Colbert: Is it REALLY Col-BEAR or Col-BURT? I need to know!

[Writer]

Stephen Colbert's wikipedia entry says that his name is, in fact, Irish and not French!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert

So if that's the case, is it pronounced Col-BURT in real life? Is the Col-BEAR pronunciation simply showbiz twang?

And does this explain his hatred of bears... is it some weird, twisted, self-hating psychodrama of his own creation?

I want to know!!!

[KitchenWitch]

1. I believe he is playing on the anti-french sentiment of our current

administration.

[Writer]

2. Right. So if I were to bump into him, I would address him...

as Col-BURT then, right? Because he isn't oh-so-French. ("It's French, bitch!")

[KitchenWitch]

3. That would be my guess!

[Solon]

4. That doesn't really mean much...

My Mother's maiden name is Roche, pronounced softly, not like roach, and her family comes from Ireland, not France, they immigrated to Ireland from the Frankish kingdom back in the 11th century.

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. It is Irish (of Norman origin). Norman = French-ish

If wikipedia is reliable, the entry on Colbert says that his surname is Irish (of Norman origin). Speaking generally, Normans = French + Viking. The French pronunciation is probably correct.

[Mad_Dem_X]

7. I agree; others (Jon Stewart, etc.)

pronounce it "Col-BEAR," so I think that's how it's pronounced.

[Inland]

16. Yeah, but Stewart isn't HIS real name, either.

So you can't take his word for it.

[CottonBear]

19. I have a friend who has a Fernch mother and is fluent in French.

She says "Colbear" is the correct way to say the name in French.

[philosophie_en_rose]

22. Col-bear is absolutely the correct French pronunciation.

The post I referred to implied that Colbert was an Irish surname and should, therefore, use an Irish pronunciation.

[REP]

6. Wiki Ain't That Reliable

Hell, I've written a few Wii pages. Would you believe ME?

Here's another source:

French (Normandy) and English: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements kol- (akin to Old Norse kollir ‘helmet’) + berht ‘bright’, ‘famous.’ - Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press,

[kwassa]

8. Stephen donated his silent "T"s to Katrina victims.

At least that is what he told Tim Robbins on his first show.

[JohnKleeb]

9. Its Col-BEAR

but I thikn others in his fmaily say Col-BURT, he's not French as O'Reilly thought he's Irish Catholic, I remember before the anti French stuff Jon would refer to him as Stephen Col-bear.

[Orsino]

10. Even back in college, he pronounced it Col-BEAR.

I knew of no ursophobic tendencies back then. I presume that it's just a joke.

[Writer]

17. I presume so as well.

To me it sounds more New Orleans French, like Hebert or Robert (silent T's.) I think that the on-camera Stephen's bearist tendencies stem from a deep-seated self hatred of all things bear (bert). Just a theory... ;)

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I think a person's name is pronounced as they themselves wish it to be.

Like, I say my name Har-per. But, if I pronounced it Har-pear...well, that's how it would be pronounced then. :hi:

[Susang]

12. He went by the Coal-Bear pronounciation when I knew him in Chicago

When he was in the training center, then later on Mainstage at Second City. But you realize he's an actor and can call himself whatever stage name he likes, no matter how his parents may have pronouned the name originally?

[riona]

13. leaves the "t"

off "report" too??

[Bassic]

14. Well, I can confirm that it is a French name, that's for sure.

As to wether it is found in Ireland or not, I have no idea.

[SoCalDem]

24. Claudette Colbert..(bear)

she was of french descent too.. Those damned Frenchies..refusing to pronounce their Ts..:sarcasm:

[Inland]

15. Also remember his family is old Charleston stock

and may have taken the french pronunciation as an affection generations ago.

[CottonBear]

18. My husband's names are French so I have some experience with this issue.

I would pronounce Steven Colbert's name "Colbear" (unless he pronounces it differently.)

There is a town nearby where I live called Colbert which is pronounced "Colburt." However, this town is in a WASPY, Scots-Irish area and not in an area populated by those of French extraction. Many place names (French, Polish and British) in my state date from the Revolutionary war and are, in many cases, the surnames of war heroes. The names are pronounced in a non-native language way by the citizens of the area. (There is a place called "Talliaferro" in my state which is pronounced "Tolliver." "Cairo" is pronounced "Kayro" and "Lafayette" is pronounced "La-FAY-Yette." Go figure.)

Bobby Hebert's (former football guy) name is pronounced "Abear."

My hubby's name ends with "-bert" and is pronounced "bear" not "bert" or "burt." The name is pronounced with a "bert" in some areas of the USA and not in others. (We won't even discuss his middle name which no one seems to be able to pronounce properly.) It all depends: You can always correct the pronounciation if some one says your name wrong. "Colbear" is the correct way to say Steven's name.

[no name no slogan]

20. So we should call you CottonBert?

:hide:

[Ryano42]

21. How DARE you even debate this!!!

it is Col BEAR!!!!

You are all DEAD TO ME. :dunce:

Wait...Col BEAR!!!!!! :scared:

[NMDemDist2]

23. it's CO-bear

the "L" and "T" are both silent