How do YOU say Mysql?

[mack]

This follows on from a phone conversation I had a few days ago...

I have always pronounced it "my es que el"
But it seams the correct way is "my sequel"

How do you say it?

Mack.

[jdMorgan]

I refuse to use "sequel" because SQL is an acronym -- I use "es queue elle."

It's almost an affectation among some, though.

I'm far beyond caring if anyone thinks that's wrong. I'm older, and therefore, must know better. :)

Jim

[rocknbil]

LOL @ JD . . . we have all the answers, the problem is, no one asks the questions any more! :-)

I have to stifle a snicker when I hear "my sequel" because it usually comes out of the mouth of the guy who will be giving me a raise at the next review . . . or not, should I respond. :-P

SQL - Acronym for Structured Query Language.

mySQL = my Ess Cue Ell. :-)

Aside, I don't know why, but Ca - RIB - ee - an grates me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I know it's a common pronunciation, but Care-eh-bee-an sounds so much more . . . exotic. :-)

[Brett_Tabke]

"my sequel"

[tangor]

I usually call it "my nightmare" when I screw something up.

[jecasc]

I consulted the great Oracle of Wikipedia and it revealed the following to me:

MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. MySQL is officially pronounced (My S-Q-L), but often pronounced (My SeQueL). It is named for original developer Michael Widenius's daughter My.

I pronounce it and always have pronounced it My S-Q-L.

[onepointone]

My Squirrel

[kaled]

I refuse to use "sequel" because SQL is an acronym -- I use "es queue elle."

I think there is some confusion here...

An acronym is a word and should be pronounced as such.
A capitalized abbreviation is NOT a word and should be spelled out when pronounced.

Given the way MySQL is written (uppercase except for the 'y') the only sensible pronunciation is "my ess cue elle".

---

If people don't mind, let's extend this discussion...

1) Should Lynux be pronounced "lie-nucks" or "linnucks"?
I use "lie-nucks" since it appears to be named in part after the author.
2) Should URL be pronounced "earl" or "you are elle"?
I use "earl" since this is easier, shorter and quicker and this is the purpose of any shorthand.

Kaled.

[tangor]

I WRITE this stuff all the time and never worry about it. When dealing with clients I SPELL IT OUT and if they ask TELL THEM WHAT IT MEANS. But with the savvy folks I go with the flow after a few beers...whatever they say it is I just go along. There are times one is a trendsetter and times when one knows it's not worth it ... until another beer has been offered. :)

Excuse me, just having some yucks. Most of the time I say "Lynn X" or "S-Q-L" unless I'm dealing with short dollar folks and that's "My S-Q-L" and won't tell you what some folks call php which sounds very close to a prohibited word or how perilous "perl" can be. Or how many times I roll eyeballs at Dah Tah Base. As this is Foo let's keep it Phoolicous. :)

[BillyS]

"my sequel"

[StoutFiles]

Both pronunciations are fine. However, most examples in English grammar with acronyms call for each letter to be said individually.

S-Q-L will always be a database language. Sequel can be a piece of work that portrays events following those of a previous work. So I prefer S-Q-L. And ta-may-toe.

[Samizdata]

I know it's wrong but I like MySQL to rhyme with bicycle.

...

[blend27]

2) Should URL be pronounced "earl" or "you are elle"?

Kaled, who are you calling an "elle"? ;)

---------------------------------------

S-Q-L for me when I talk to MSSQL developers, sometimes I use "Sequel Server" when talking to NONE MS croud. Sometimes you could actualy tell.

[Leosghost]

I know it's wrong but I like MySQL to rhyme with bicycle.

Where I am that would result in "meesqueekluh" :)

Mysql = my ess que ell

or emskwull if said fast ..or "I'm a squirrel" if said fast ..by a Scot :)

apologies in advance to BDW and Mack :) ( was too hard to resist )

[mack]

Ach nae bother! Lol

[mack]

BDW might not be so understanding.

[kaled]

However, most examples in English grammar with acronyms call for each letter to be said individually.

No No No

Firstly, this is a vocabulary issue not a grammar issue.
Secondly, by definition an acronym is a word and should not be spelled out when spoken.

Examples of acronyms : laser & NATO
NATO is normally written in capitals because its a name (and each part would begin with a capital).

Kaled.

[jdMorgan]

OK, I'll concede on the acronym issue. From now on, it'll be "Mice Squeal".

Jim

[Old_Honky]

I always pronounce it "Aardvark". Not that it matters much because it is mostly used in written communications, as it's not a hot topic down at the pub these days.

As for the "lie necks" /"lyn ecks" debate isn't that just another "tom at oh" / "tome ate oh" cross atlantic difference like "al you min e um" and "al ewe min um" or "err ack" and "eye rack" or "miss aisle" and "miss el"

[grandpa]

Personally I prefer "New cle er". Shrug, maybe that's a Texas thang.

My S-Q-L

[rocknbil]

maybe that's a Texas thang.

. . . and as I recall, a modem is what Texans do to kill the danderlions in yer' lawn. :-)

[eelixduppy]

I honestly don't say it as much as I type it, but if I am talking about it it's usually to someone who couldn't care less what it's called, so I'll say "database". ;)

[edited by: eelixduppy at 8:26 pm (utc) on Feb 17, 2010]

[StoutFiles]

Firstly, this is a vocabulary issue not a grammar issue.

Acronyms are a type of word formation process popular in the English language. Word formation is in a sub field of linguistics, which is language structure. Language structure is grammar.

Secondly, by definition an acronym is a word and should not be spelled out when spoken.

By definition, an acronym is an abbreviation of a word or phrase. It varies because some words would sound awful if you said them as one word.

Examples of acronyms : laser & NATO
NATO is normally written in capitals because its a name (and each part would begin with a capital).

Examples of acronyms: USA, HTML, CD, CEO

[Frank_Rizzo]

"my es que el" gets my vote.

Nothing wrong using mnemonics now and again.

R.A.I.D is Raid right?

I never remember anyone saying Ess See Ess Aye for SCSI

and A9 was never Lada

[mcavic]

However, most examples in English grammar with acronyms call for each letter to be said individually.

That is true, except for those acronyms that everyone agrees sound better when pronounced as a word. I would venture to say that when in doubt, it's safer to spell it. For example, if I said N-A-S-A, you'd be able to figure out what I was talking about. If I said "See Uh" (CIA), you'd have no idea.

Pronouncing an acronym that's meant to be spelled always sounds worse to me (including Earl, although I realize that's accepted).

[kaled]

For those that don't understand...
Acronym : a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name.

Words are spoken they are NEVER spelled out in normal spoken English. This is remarkably simple to understand if you consider writing to be a representation of spoken language, as opposed to spoken language being a representation of writing.

USA is an abbreviation not an acronym.
In order to be an acronym, it would, by definition, have to be pronounced something like "you sar".

By definition, an acronym is an abbreviation of a word or phrase. It varies because some words would sound awful if you said them as one word.

TWADDLE

If it is difficult to pronounce and needs to be spelled out, by definition, it is not an acronym, it is an abbreviation, sometimes called an initialism (yuck) provided that it was formed by taking the first letter of each word in a name or phrase. For instance, NASA (pronounced "nassar") is an acronym but EVA (pronounced "ee vee ay" - extra vehicular activity) is an abbreviation/initialism as are NSA, FBI, CDC and CIA.

Incidentally, the purpose of any sort of abbreviation, be it an acronym or initialism (yuck) is brevity. For this reason, URL should be pronounced "earl" since this requires one syllable as opposed to "you are elle" which requires three syllables. Consequently, it should be written in lower case as url.

Kaled.

[timster]

A few years ago I trained myself to say "My-S-Q-L" because that's what the people who wrote it call it, but recently I've starting calling it "Oracle Lite."

[phranque]

from "MySQL 5.0 Reference Manual :: 1.3.1 What is MySQL?" [dev.mysql.com]:

The official way to pronounce “mysql” is “My Ess Que Ell” (not “my sequel”), but we don't mind if you pronounce it as “my sequel” or in some other localized way.

[jatar_k]

yes, most of the time I say “My Ess Que Ell” but it depends on who I am talking to

[Shaddows]

It's es - que - ell

I say "You are ell" - would others say "uh - ree" for URI?

On the topic of "lie - nucks", is everyone saying SUSE correctly?

I agree an acronym is, by defintion, a pronounceable word. But is SCSI an acronym? Sure, you can say "scuzzy", but thats a bit of a leap from how English pronunciation would normally treat that collection of letters