Comments on: Sau-dərs: “sour”, not “super”

By: "Cowboy" Ben Alman

"Cowboy" Ben Alman — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:20:15 +0000

It’s been better lately, but with a last name like Alman, I hear a fair amount of “rhymes-with-pal” instead of the way it should be, “rhymes-with-all”. Especially from telemarketers..

And of course, whenever they get the pronunciation correct, there’s a really good chance I’ll get one of those “You one of the Allman brothers?” jokes.

I just can’t win.

By: Mark Jaquith

Mark Jaquith — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:56:20 +0000

I’ve heard a third pronunciation of your name, like “soda.” Glad to know actual pronunciation!

Mine is a tricky one too… JAY-kwith.

By: Sergey Chernyshev

Sergey Chernyshev — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:49:33 +0000

Now, mispronounced is an understatement – usually people in America can’t finish pronouncing my last name and stumble somewhere in the middle.

I considered shortening it to very popular word “Che” which is also funny as in Russian it can be interpreted as “what?” ;)

By: Nicholas C. Zakas

Nicholas C. Zakas — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:51:04 +0000

I pick my battles on that one, but thanks for spreading the word. :)

By: Nels

Nels — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:08:46 +0000

I’ve had to deal with this all my life. My name is not Nails, Neils, Niles, Nell, or Nelf. It’s Nels. Thanks to the father and son acting duo, everyone wants me to be a Sutherland, but its Setterlund. My wife recently got a memo at her office for Mrs. Setterlunch. Really, I’ve gotten quite used to it and sometimes I don’t even correct people (my old college roommate called me Niles for 6 months before someone else told him what how to pronounce my name). Anyway, thanks for the post, thought I would share.

By: Derek

Derek — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:24:55 +0000

John Resig, creator of jQuery. I’ve heard his name pronounced REE-sig, but when he says it, it’s more like REH-sig. Just FYI. :)

By: RK

RK — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:04:53 +0000

Just wanted to share that I’ve found this site helpful in finding pronunciations of unusual names -
http://www.pronouncenames.com/