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bombadil
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 5:50 pm

I'm curious how the rest of you pronounce certain names and words we come across all the time in this hobby.

For instance, the name of this site itself. It looks like "Uh-KAY-um" to me, but I see it's intended otherwise in the intro to the site.

How about Gygax. I pronounce it "GUY-gax", but have no idea if that's right.

Or the mad mage from Tomb of Horrors, Acererak. To me it's "Uh-SAIR-er-ak".

One thing is the intended pronunciation, another is the common pronunciation, which is what I'm more interested in.

Keith the Thief
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:00 pm

tiro wrote:I'm curious how the rest of you pronounce certain names and words we come across all the time in this hobby.

For instance, the name of this site itself. It looks like "Uh-KAY-um" to me, but I see it's intended otherwise in the intro to the site.

How about Gygax. I pronounce it "GUY-gax", but have no idea if that's right.

Or the mad mage from Tomb of Horrors, Acererak. To me it's "Uh-SAIR-er-ak".

One thing is the intended pronunciation, another is the common pronunciation, which is what I'm more interested in.

In the audio version of Ready Player One, the narrator pronounces it Acererak as ASS-ur-RACK.

It's a good novel, set in a near future virtual reality where one of the scenes takes place inside the "Tomb of Horrors".
Pretty entertaining.

I pronounce Gygax the same way you do.

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Bracton
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:20 pm

I know you're asking about how we here pronounce things, as opposed to an "official" answer. That being said, for a pithy reference, check out the article "Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd" by Frank Mentzer (ExTSR) in Dragon #93.

Therein, "Acererak" = "a-SER-ur-@k"

WoTC also has a FAQ page, which includes pronunciations: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp

It's definitely "GY-gaks". At least, that's how his family pronounces it.

And I say "a-KAY-um". But that probably puts me in the minority. Where I belong. :lol:

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mbassoc2003
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:38 pm

Bracton wrote:And I say "a-KAY-um". But that probably puts me in the minority. Where I belong.

I'd imagine Scott would be able to clarify this one.

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Kingofpain89
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:06 pm

mbassoc2003 wrote:I'd imagine Scott would be able to clarify this one.

He shouldnt have to since its in the Acaeum FAQ. :roll:

uh-SAY-um is the preferred pronunciation according to the FAQ.

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

smarmy1
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:08 pm

Bracton wrote:And I say "a-KAY-um". But that probably puts me in the minority. Where I belong.

Me too... I wouldn't know what to do in the majority.

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MetaSigma
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:16 pm

For me:

Acaeum = Ah-Say-Um (this probably puts me in neither the majority nor any of the minorities, which is where *I* belong

)

Drows eat cows

chimera = Kai-Meer-A

githyanki = Githee-Yankee

duergar = Dwair-Gar

treant = Trent (I know someone who pronounces it "Tree Ant"

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-==(UDIC)==-

Chucho68
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:21 pm

MetamorphosisSigma wrote:For me:

treant = Trent (I know someone who pronounces it "Tree Ant"

Have called it a Tree-ant my whole life.

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Kingofpain89
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:24 pm

MetamorphosisSigma wrote:Drows eat cows

No....they eat crows.

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

FormCritic
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:26 pm

TREE-ant.

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Chucho68
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:31 pm

Kingofpain89 wrote:No....they eat crows.

I always thought they were well endowed.

Hector.

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Bracton
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:43 pm

Kingofpain89 wrote:He shouldnt have to since its in the Acaeum FAQ.

uh-SAY-um is the preferred pronunciation according to the FAQ.

Yeah, I know. Although if it were a Latin word, it would be pronounced "a-CHAY-um". I think.

http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus ... iatio.html

"Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus."

Bracton
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:48 pm

FormCritic wrote:TREE-ant.

TREE-ent

If you want to get Tim going, pronounce Bulette incorrectly. I dare you.

"Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus."

Chucho68
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:51 pm

Bracton wrote:
TREE-ent

If you want to get Tim going, pronounce Bulette incorrectly. I dare you.

A bully is to a Bullette as a Chevy is to a Chevette.

Hector.

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FormCritic
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:51 pm

BYOO-lay?

I prefer BULL-et.

"But I have watched the dragons come, fire-eyed, across the world."

Chucho68
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:55 pm

FormCritic wrote:BYOO-lay?

I prefer BULL-et.

I would say bull-ET.

Hector.

Habent sua fata libelli

Kingofpain89
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:59 pm

Bracton wrote:
Yeah, I know. Although if it were a Latin word, it would be pronounced "a-CHAY-um". I think.

http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus ... iatio.html

That sounds Mayan or Toltec to me.

All goofiness aside, I assumed it was a-SEE-um for years.

Bracton wrote:If you want to get Tim going, pronounce Bulette incorrectly. I dare you.

Why would anyone assume Bulette is pronounced BOO-LAY? Until Tim mentioned it in passing a couple of years ago at NTRPG I had no clue it was supposed to be that way. :lol:

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

Gnat the Beggar
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:41 pm

Lich = as in Like, or Litch, or Lish

a kee um

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