Pronunciation of Argyll

[SeumasA]

Is the plural of "y'all" really "all y'all"?

In some places it's "you 'uns"

Gaelic nearly always has the stress on the first syllable of two-syllable words. The stress is on the second syllable of Argyll because it's not a Gaelic word, it's two Gaelic words.

In these compound names the stress is often on the second word.

The other one we really noticed on our trip was InverNESS. We had always stressed the first syllable.

[ThistleDown]

The other one we really noticed on our trip was InverNESS. We had always stressed the first syllable.

We hear that pronounciation often, so not to worry, Seamas. In fact Inverness is two words combined, not three syllables, and means the mouth of the Ness. Actually it's the pouring out of waters, more than "mouth", but mouth is close enough as long as you don't think "delta". Aber has the same meaning in Brithonic, so you will see both used, the former mostly in the North and the latter in the South. Think of saying the "mouth of the Ness" with emphasis on the first word. It will come out MOUTHoftheness and you will immediately hear the error. Try it with other Inver and Aber names: Inverary, Aberfeldy, Invercauld, Abertarff, and so on. Don't lay a big heavy on the second word, just a tad more emphasis is good enough.