Say How?

A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures

Updated January 2025

Last name starts with . . .

Key to pronunciation

(Note: Stressed syllables are in UPPER CASE.)

Ā, ā = able, rate

Ä, ä = father, wand

A, a = pat, marry

Â, â = air, prepare

Ē, ē = evil, reel

E, e = end, edit

Ī, ī = ice, ride

I, i = in, blister

Ō, ō = over, roll

O, o = on, rob

Ô, ô = off, audit

OO, oo = spoon, ooze

Ü, ü = book, foot

U, u = under, but

Û, û = urge, burn

YOO, yoo = unify, beauty

ə = affair, sofa (general "shwa" sound)

CH = chair, bleach

J = judge, edge

KH = Gutteral, as in German "ach" Scottish "loch".

OI = boy, poise

OU = shout, around

SH = ship, wish

ZH = pleasure, corsage

[D], [N], [R], etc. = As in French "bon". Suggested rather than said, with preceeding vowel nasalized.

Further reading

C'est What? An Introduction to Say How?

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