# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**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, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/21 "2009-05-19T13:12:52Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > The audio books have some interesting pronunciations: > > …Brienne: Bry-EEN (that’s the weirdest one) > > …Tyrion: TEAR-e-un… Huh. I always thought it was just a straightforward “Bree ENN.” And is that TEAR as in what comes out of out your eyes when you’re very sad, or rending a piece of paper with your hands? ---
**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, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/22 "2009-05-19T17:31:17Z")
Tear like crying. ---
**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, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/23 "2009-05-19T18:27:22Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Tear like crying. Thanks. As I thought (post 18). ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/24 "2009-05-19T23:35:09Z")
FWIW, as someone unfamiliar with this particular author, my instincts would be to with: **Eyrie** - ['eɪ ri] (AY-ree) \*\*Arya \*\*- ['ar jə] (AR-yuh) (as in Sanskrit) **Daenerys** - ['daɛ nɛ ris] (DIE-neh-reese or “DINER-ese,” but with an _s_ instead of a _z_ sound at the end) **Jon** - [jɔn] (YAWN) **Jaime** - If Hispanic, then ['haɪ me] (HIGH-may); otherwise ['dʒeɪ mi] (JAY-mee) **Tyrion** - ['ti ri ən] (TEE-ree-un) **Tywin** - ['taɪ wɪn] (TIE-win) **Cersei** - [sɜr 'seɪ] (sir-SAY) (Not like _Circe_ ['sɜr si] (SIR-see)) **Catelyn** - ['kæt ə lɪn] (CAT-uh-linn) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/25 "2009-05-20T00:06:00Z")
And it’s Jon Snow, like the white stuff. The bastard surnames are all common environmental nouns: Snow, Flowers, Stone, Waters, Pyke (the fish, I assume), Rivers, Hill, Storm and Sand. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/26 "2009-05-20T08:11:34Z")
What about the title for knights: Ser. Is it pronounced the same as Sir ? I imagine the HBO people are asking Martin these same questions so we will know the answers when the TV show airs. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/27 "2009-05-20T08:25:00Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > And it’s Jon Snow, like the white stuff. The bastard surnames are all common environmental nouns: Snow, Flowers, Stone, Waters, Pyke (the fish, I assume), Rivers, Hill, Storm and Sand. Each of the Seven Kingdoms has its own surname: Snow in the North; Rivers in the Riverlands; Stone in the Eyrie; Storm in the Braetheon lands; Hill (?) in the Lannister lands; Flowers in the Reach; and Sand in Dorne. I’m not sure about Pyke, though. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/28 "2009-05-20T12:08:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m not sure about Pyke, though. Pyke is the bastard surname for the Iron Islands. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/29 "2009-05-20T12:26:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Pyke is the bastard surname for the Iron Islands. After the capital. Right. ---
**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 20, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/30 "2009-05-20T14:12:31Z")
Why would “Jon” and “Jaime” be “Yon” and “Haim”? After all, the books are written in English, not Spanish or German. (I call 'em John and Jamie). ---
**Author:** ![Spectralist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Spectralist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectralist)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/31 "2009-05-20T17:54:43Z")
There’s a few pronunciations at one of the fansites’ collection of correspondence/interviews pages. For [example](http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Month/1998/10/) > [@](#): > > \*I was just wondering how you pronounce some of the charcters names in A GAME OF THRONES. > > Is the ‘ae’ in many Targaryen names pronounced ‘ay’ ?\* > > yes, in most cases > > _For example, is Maester ‘Master’ (like normally pronounced) or is it ‘May-ster’ or is it ‘My-ster’) or something else?_ > > may-ster > > _And what about Cersei? (I say Seer-see)_ > > Sir-sei > > _Is Lysa - Lee-sa or Ly-za?_ > > Lie-sa > > _Is Benjen benjen or Ben-yen?_ > > Ben - Jen > > _Is Tyrion ‘Tee-re-yon’ or ‘Ty-REE-yon’ or something else?_ > > tear-ree-on and [here](http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Month/1999/05/) > [@](#): > > \*\*Pronunciations > > [Summary: The post replied to asked for some pronunciation information] > \*\* > Rhaegar = Ray Gar > > maester = may ster and [here](http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Month/2003/08/) > [@](#): > > Lyanna = lye-anna > Catelyn = cat-linn > Maester = may-ster (that one’s pretty obvious) > Moat Cailin = Moat Cah-lan > Sansa = Saun-sa > Khaleesi = Khal-eee-see > Missandei = mees-anday > Tommen = Toam-in > Davos = Dah-vos > Varys = Var-us > > … > > Tommen rhymes with “omen.” > > Chataya is shuh-TIE-yuh. > > … > > Frey rhymes with “Day” > > Jonquil is pronounced John-Kill. > > Dolorous is pronounced Dollar-Us > > Tobho rhymes with Bobo I’m pretty sure those last 6 are from people who heard one of Martin’s readings rather then directly from him. There’s more, i’m sure, but i’m too lazy to continue skimming it(it’s sorted by date rather then topic). I’m almost positive i once say a page there that said Jaime = Jay-mee. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/32 "2009-05-20T18:10:15Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Why would “Jon” and “Jaime” be “Yon” and “Haim”? After all, the books are written in English, not Spanish or German. > > (I call 'em John and Jamie). Because if they’re pronounced like John and Jamie, there’s no reason not to spell them like John and Jamie (or Jamey). In my experience, almost all _Jaime_s are Hispanic. It’s not a common Anglo spelling. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/33 "2009-05-20T18:15:06Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > In my experience, almost all _Jaime_s are Hispanic. It’s not a common Anglo spelling. On EARTH. Not Westeros. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/34 "2009-05-20T18:23:16Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > On EARTH. Not Westeros. If we knew what was the common spelling/pronunciation in Westeros, then there would be no need for this discussion, would there? Unless it’s set out explicitly by the author, we have no choice but to use real life experience. ---
**Author:** ![Spectralist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Spectralist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectralist)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/35 "2009-05-20T18:26:25Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Because if they’re pronounced like John and Jamie, there’s no reason not to spell them like John and Jamie (or Jamey). In my experience, almost all _Jaime_s are Hispanic. It’s not a common Anglo spelling. I’ve met a few people named Jon and it’s always been pronounced the same as John. I wasn’t even aware it was uncommon enough for people to not be aware of it. Though thinking back on it they’ve all been fairly young so perhaps it’s a new(ish) development, or regional. I’d agree with you on Jaime but pronouncing it with an H wouldn’t fit with the rest of the names in his family, or country, in the slightest. And there’s no hints anywhere else in the series of a J being pronounced as an H. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/36 "2009-05-20T18:40:13Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > If we knew what was the common spelling/pronunciation in Westeros, then there would be no need for this discussion, would there? Unless it’s set out explicitly by the author, we have no choice but to use real life experience. Is there ANY indication on the continent of Westeros that there is some sort of “fantasy Spain” influence on names of people hailing from the Westerlands (where Casterly Rock is and where the Lannisters (THERE’S a Spanish-sounding surname!) come from)? Now, the Stormlands or Dorne, maybe. On the other continent, maybe. But in the Westerlands? No. If anything, the Lannister given names sound “generic Fantasy”…Tywin, Tirion, Cersei, Daven, Genna, Kevan, Lancel, Stafford, Willem, Martyn, Tyrek. There’s no reason whatsoever to think “Jaime” would be pronounced as the Spanish name is. There’s no context in the books at all that would call for a Spanish pronunciation. Everyone else in his family have names that are, if you squint really hard, sort-of somewhat vaguely Fantasy Celtic. ---
**Author:** ![Gethsemane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gethsemane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gethsemane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853/37 "2009-05-24T00:33:09Z")
I would have left this one alone, except I -just- finished reading A Game of Thrones again (again) as it’s time for my yearly re-read. While Danerys is courting with her Dothrakhi husband, he pronounces her name phonetically while learning her language, and he says ‘Dan Ares’. I would think that’s the canonical pronunciation 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-of-ice-and-fire-pronunciation/496853.md?page=1)