# Dio! How do you say his name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313 "2009-01-08T01:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/1 "2009-01-08T01:40:56Z")
Dio–you know, Rainbow in the Dark, Holy Diver, etc. How do you say his name? Is it “Dee-yo” (a la Spanish) or is it “Die-o”? > **[Ronnie James Dio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_James_Dio)** > > Ronald James Padavona (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He fronted and founded numerous bands throughout his career, including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. > Though his parents were from Cortland, New York, Dio was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where his family resided for his father's service in the U.S. Army during World War II. The family returned to Cortland when Dio was very young, and he... bonus Dio material: [Dio shirt!](http://www.cafepress.com/completelyadd) (not promoting that, I make no money, etc, mods delete if you’re offended.) ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/2 "2009-01-08T01:48:04Z")
I’ve always heard it “Dee-oh” a la Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/3 "2009-01-08T01:53:02Z")
Yes. Dee-oh. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/4 "2009-01-08T01:58:34Z")
Dee-oh. No doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/5 "2009-01-08T01:59:17Z")
It’s definitely dee-oh. He’s Italian IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/6 "2009-01-08T02:42:19Z")
I have felt like he had that “manufactured cool” stink on him so for years I have reffered to him as: Rodney Holmes Bisexual. Dee-o is what I’m used to hearing. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![superwombat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superwombat/32/16616_2.png) [@superwombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superwombat)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/7 "2009-01-08T02:57:55Z")
His name is Dee-o and he dances on the sand. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/8 "2009-01-08T03:00:18Z")
> [@superwombat](#): > > His name is Dee-o and he dances on the sand. Well played. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/9 "2009-01-09T01:23:31Z")
Thanks y’all. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/10 "2009-01-09T01:37:53Z")
Tenacious D pronounces it dee-oh ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dio-how-do-you-say-his-name/480313/11 "2009-01-09T04:36:54Z")
But he spells it like this: \m/ \m/ with the mic in the mic stand, of course! 😃