If you have a difficult to pronounce name

[Anonymous]

“Good morning! Help me pronounce your name correctly . . .” pause to let them say it, repeat it to help cement it in your memory.

[Anonymous]

“Can you let me know how to pronounce your name?”

“Is it Andrea or Andrea?”

“Did I say it correctly?”

I think anything is good as long as you learn and get it right for the future. I have trouble when the person has an incredibly hard name plus a very strong accent. Sometimes after asking two or three times I just nod. I feel so stupid but we weren’t getting anywhere. I have an ear for languages too.

[Anonymous]

I really don’t care. I pronounce it wrong myself

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just always say "I can't say your name so I'll just call you G".

Oh no. That’s the worst thing you could say. I’d reply back that my name is not G and I won’t be responding to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with such a name. First of all, thank you for asking. Second, you are not the first to mispronounce it and I understand that it's tricky. So I'm expecting it.

rather than what you wrote, I'd say, "how do I pronounce your name?" (leave out the apology and make it a short question) and be casual about it. It's really no big deal.

And if you try and get it wrong, it's no big deal either.

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just always say "I can't say your name so I'll just call you G".

My inlaws apparently can't say my name, which is not difficult if they pronounce all the letters, but for some reason instead of S, they say Z. I tried correcting them a few times, but they just "can't" pronounce it. I find it disrespectful. But whatever at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just always say "I can't say your name so I'll just call you G".

I hate that. I am really taken aback when people say this to me.

[Anonymous]

When professors called roll on the first day of class, they would inevitably pause when they got to my Slavic name. Then they would say my first name & ask “How do you pronounce it?” And if I was in a devilish mood I would say “Smith.” Which of course would make it look like the distinguished scholar couldn’t pronounce the most common name, & the class would erupt in laughter.

[Anonymous]

I honestly really don't care. Most of the time when people say my name outright they say it with uncertainty as if it's a question, and I either confirm or correct. But if they ask first, that's fine too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just always say "I can't say your name so I'll just call you G".

My inlaws apparently can't say my name, which is not difficult if they pronounce all the letters, but for some reason instead of S, they say Z. I tried correcting them a few times, but they just "can't" pronounce it. I find it disrespectful. But whatever at this point.

Same with my in-laws. They can also still not write it correctly after 20 years! As for the letter nickname, it's a big fat no unless I offer it as an option. I had someone from cable company do that to me saying "I find your name hard to say so I'll just call you M" Total turn off. It's like telling the person you cannot bother with them.

[Anonymous]

I have a Polish last name and no one gets it right. I’m used to it and don’t really care.