# A song of Ice and Fire pronunciation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 18, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853 "2009-05-18T14:15:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/1 "2009-05-18T14:15:40Z")
Just a little thing I should probably ignore, but it’s annoying the crap outta me. How do you pronounce ‘The Eyrie?’ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/2 "2009-05-18T14:20:05Z")
“The AIR-e,” I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/3 "2009-05-18T14:21:08Z")
Like “aerie” with a lilt. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/4 "2009-05-18T15:19:03Z")
Okay, so does “Arya” have two syllables, or three? ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/5 "2009-05-18T15:53:11Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Okay, so does “Arya” have two syllables, or three? I’ve always pronounced with 2: Are-ya. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/6 "2009-05-18T16:15:42Z")
To me, three syllables. Arr-ee-a. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/7 "2009-05-18T16:25:46Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > I’ve always pronounced with 2: Are-ya. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/8 "2009-05-18T19:59:46Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > I’ve always pronounced with 2: Are-ya. This. However, I’ve heard that GRRM doesn’t really have specific pronunciations in mind for the characters, so we can all interpret them however we like. How do y’all read Daenerys? My mind thinks it’s “da-NAIR-ees.” ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/9 "2009-05-18T20:02:15Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > This. > > However, I’ve heard that GRRM doesn’t really have specific pronunciations in mind for the characters, so we can all interpret them however we like. > > How do y’all read Daenerys? My mind thinks it’s “da-NAIR-ees.” In my mind, it was always “day-Nair-iss.” It sounds more feminine to me for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/10 "2009-05-18T22:52:38Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > How do y’all read Daenerys? My mind thinks it’s “da-NAIR-ees.” That’s how I’ve always pronounced it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/11 "2009-05-18T23:07:54Z")
How about Jon? Yon? John? I always went with Yon, as it’s more exotic. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/12 "2009-05-18T23:44:03Z")
John, of course. But his last name is pronounced like ‘now,’ but with an s in front of it. As in, “Let’s do this thing, right snow!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/13 "2009-05-19T00:43:09Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > …How do y’all read Daenerys? My mind thinks it’s “da-NAIR-ees.” I always think of it a little differently: “Dan a REES.” How about Jaime? I’d just say “JAYm.” ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/14 "2009-05-19T00:54:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > How about Jaime? I’d just say “JAYm.” I say “HY-may”! Okay, not really. I just say “Jamie”. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/15 "2009-05-19T01:02:13Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > To me, three syllables. Arr-ee-a. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/16 "2009-05-19T01:03:20Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I always think of it a little differently: “Dan a REES.” > > How about Jaime? I’d just say “JAYm.” I used to say ‘Hy-meh’ until my friends pointed out he’s not Hispanic, so I started to pronounce it JAYm like you do and I think that’s more appropriate. I pronounced Dan-Air-rees ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/17 "2009-05-19T01:20:03Z")
Tyrion and Tywin. Is it Tie-ree-on or Tee-ree-on? Is it Tie-win or Tee-win? I pronounce the “Ty” as “Tie” for both. Cersei is pronounced almost the same as Circe the sorceress from The Odyssey, right? Catelyn is just pronounced Cate-lyn, or is it Cat-eh-lyn? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/18 "2009-05-19T03:42:54Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > [1]Tyrion and Tywin. Is it Tie-ree-on or Tee-ree-on? Is it Tie-win or Tee-win? I pronounce the “Ty” as “Tie” for both. > > [2] Cersei is pronounced almost the same as Circe the sorceress from The Odyssey, right? > > [3] Catelyn is just pronounced Cate-lyn, or is it Cat-eh-lyn? Just IMHO: 1. TEE ree on (the last two syllables slurred almost into one) and TIE win. 2. SARE see 3. CATE lyn ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/19 "2009-05-19T03:59:28Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Just IMHO: > > 1. TEE ree on (the last two syllables slurred almost into one) and TIE win. > 2. SARE see > 3. CATE lyn I say Tie-ree-on, Sir-say, and Cate-lyn. I wonder if there’s any definitive pronunciations. Anyone listened to the audiobooks? ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/20 "2009-05-19T10:58:21Z")
The audio books have some interesting pronunciations: Danaerys: Dan-AIR-iss Jaime: Jamie Catelyn: CAT-lynn Petyr; Peh-TIRE Brienne: Bry-EEN (that’s the weirdest one) Tywin: TIE-win Tyrion: TEAR-e-un Cersei: SIR-see (IIRC…I can’t remember that one for sure) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853.md?page=2)