Kyrie

Meaning of Kyrie

Kyrie is a name first murmured in ancient Greek sanctuaries—drawn from the prayer “Kyrie eleison,” “Lord, have mercy”—yet it long ago migrated into the sonorous cadences of the Latin Mass, where cloistered choirs folded it into incense-laden air like a silk ribbon of supplication. From those vaulted cathedrals the word journeyed across tongues and centuries, carrying with it an aura of reverence and quiet strength; in today’s English-speaking world it unfurls as KY-ree, crisp and bright, while in Mediterranean mouths it lilts more softly—kee-REE-eh or kee-ryeh—still echoing the original plea for grace. Modern ears may first recall the soaring refrain of the 1980s ballad or the swift footwork of basketball phenom Kyrie Irving, but beneath the contemporary sheen beats a much older heart: “kyrios,” meaning lord, a title of dignity, guardianship, and inner authority. Thus, when a newborn is named Kyrie, he is wrapped in a mantle that spans basilica arches and stadium lights alike, promising a life that balances humility with command, devotion with daring, and the timeless music of mercy with the bright cadence of his own unfolding story.

Pronunciation

Portuguese

• Pronunced as KEE-ree (/ki.'ʁi/)

Spanish

• Pronunced as kee-REE-eh (/ke.ˈɾi.e/)

Greek

• Pronunced as KEE-ree-eh (/ki.ˈri.e/)

Italian

• Pronunced as KEE-ryeh (/ki.ˈrje/)

English

• Pronunced as KY-ree (/ˈkaɪ.ri/)