How do you pronounce this name in Japanese?

Question

'Seiko'

Also...what does it mean?

Answer 1

Seh-ee-koh

Answer 2

It's pronounced "say-e-ko".

It's hard to tell exactly what it means because even though there is only one way to write "seiko" in hiragana （せいこ） there are lots of ways to write that name in kanji.

The "ko" is the easiest part. I am 99.9% sure that the kanji used for "ko" is 子. The character 子 means "child" often is used in the first names of girls.

The "sei" part is the trickly part. There are so many ways to write "sei" in kanji and they all have different meanings. If by chance you know how this "sei" is written in kanji then I (or someone else) could probably give you a more detailed answer.

By the way, the watch company that everyone is talking about ("Seiko") is not the same as the name "Seiko" you're asking about. They are indeed spelled the same in English, but in Japanese they are different.

In Japanese, "seiko" the name is せいこ and "seiko" the watch company is せいこう. It has a long vowel at the end.

The official name and kanji spelling for the watch company is 精工舎 (せいこうしゃ:"seikou sha") and it means "precision manufacturing". However, the company ("Seiko Holdings") uses  the katakana version セイコー of "seikousha" (dropping the "sha") as it's brand name.

Answer 3

if there is an "i" after the letter "e" then it means that you have to pronounce the "e" longer. it's like saying it as "seeko" (seehko).

it's the same as when there is an "u" after the letter "o" example: arigatou [arigatoo (arigatooh)]

Answer 4

It's pronounced "Say-Ee-Ko"

The meaning differ, depending on what kanji you are using for it, if it is a name you are after.

For e.g.

聖子 means (holy/sacred) (child)

成子 means (achiever/become) (child)

Answer 5

Seh-ee-koh

meaning? uhm ... "watch?" :P

Answer 6

"Sayko" is nearest.

"Seiko" is the most famous "watch/clock maker" company in Japan .

Answer 7

It's the same as the brand of watch. The "i" is pronounced as "ee" but it is quite faint. If you said "say-ko" you'd be close enough.