Sir-eena.

 

But a recent email from Oceania included a video on the ship wherein it was pronounced See-rain-ah.

 

At first, the English teacher in me assumed the pronunciation was Sigh-rEEn-ah after the Greek mythological sirens, but further English-teacher-type consideration decided that couldn't be right. After all, the sirens of mythology are evil creatures whose beautiful songs lure sailors to their death on the rocks or distract sailors so much that they simply walk off the decks of their ships and drown. That's hardly an allusion that a cruise line would want to encourage.

 

The word "mermaid" in Spanish an Italian is Sirena, a much happier association if you think about the Tom Hanks/Darryl Hannah movie Splash or the animated Little Mermaid.

[SellaVee]

Never mind Sirena, how do you pronounce Oceania?

 

Only kidding :D:D:D!!

 

(If you're new to this board it's been discussed before, at length)

[AllisonJames]

I was pronouncing sigh -- ree -- nah until I viewed an Azamara produced video and they said sa --wren -- nah. Kind of like the second better. I too thought it was after the sirens who lured Odysseus but on second thought that's probably not a great name for a ship...like the mermaid concept better.

[AllisonJames]

Apologies, I meant Oceania!

[nedward]

I would assume that the typical American-English pronunciation (doesn't everything need to be Americanized?) would be sigh-REE-nah, sort of like eye-TAL-yan. <tongue-in-cheek>

 

Regards, Ned

[Jay23]

The main thing is that we all know what we are talking about, however we pronounce it.

 

Now, talking about Ocean-ia!!!!!!!!!!! J :D

[gnld]

We are also booked on SIRENA in October for MY birthday. I'm wondering which cruise you are on ... we leave Barcelona on October 4th.

 

I have been calling it by the Spanish pronunciation, just because I thought that was what it should be ... have been willing to be corrected, however!

 

Mura

 

Hi, Mura. The Oct. 4th transatlantic is the one we're booked on, too. 10/6 birthday.

Gary

[Mura]

Hi, Mura. The Oct. 4th transatlantic is the one we're booked on, too. 10/6 birthday. Gary

 

 

Gary, I'm a day older than you are. Maybe we should have a midnight supper to jointly celebrate????

 

Looking forward to seeing you on board.

 

Mura

[gnld]

Tonight is the last night of the last cruise for the Ocean Princess. Tomorrow (March 7th), she gets handed over to Oceania to begin her refurbishment/transformation into Sirena.

 

Perhaps they'll be singing Auld Lang Syne onboard tonight?