How Do You Spell MCELHENNEY?

Pronunciation: [məkˈɛlhənɪ] (IPA)

The correct spelling of the surname "McElhenney" can be a challenge for those unfamiliar with Irish phonetics. The first syllable is pronounced "mək", with the schwa sound represented by the letter "e". The second syllable has a long "e" sound, represented by the letter "e" twice, and the third syllable has an "ə" sound represented by the letter "e" again. The fourth syllable is pronounced "hi", with the "h" being silent. To sum up, the IPA transcription is /məkˈɛlhəni/.

Etymology of MCELHENNEY

The name McElhenney is a surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Chainnigh, which means son of the servant of Cainneach. Cainneach is an Irish personal name derived from the word cain, meaning beautiful or lovely. The prefix Mac indicates son of in Irish, and over time, the name evolved into McElhenney. It is a patronymic surname, suggesting that it was originally used to identify the descendants of a person named Giolla Chainnigh or Cainneach.