I always assumed it was SEE-s’l, but now that I think of it, I don’t know of anyone with the name who pronounced it that way. I could be mistaken, but I think both Cecil B. De Mille and Cecil Rhodes pronounced it SEH-s’l. My dictionary admits either pronunciation.
According to one source, Cecil means “blind.” Gee, I hope he sees this question and answers it.
How about Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent?
He probably pronounces it “me”.
With the royal ‘C’. “SEE-s’l”.
Cecil’s all-too brief TV show pronounced it SEE-s’l
My husband’s brother’s name is Cecil, and he pronounces it SEE-s’l. (As does hubby’s uncle of the same name.) FWIW.
He pronounces it “Ed Zotti”. :D:D:D:D (ducking and running)
just kickin’ it to where Cecil will see it.
I miss Cecil. Come back man! <sobs>
He doesn’t have to answer it with hoardes of fans (like phobos and me) out here to answer it for him.
Is the SEE-s’l way just the way American’s say it?
Anybody I know would always say SEH-s’l .
No, I’ve heard Americans say/be called SEH-sil. Like the baseball player, Cecil Fielder. I’ve never heard him refered to as SEE-sil.
SEE-s’l. Just take Phobos’ and my word for it.
Karmageddon: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like a serious bummer.
Thanks for the link. I swear I searched the SDMB for anything remotely like that. Why didn’t I see it?
Thanks for the answer. I never saw the show since it was already off the air before I knew it existed.
Sort of a funny story- a friend emailed me to tell me he got engaged to a woman named Cheri. I wrote back asking how to pronounce her name. He said he pronounces it shaREE, but she pronounces it like Sherry. I suggested maybe she knows the best way to say her own name.
No, it’s only written ‘Cecil’ - it’s pronounced “Throat-Warbler Mangrove” (apologies to non-Monty Python fans)
Oops - just noticed that in the thread referred to above, someone already did that Python quote. How unoriginal of me.
Regarding the OP - in England I only ever heard the name pronounced “Sess-sil”, whereas “See-sil” seems to be the American version?