Pronunciation of NABRE

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Roguish

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Just the other day someone talked to me about the New American Bible Revised Edition, i.e. the approved English Bible translation in use by the RCC. They referred to it as the Nay-Bree (or perhaps Nab-Ree). I had no idea what the person was on about, until they explained. Which is when I told them that the correct pronunciation of NABRE is nay-bur, i.e. same as neighbor. Think sabre (US spelling saber), which is of course pronounced say-bur, then change the s to an n and you’ll see my point. Sabre. Nabre. They rhyme.

So, in your estimable opinions, which is the correct pronunciation?
  • Nay Bur
  • Nay Bree
  • Nay Bray
  • Nab Ree
  • Nab Ray
  • En Ay Bee Arrr Ee
  • Different (comment below)
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Nah breah?But I’m Australian so who knows how my pronunciation sounds …😁
 
Nabre is a translation I don’t particularly care for. Here at CAF when I need to include a Bible quotation in a post, I often use the Nabre form simply because it’s the translation authorized by the USCCB and, for that reason alone, other posters are not likely to object to it. But when I need to find the answer to a question about a Biblical text, Nabre wouldn’t be the first place I’d look.
 
BartholomewB said:
Nabre is a translation I don’t particularly care for.
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I agree. I recently quoted Philippians 1:22 and was surprised to see it translates “fructus operis” (from the Nova Vulgata) as “fruitful labor”. Labor? What’s this, a Calvinist bible? The right word is works.
 
I just say each letter. I never thought about giving it a cool name. Maybe I’ll start calling it the nab-reeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Roguish said:
I agree. I recently quoted Philippians 1:22 and was surprised to see it translates “fructus operis” (from the Nova Vulgata) as “fruitful labor ”. Labor? What’s this, a Calvinist bible? The right word is works .
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As far as I know, if you trace it back to the Greek, both “works” and “labor” are valid translations for that verse. Theologically, I’m not sure it makes much of a difference in that verse either.
 
ZMystiCat said:
I just say each letter. I never thought about giving it a cool name. Maybe I’ll start calling it the nab-reeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Me, too! I seldom say it out loud, and if I did I would have said “The New American Bible, Revised Edition.”

I like Nab-Ree, though! Not Nay-bur. It’s not a word, so it doesn’t need to rhyme with neighbor or sabre!! It’s just an acronym, for pete’s sake.
 
New American Bible Revised Edition

The abbreviation is N A B R E, as a shorthand then letters are often run together. Think of FYI or PDQ or USAF
 
Abbreviations are not always meant to be used as words.

One would not say “I am a retired yousaaf officer”, you say “I am a retired U. S. A. F. officer”

If you walk in to a Christian Books store and ask for a “Nah-bray Bible” you will likely get a confused face back.
 
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TheLittleLady said:
One would not say “I am a retired yousaaf officer”, you say “I am a retired U. S. A. F. officer”
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Exactly so! We call NATO “nato”, rhyming with “potato” and “tomato.” We don’t read it out letter by letter as N. A. T. O. On the other hand, we do call the USDA “the U. S. D. A.” Nobody calls it “uzzdah”, at least nobody I know calls it that.

What NATO and the USDA have in common is that they are both governmental or intergovernmental organizations. Governments have the power to tell us how they want their abbreviations and acronyms to be pronounced, and by and large the rest of us are content to go along with what we’re asked to do. But in the case of Nabre or NABRE, or the Nabre or the NABRE, who has the authority to tell us what the “correct” pronunciation is? Does anyone?
 
BartholomewB said:
But in the case of Nabre or NABRE, or the Nabre or the NABRE, who has the authority to tell us what the “correct” pronunciation is? Does anyone?
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That’s a good question. I think we might need another poll for that: Who has the authority to tell us how to pronounce NABRE? (1) The Pope (2) the bishop (3) parish priest (4) national government (5) the IRS (6) parent or legal guardian (7) school principal.

Let me know if you want me to include any others. I’ll set up the poll shortly, and will be looking forward to your vote!
 
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NABRE is not a name or a word, it’s an abbreviation.

Same for the RSV, ESV, KJV, and all the other Bible editions.

If some people are talking about it so much that they are calling it the Nay-Bree for shorthand/slang, that’s fine, but others who are not “in the know” are going to be confused.

Call it what you want…there’s no rule.
 
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