Pronouncing card names incorrectly

General forum

Posted on March 12, 2016, 2:42 p.m. by Argy

For the longest time, prior to Battle for Zendikar being released, I thought that the Allies would be fighting the Elderazi.

That's how my friend pronounced it. He kind of still does.

He also says Ulmalog.

Another person I play against says Kolizek.

Another mate says he can't pronounce the cards because they are too difficult to read.

I myself love the different names. There's nothing I like better than slapping down an Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and letting the name trip lightly from my tongue.

What about you? Does bad pronunciation get you down?

Or do you think the cards have silly names and they should just call them all Bob?

xavrr says... #2

Cough Cough Nicholas Bolas...

March 12, 2016 2:52 p.m.

I used to think that Ravnica was Ravinica (the extra i). When I went to a store and asked for a Return to Ravinica box, the employee looked at me confused, and after a good pause, said "ohhh you mean RAVNICA." I won't get into what I thought about that experience, but I have pronounced names incorrectly. Doesn't affect me though.

March 12, 2016 2:58 p.m.

clayperce says... #4

Eye of Eugene always makes me laugh.

March 12, 2016 3:09 p.m.

JWiley129 says... #5

clayperce - You mean the Eye of Eugene the Spirite Dagron? He's a beast in Moedern, my favorite Magics: the Gaethering format!

March 12, 2016 3:11 p.m.

ninjaclevs13 says... #6

Is it ahbzahn or Abzan? Mahna or mana? A guy at my store always pronounces it the first way

March 12, 2016 3:13 p.m.

xavrr says... #7

ninjaclevs13 Can't be doing with 'mahna'...

March 12, 2016 3:14 p.m.

Argy says... #8

Heh.

On a slightly related note a friend of mine calls Abbot of Keral Keep Tony Abbott, every time he plays it.

After our former idiot Prime Minister.


I've always said mana as manner (but we don't pronounce our Rs at the end of words here).

I say it like they used to when my parents used to take me to church as a child.

It makes sense to me because mana gave you sustenance, and mana in Magic sort of gives you resources to stay alive.

March 12, 2016 3:15 p.m. Edited.

primtj17 says... #9

My friend (@Evohunt) makes it a point not to pronounce any card correctly. Sylvan Advocate becomes Slyvyan Advocate, Beastcaller Savant becomes Beastcaller Servant, Drana becomes Draina, Kalastria healer becomes Kalistra healer, and so on. It is at the same time hilarious and annoying, because the more he says it, the more it sticks in my brain and makes me accidentally say it.

March 12, 2016 4:24 p.m.

IzzetGod says... #10

Ugghhh...when my friends pronounce Oblivion Sower as "Oblivion Sour"...

March 12, 2016 5:42 p.m.

nayrash5 says... #11

I recently found some Azimaet Drake's in my collection. How the heck do you say that, AH-zee-MY-at?

March 12, 2016 6:25 p.m.

wasianpower says... #12

While we're on the subject, it Avacyn pronounced Ava-sin or Ava-kin?

March 12, 2016 9:29 p.m.

The_Redpill says... #13

A couple of people I know pronounce "Eldrazi" as "Elderazi." One person pronounces "kobold" as "cobalt."

nayrash5 I would pronounce it a-zi-MAY-et.

wasianpower It's with an 's' sound.

March 12, 2016 9:51 p.m.

The Road to Elderazi?

I always pronounce Terminus as Ternimus because of a day my tongue gave up pronouncing it correctly.

March 12, 2016 10:27 p.m.

GoldenDemon says... #15

stg all I could think of was Chaz Smith's "Pronouncing Things Incorrectly" Vine series. If y'all haven't watched them you should because they're hilarious.

March 12, 2016 10:38 p.m.

clayperce says... #16

This reminds me of an old thread, which included one of my favorites, from TheDevicer: Pronouncing Progenitus so it sounds like "bronchitis".

March 12, 2016 10:41 p.m.

Argy says... #17

That reminds me of another one.

My friend calls Purphoros, phosphorus.

/facepalm

March 13, 2016 1:47 a.m.

PepsiAddicted says... #18

I had several long talks about solem simulacurum.

I mean its not THAT hard....

March 13, 2016 4:14 a.m.

Arvail says... #19

I'm reminded of the fact that in my playergroup Omniscience is called Omni-Science. English isn't my native language, but I've practiced it quite a bit to where people can't tell I'm not a native speaker on most occasions. Still, I often mispronounce words I've never heard before as my native language is phonetic. I tossed that Omni-Science out there like a boss way back when the card was new. It stuck. I've also pronounced the CTHU in cthulhu as something akin to the beginning of churro.

English makes no sense to me at times...

March 13, 2016 5:29 a.m.

Argy says... #20

English is a mash up of many different languages. It borrows from so many different places that it has lost a lot of rules, unlike most other languages.

A good example is the sound "ough".

It is completely different in every single one of these words: through, thorough, bough, thought.

I must admit, I do at times say Villigance if I'm playing someone I don't like and want to piss them off.

March 13, 2016 8:50 a.m.

j.blake says... #21

I really enjoyed reading this thread.

April 7, 2016 5:01 p.m.

This discussion has been closed