# Correct Pronunciation of Name "Iyengar"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-name-iyengar/215041>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-name-iyengar/215041 "2003-11-24T21:26:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-name-iyengar/215041/1 "2003-11-24T21:26:44Z")

</div>

I’m a generic American looking for a decent pronunciation for the surname “Iyengar”. I’m fairly sure the person is from India.

Google turns up hundreds of references to a type of yoga by the same name, as well as several yoga experts also by that name. And lots of references to books that help with pronouncing the words & phrases used in Iyendar yoga, but no actual pronunciations.

Thanks in advance to any takers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-name-iyengar/215041/2 "2003-11-24T21:42:54Z")

</div>

My (Iyer) Indian friend pronounces it eye-ING-ar with the ar pronounced like the start of ark or the ar in car.

someone will be along to call me _buddu firang_ in just a bit…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-name-iyengar/215041/3 "2003-11-24T22:08:41Z")

</div>

My yoga teacher, who has met Mr. Iyengar, pronounces it as “eye-YEN-gar.” My teacher is American, however, so he may be off.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-name-iyengar/215041/4 "2003-11-24T22:21:02Z")

</div>

I personally know an Iyengar. **Opengrave** and **porcupine** have it pretty much right.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-name-iyengar/215041/5 "2003-11-25T00:13:39Z")

</div>

eye-yuhn-guhr (the ‘h’ isn’t really noticeable)

Thing is, I’m transliterating the syllables in english as how I see the natural pronounciation of the above syllables.

And it would be _boodh-dhu fee rung_, **OpenGrave**

The _d_ seems to be pronounced from near the tip of the tongue, unlike the ‘sharp’ d in English. You basically bring the tip of the tongue and both upper and lower sets of teeth together (don’t bite yourself :)), then simultaneously quickly pull the tongue back and your sets of teeth away from each other.