Pronouncing Veilleux
- Thread starter CVLion
- Start date
I believe Christian said it was VAY-yer. It's his name so that's that.
Beat me to it. The Notre Dame SID told him that going forward it was going to rhyme with Heisman.
From my French classes a long time ago, I can remember certain vowel combinations taking a lot of work since some of the differences between them are very subtle.
But I get why Veilleux can be VAY-yer, in which the "r" sound originates on the back of the tongue. I think that's the English influence. If you say VAY-yer with the "r" sound originating in the middle of the tongue (or forward) then it sounds a lot more French. But that's just the observations of a guy who finds that sort of thing to be interesting.
Could be right. With French, words that end in 'yer' are often pronounced 'eer', which makes some sense.
He would frequent the Cowboy Club at the old Texas Stadium during Cowboy games (bar where people only with suites can access). I ran into him once and said "Hey look, it's Tony DOR-sett" while proudly wearing a Penn State golf shirt... he got right in my face and I really thought we were going to come to blows. I was told later that day that Tony was slipping mentally and to not antagonize him.
I recall that he was a raving lunatic after pitt beat PSU in 2016.
My second hand Joey T. story:
Many years ago playing club soccer I was staying with a host family from a nothern VA team. They were super nice with several kids both my age and younger. Somehow the subject of Theismann came up (probably had a Washington helmet or jersey in their house and I made a snide comment) and the mom volunteered that she had gone with her younger kids to get his autograph at a mall not that long ago. Joe started hitting on her hard as she waited for his signature. She responded that she was married and that her kids were right there. Joe answered, "Yeah, but God wants Joe Theismann to be happy." She stared at his smug grin, dropped the mini-helmet or whatever was getting signed on the table in front of him, and walked away with her kids in tow.
I'd like to think that the tibia sticking through Joe's skin later on was also a message from God.
Thanks everyone for the info and side stories 
I wonder if the pronunciation of his name was either wrong or omitted in last year’s media guide, because I’m sure all the announcers were saying “VAY-you” back then.
Or, my memory is just off. Certainly possible.
I wonder if the pronunciation of his name was either wrong or omitted in last year’s media guide, because I’m sure all the announcers were saying “VAY-you” back then.
Or, my memory is just off. Certainly possible.
I thought we got a new QB and the Veilleux kid transferred out. Glad he's still here.
Announcers are getting it right this year. Vay-yer or Vay-yair are both acceptable French but CB said Vay-yer.
"Perhaps the biggest takeaway (although there were many) was quarterback Christian Veilleux finally setting the record straight on how his last name should be pronounced.
“Vey-Er is the French way to say it,” Veilleux told Audrey Snyder of The Athletic. “Over the years, I’ve heard too many things. So, Vey-U became a big one for English speakers. But, the way you properly say it in French is Vey-Er.”
Christian Veilleux sets record straight on last name pronunciation; five-star looks ahead to Penn State official visit: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for May 26 include a look back at the Lions' Class of 2021 media day plus recruiting updates and more.