# How do I pronouce this Irish name... "Caoimhe"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronouce-this-irish-name-caoimhe/334344>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 6, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronouce-this-irish-name-caoimhe/334344 "2005-12-06T13:55:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronouce-this-irish-name-caoimhe/334344/1 "2005-12-06T13:55:02Z")

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As the title sez!

How do I say “Caoimhe” - it’s an Irish female name.

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**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronouce-this-irish-name-caoimhe/334344/2 "2005-12-06T14:08:54Z")

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The second hit on Google says “KEE-vah” or “KWEE-vah” (key).  
[http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=caoimhe](http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=caoimhe)

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**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronouce-this-irish-name-caoimhe/334344/3 "2005-12-06T14:10:40Z")

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Magic, thanks for that

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**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronouce-this-irish-name-caoimhe/334344/4 "2005-12-06T14:57:03Z")

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> [@cazzle](#):
>
> The second hit on Google says “KEE-vah” or “KWEE-vah” (key).  
> [Meaning, origin and history of the name Caoimhe - Behind the Name](http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=caoimhe)

Wow, was my guess going to be totally off base. I thought it was pronounced “Gumby”. 😃