Why do we pronounce Dean as /diːn/ but Sean as /ʃɒn/?

Question

The following words which end with an ean are pronounced as /*i:n/ whereas Sean is pronounced as /ʃɒn/:

bean, dean, lean, mean...

Why is Sean not pronounced as /si:n/ but as /ʃɒn/? Where does this irregularity come from? Are there known rules in English for such cases?

Like with most things in English, the only rule is, you have to learn it. :/ — Marthaª, May 23 '12 at 18:05
Martha's right. Some other "odd" ea words include: earth, dealt, break, hearth... — J.R., May 23 '12 at 18:17
There is a Television weatherman named Sean McLaughlin who does pronounce it 'Seen'. Names are funny things and people are not obliged to follow any rules when determining how they want them pronounced. — Jim, May 23 '12 at 20:22
We pronounce it as /ʃɔ:n/ here, but your point still stands. — deutschZuid, May 23 '12 at 22:20

score 18 · Accepted Answer · answered May 23 '12 at 17:28

18

Sean is an Irish name, and so follows a completely different set of rules. Siobhan is another Irish name with a very non-English pronunciation.

answered May 23 '12 at 17:28

Schroedingers Cat

2

In fact Sean is just the Irish variant of John. – Joel Spolsky May 23 '12 at 23:13
1

Similarly the Irish analogue of "James" is Séamus, pronounced /ʃeɪməs/. – Mark Dominus May 25 '12 at 15:43

1 Answers1