What is the correct pronunciation of Senator Obama's first name?

[darmok167]

Trivial, I admit. But I have heard it two different ways and I am a very curious person, by nature.

"Bare ack" with the emphasis on the second syllable?

or

"Buh rock" with the emphasis on the first syllable?

If neither of these is correct, I apologize. I am just curious. (Curiosity killed the cat, so I am told.)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. "Buh-rock."

[Cha]

14. That's the way I was

sayin' it..and I've never heard it pronounced.

[rurallib]

2. I hear the RWnuts call him "Barry" - they are sooooo cute.

[mwb970]

7. Mort Kondracke always calls him BARE-ak.

It sounds dumb, especially when his counterpart is pronouncing it correctly.

[Critters2]

9. He went by Barry as a kid. Don't know when he began to use the full name

but childhood friends and neighbors knew him as "Barry".

[Cha]

15. They had a nice piece on him

in People Mag and Barack decided he would be called Barack when he got to college. Hearing that his dad died alone and broke made him realize he wanted to make a difference.

[Critters2]

17. Thanks. I didn't know. My book club is reading his book

_My Father's Dreams_ (I think that's the title) for discussion in April.

[Cha]

18. It sounds like it might

be good. He relates how he "did inhale.. that was the whole point"!

[Suich]

3. Not to nitpick.....

I think it's "Buh rock", with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable.

:shrug:

[darmok167]

5. That's why I asked. :-)

You're not "nitpicking" at all.

[Name removed]

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[Ediacara]

6. Everyone seems to say:

/bə'rak/

Or

"buh-ROCK"

[dancingme]

8. Bush called him "Bama" or "Rock"

according to Obama when he was on Jay Leno or some show. Bush must think Obama played footblal with Joe Namath or made a movie with "The Rock"

[uppityperson]

10. oh...f* Mrbush

[Name removed]

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[rebel with a cause]

12. Ba/rock is the pronunciation.

Know this because I am terrible at pronunciation and names in general, and having met him quite a few times, I made sure I at least knew how to say his name. That way if I said every other word questionable, at least I said one thing right. :7

[darmok167]

13. Thank You. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

16. barack...just like it's spelled.

nt