How do you pronounce oots character names?

[Fincher]

Roy - Roi (like boy)
Haley - Hay-lee
Elan - Eh-lon
Vaarsuvius - Var-soo-vee-us
Belkar - Bell-car
Durkon - Dur-con
Xykon - Xy-con (like hi and John)
Oona - Oo-nuh
Nale - Nail
Sabine - Say-bean (like seen)
Thog - Thawg (like dog)
Tarquin - Tar-quinn (like win)
Malack - Mal-ick (like pal, or Hal of Hal Jordan and sick)
Bozzok - Buh-zock
Hinjo - Hin-joe (like win and go)
Celia - Seal-yuh
Minrah - Min-ruh
Miko Miyazaki - Meek-o Mee-yuh-zoh-kee
Zz'dtri - Zuh-dee-tree
O-Chul - Oh-chool (like no and stool)
Hilgya - Hilg-yuh, but when I say Hilg-yuh it ends up sounding like Hil-gee-uh, which makes about as much sense to me
Qarr - Car
Lien - Leen (like seen)
Sigdi - Sig-dee
Andi - Ann-dee
Tsukiko - Tsoo-kee-ko
Kilkil - Kill-kill
Gannji - Gon-jee
Kudzu: Koo-dzoo


If that wasn't clear enough, well, I can't really be bothered with IPA or whatever.

[Precure]

Names like Miko and Tsukiko are written as they read*, so I didn't add them to my post. But I guess, for native english speakers, Miko could look like a word that should be read as My-Co instead of Me-Co due to spelling rules of english language.

* みこ and つきこ

[Alcore]

Mines:

Roy = Roi
Elan = E-lan
Haley = Hay-Lee
Vaarsuvius = Var-E-ous (i remove the suv)
Durkon = Dur-Con
Belkar = Bell-Car
Xykon = Zie-Con
Redcloak = Red-Cloak
Mitd = Monster in the Darkness (i never verbally abbreviate)
Oona = ooh-Naa
Greyview = Grey-View
Nale = Nail
Sabine = Sa-Bi-en
Thog = thog
Tarquin = Tar-Quin
Malack = Mal-ack
Bozzok = Boh-Zook
Crystal = Crystal

[hroþila]

It's interesting (to me) to realize to what extent I mix English and Spanish phonemes when pronouncing these names, even pronouncing Spanish phonemes in places where they would never appear in Spanish. It is, of course, gloriously inconsistent.

Miko: [ˈmiko miʝaˈθaki]
Tsukiko: [tsuˈkiko] (sometimes [ˈtsukiko], but usually not)
Tanh: [tanː]
Niu: [nju]
Lien: [ljen]
O-Chul: [oˈtʃul]
Hinjo: [ˈhiɲɟʝo]
Shojo [ˈʃoɟʝo]
Kubota: [kuˈβota]
Qarr: [kwar]~[kar]
Therkla: [ˈθerkla]~[ˈterkla]
Kazumi Kato: [kaˈθumi ˈkato]
Daigo: [ˈdai̯ɰo]
Soon Kim: [sun kim]
Kraagor: [ˈkra(ː)ɰor]
Lirian: [ˈliɾjan]
Dorukan: [ˈdoɾukan]
Serini Toormuck: [ˈseɾini ˈtormuk]
Girard Draketooth: [ˈɟʝiɾar(ð) ˈdrei̯kˌtuθ]
Zz'dtri: [zˈditri]~[sˈditri]
Kilkil: [kilˈkil]
Laurin Shattersmith: [ˈlauɾin ˈʃatersˌmiθ]
Miron Shewdanker: [ˈmiɾon ˈʃ(j)u(ː)ˌdaŋker]
Jacinda: [ɟʝaˈθinda]
Celia: [ˈθelja]
Minrah: [ˈminra]
Hilgya: [ˈhilɟʝa]
Sigdi: [ˈsigdi]
Kudzu: [ˈkutsu]
Gontor Hammerfell: [ˈgontor ˈhamerˌfel]
Veldrina: [velˈdrina]
Jirix: [ˈɟʝiriks]
Shelby: [ˈʃelβi]
Right-Eye: [ˈɹa(ɪ̯)ˌɾai̯] (I think this one has the best/worst mix of Romance and English phones)
Eriaxnikol: [eɾiˈaksnikol]
Ridiziak: [riˈðisi.ak]
Aliyara: [aliˈʝaɾa]
Gannji: [ˈgaɲɟʝi]
Enor: [ˈenor]
Inkyrius: [iŋˈkiɾjus]
Aarindarius: [aɾinˈdaɾjus]

[Precure]

Ah, yes, I also pronounce Qarr as [kwar].

[Edreyn]

Elan = Ea-LAHN
Haley = HAY-lee
Xykon = KHSS-EYE-kohn
Belkar = BHEL-car
Vaaruvius = Vah-AR-soo-vee-uhs
MITD = Mee-TEH-deh
Durkon = DHUR-khon
Oona = OOH-nah
Nale = NAY-l
Minrah - MEEN-Rha
O-Chul = Oh-CHOOL
Daigo = DYE-gho
Tarquin = TAHR-queen
Celia = Seh-LEE-yha
Malack (as in Star Wars game)
Lien = LEE-yeah-n
ZZ'dtri = ZZ-dee-tree

[137beth]

This thread is basically a reminder that I should try learning IPA when I get time for it, since I can't figure out how else to write my pronunciation of Elan.

[JustIgnoreMe]

Xykon = ZI-kon, kind of like the camera brand. Rhymes with "icon".

Have... have I been mispronouncing Nikon my entire life? Nick-on. Not Ny-con. Surely?

[Jason]

Have... have I been mispronouncing Nikon my entire life? Nick-on. Not Ny-con. Surely?

The common American pronunciation seems to be NEYE-kon, to rhyme with how we pronounce icon.
The original Japanese is probably closer to Nee-kon, like "knee". "Nick-on" seems to be the common UK pronunciation.

Edit: "Xykon = KHSS-EYE-kohn" can't be correct, because the joke has been made several times that it's pronounced just like "Zykon", but he can somehow tell when you're not using an "x".

[hroþila]

I thought this wasn't about what we believe the "correct" pronunciation is but about how we pronounce these names in our head when we're reading. I mean, knowing that the Giant intends <Elan> to be pronounced [ˈiːlən] won't stop me from saying [ˈelan] (although I guess if I suddenly had to discuss the OotS in person with other folks I would probably do my best to stick to the "real" pronunciations).

[Jason]

I thought this wasn't about what we believe the "correct" pronunciation is but about how we pronounce these names in our head when we're reading. I mean, knowing that the Giant intends <Elan> to be pronounced [ˈiːlən] won't stop me from saying [ˈelan] (although I guess if I suddenly had to discuss the OotS in person with other folks I would probably do my best to stick to the "real" pronunciations).

Sure, but if you're pronouncing things such that the jokes don't work anymore then that might be described as "incorrect", right?

[understatement]

I don't know any pronounciation notation, so...

Elan = EE-lan (even though the dictionary tells me it's A-lan).
Belkar = BELL-cur
Durkon = Dur-kahn
Xykon = Zy-kahn
Sabine = Suh-BEAN
Zz'drti = Zz-ditry (like dishes)
Hilgya = HILL-guh
Tarquin = Tar-kwin
Malack = MAA-lick
Miron = MEER-ruhn
Lien = LEE-ehn
Celia = SEE-lee-uh
Bozzok = BALL-zuhk
Minrah = MIN-ruh
Tsukiko = Tsu-kee-koh
Oona = OO-nuh
Jirix = JEER-ricks
Mijung = Mee-jung
Serini = serenity but without the last syllable

[Ruck]

heh, I always said "Serini" with a long second vowel. Suh-REE-knee.

although I guess it's close enough I kinda blend the two together in my pronunciation. Similar to how I usually say DUR-KON but sometimes it comes out as DUR-kin.

[Alcore]

I thought this wasn't about what we believe the "correct" pronunciation is but about how we pronounce these names in our head when we're reading. I mean, knowing that the Giant intends <Elan> to be pronounced [ˈiːlən] won't stop me from saying [ˈelan] (although I guess if I suddenly had to discuss the OotS in person with other folks I would probably do my best to stick to the "real" pronunciations).

fun fact; If I can tell that a name is derived from a none English language I try and pronounce it with none English syllables. So much anime and spanish classes have given me a larger array of sounds that sound right.


also;
ˈiːlən

what would that even sound like? Unless I can hear it I can't speak it even as only a voice in my head.

[KorvinStarmast]

heh, I always said "Serini" with a long second vowel. Suh-REE-knee.

although I guess it's close enough I kinda blend the two together in my pronunciation. Similar to how I usually say DUR-KON but sometimes it comes out as DUR-kin.

Interesting: I pronounce Serini in my head as "seh - REE - knee" - I roll the r as an Italian would. Not sure why I do that; it just looke like an Italian name to me.

[Precure]

I thought this wasn't about what we believe the "correct" pronunciation is but about how we pronounce these names in our head when we're reading. I mean, knowing that the Giant intends <Elan> to be pronounced [ˈiːlən] won't stop me from saying [ˈelan] (although I guess if I suddenly had to discuss the OotS in person with other folks I would probably do my best to stick to the "real" pronunciations).

Great point!

[Sir_Norbert]

also:
ˈiːlən

what would that even sound like? Unless I can hear it I can't speak it even as only a voice in my head.

In IPA, [i:] is the vowel in "feet", and [ə] is the schwa, the typical reduced vowel, like the "a" in "about".

[Lemarc]

Tarquin, at least, is the name of a Roman king, and presumably pronounced the same way. And I've apparently been pronouncing it wrong my entire life, I just looked it up and learned it's "tarkwin" not "tarkin". Of course whether Rich pronounces it that way is beyond me. Any similar named sources for other characters?

[WanderingMist]

OotS:
Roy - ROY
Haley - HAY-lee
Elan - EE-ln (there's no vowel between the L and N for me)
Vaarsuvius - VAR-soo-vee-us
Belkar - BEL-kar
Durkon - DUR-kahn

Team Evil:
Xykon - ZAI-kon
Oona - Oo-nuh
Tsukiko - Tsoo-KEE-koh
Redcloak - RED-clohk

Gobbotopia:
Jirix - JEER-ikks

Linear Guild:
Nale - NAYL
Sabine - Sa-BEAN
Thog - THOG
Zz'dtri - ZDEE-tree
Hilgya - HIL-gyuh

Empire of Blood:
Tarquin - TARK-win
Malack - MAL-ikk
Gannji - GAHN-jee
Enor - EE -nohr
Laurin Shattersmith - LOHR-inn SHATT-urr-smith
Miron Shewdanker - MEER-ahn SHOO-dank-urr
Jacinda - JUH-sinn-duh
Amun-Zora - AH-moon ZOH-ruh
(Ambassador) Gourntonk - GOHRN-tonk

Thieve's Guild/Greysky City:
Bozzok - BOH-zahk
Hieronymous Grubwiggler: HEER-ahn-imm-iss GRUB-wigg-lurr
Giro - JEER-oh

Azure City:
Hinjo - HIN-joh (like win and go)
Miko Miyazaki - MEE-koh MEE-yuh-ZAH-kee
O-Chul - Oh-CHOOL
Lien - Lee-EN
Zhou Bo - ZHOH boh
Nguyen - NGOO-yin
Isamu - EE-sah-moo
Daigo - DAI-goh
Kazumi Kato - Kuh-ZOO-mee KAY-toh
Sangwaan - SAHNG-wahn
Ho Thanh - HOH thahn
Daimyo Kubota - DAI-myoh KOO-boh-tuh

IFCC:
Qarr - CAR
Nero - NEE-roh

Dorukan's Dungeon Employees:
Celia - SEE-lee-uh

Firmament:
Minrah - MIN-rah
Sigdi - SIG-dee
Kudzu: KØD-zoo

Mechane & Crew:
Andi - AN-dee
Julio Scoundrel - HOO-lee-oh SKAUN-drl
Mechane - meh-KAYN

Order of the Scribble:
Soon Kim - Soon KIM
Dorukan - DOH-roo-kahn
Girard Draketooth - JR-ard DRAYK-tooth
Serini - sur-EE-nee
Kraagor - used to think KRAY-gohr, now think KRÅ-gohr

Elven Homelands:
Inkyrius - een-KEER-ee-iss
Aarindarius - EIR-inn-DAHR-ee-øs

Dinner time now, will edit in more later. Intend to cover as many as I can.

For the record:
A as in cat or bat
AH as in John or cot.
AI as in die or lie
AR as in car or bar
AU as in sound or found
AY as is hay or day

EE as in me or we
EI as in air or bear

I as in win or tin

O as in honk or bonk
Ø as in could or would
OH as in throw or mow
OO as in tool or spool
OY as in toy or ploy

UH as in uh or duh

ZH as in measure or seizure

[Mariele]

Roy = Roy. Not an unusual name in America.
Elan = ee-LAHN. That's a long "e" with the stress on the second syllable.
Haley = HAY-lee. Also a common name in America.
Vaarsuvius = var-SOO-vee-us. Similar to "Mt. Vesuvius".
Durkon = DUR-kon. Similar to "durable"
Belkar = BELL-kar
Xykon = ZI-kon, kind of like the camera brand. Rhymes with "icon".
Oona = OO-nah. It's a real world variation on the Irish Una.
Nale = Nail
Sabine = Sah-BEAN. Real world name. There's a character in Star Wars: Rebels with the same name.
Thog = Thog. Rhymes with "dog".
Tarquin = TAR-quin.
Malack = MAL-ahk. Similar to "malice".
Bozzok = BAHZ-ock. First syllable rhymes with "Oz" as in the place Dorothy went.

Literally the exact same as how I pronounce all of them. I used to pronounce Elan as "ee-LAN", but switched to "ee-LAHN". Tarquin as "TAR-kwin", if that makes it any clearer.

[Shirow]

It's interesting (to me) to realize to what extent I mix English and Spanish phonemes when pronouncing these names, even pronouncing Spanish phonemes in places where they would never appear in Spanish. It is, of course, gloriously inconsistent.
IPA or bust

Agreed. Yikes you're dishing out the allophones? I'll try to stick to the IPA broad transcription standard.

/ɾɔɪ/ /'gɾinhɪlt/
/ˈheɪli/ /'stɑɾʃaɪn/
/ˈɛlən/
/'bɛlkɑr/ /ˈbɪtərlif/ or /ˈbɪɾəɾlif/
/'dʊrkɑn/ /ˈθʌndərʃild/ (self) or /'duɾkɔn/ /ˈθʌndəɾʃild/ (other party members)
/vɑɾ'səvɪʊs/ or /vɑːr'səvɪʊs/
/'minrə/ /ɛl/ /'ʃjuʃeɪl/
/blækwɪŋ/
/ˈmɪstər/ /ˈskrʌfi/
/'silɪə/

/zaɪkon/ or /zaɪkɒn/
/'rɛdkləʊk/ or /'rɛdkloʊk/
/'una/

/ʤoʊnz/
/rɑˈdrigɛz/

/neɪl/
/saˈbin/
/θɔg/
/zˈdɪtri/

/ˈkɾɪstəl/
/'bozok/ or /'boʊzok/
/hænk/
/ʤɛni/

/miko/ /mija'zaki/ or (when the Northeners are talking) /miːkoʊ/ /miə'zʌkiː/
/t͡sɯ̥'kiko/ or /tsu'kikoʊ/
/ˈθerkla/
/'hɪnʤɔʊ/
/'ɕɔʊʤɔʊ/
/kɯ'bota/ or /kɯ'boʊta/
/oʊ'ʧul/
/lɪɛn/
/kwɑr/

/'ʤiriks/
/'tarkɪn/ or /'taɾkən/
/'xulio/ /eskaundɾel/
/bæn'dana/
/'ʌndi/
/'rɛkan/
/vɛl'drinə/
/grɛg/

/'hiːlgja/
/'kɯdzɯ/
/'sɪgdi/
/'skwiki/

[Goblin_Priest]

I see, mine (and I understand this is controversial) are:

Roy = Roy
Elan = Elan
Haley = Haley
Vaarsuvius = Vaarsuvius
Durkon = Durkon
Belkar = Belkar
Xykon = Xykon
Redcloak = Redcloak
Mitd = M-I-T-D
Oona = Oona
Greyview = Greyview
Nale = Nale
Sabine = Sabine
Thog = Thog
Tarquin = Tarquin
Malack = Malack
Bozzok = Bozzok
Crystal = Crystal

Less tongue-in-cheek ly I can imagine three different way to pronounce « Roi » so you’re going to need another method to convey your preferred pronunciations.

I was gonna say this, but I see it was already done. :P

[Edea]

Roy - (rhymes with boy)
Haley - HAY-lee
Elan - a-LAWN
Vaarsuvius - var-SOO-vee-us
Belkar - BELL-car
Durkon - DUR-con
Xykon - echs-EYE-con (see Spoiler for explanation)
Oona - OO-nuh
Nale - (rhymes with nail, and that one actually has precedent in the comic)
Sabine - suh-BEEN
Thog - (rhymes with dog)
Tarquin - TAR-kin (think 'mannequin' -> MAN-eh-kin)
Malack - MAL-ick
Bozzok - BO-zock
Hinjo - HIN-joe
Celia - SEE-lee-uh
Minrah - MIN-ruh
Miko Miyazaki - MEE-ko mee-yuh-ZAH-kee
Zz'dtri - ZID-tree
O-Chul - OH-chool
Hilgya - HILL-gee-uh
Qarr - Car
Lien - Lee-EN
Sigdi - SIG-dee
Andi - AN-dee
Tsukiko - soo-KI-ko
Kilkil - KILL-KILL
Gannji - GON-jee
Enor - EE-nor
Kudzu: COULD-zoo

Spoiler: Echs-Eye-Con? What?

Show

In SoD, our BBEG is approached by a guy named Xavion to be part of the S-Men. The original source of inspiration for this character's obviously Charles Xavier, where Xavier is pronounced 'echs-AY-vee-er'. I would posit a guess that Xavion is therefore pronounced 'echs-AY-vee-on', and since this is the name our young sorcerer got the 'X' idea from, it would transfer to the other names mentioned, with him trying 'Xorcor' first ('echs-OR-kor') and then finally settling on Xykon ('echs-EYE-con'). Also in SoD, Xykon flies into a quick tirade about how 'Zs are for *******' when Right-Eye mis-addresses him, so it's definitely -not- 'ZAI-kon', and it's probably not 'SAI-kon' either since the pronunciation difference between the two is close to non-existent.