# How do you say it? \[How to pronounce Cecil\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 28, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236 "2023-06-28T15:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/1 "2023-06-28T15:08:13Z")
It just occurred to me. How do you pronounce @Cecil_Adams first name? '_See-cil’_? Or '_Seh-cil’_?? When I’m feeling fancy I say _Sehcil_ Wonder how Cecil himself pronounces it? I need to know. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/2 "2023-06-28T15:09:39Z")
I do not know any IRL Cecils, but in my head I say See-cil ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/3 "2023-06-28T15:12:15Z")
I go with See-sil myself. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/4 "2023-06-28T15:15:37Z")
Like _See-Sill_, just like _Beany_ and _Cecil_ ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/5 "2023-06-28T15:22:50Z")
I know one Cecil and he says it like “see sill”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/6 "2023-06-28T15:40:16Z")
I never even realized there was any other way to pronounce Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/7 "2023-06-28T15:41:04Z")
I’d say SEE-sill. And, yes, like in Beany and Cecil. 😃 SESS-sill sounds fancy, like Cecil B. DeMille. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/8 "2023-06-28T15:41:23Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > '_Seh-cil’_?? Sea anemones are sessile. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/9 "2023-06-28T15:56:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I never even realized there was any other way to pronounce Cecil. Same here. But what about Cecilia? You don’t pronounce that “See-selia”, right? ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/10 "2023-06-28T15:56:47Z")
I’m British so always read it “Sess-ill”, even though I know that Zotti and most of the US pronounce it See-sill. I normally adapt the pronunciation of things to fit people, but See-sill just sounds ugly and wrong. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/11 "2023-06-28T15:59:43Z")
A friend of my wife has a grandson named Cecil. I always call him Seh-cil. At 4 years old, he gets a kick out of his extra fancy pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/12 "2023-06-28T16:08:15Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > I’m British so always read it “Sess-ill”, even though I know that Zotti and most of the US pronounce it See-sill. I normally adapt the pronunciation of things to fit people, but See-sill just sounds ugly and wrong. Very much this. I would sound ridiculous saying ‘see-sil’, and would treat anyone who did with deep suspicion. Unless they were American. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/13 "2023-06-28T16:12:39Z")
I had an uncle named Cecil - we pronounced it See-sul, stress on the first syllable. He was a trip! Always getting us and himself into trouble. 🙂 RIP, Uncle Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/14 "2023-06-28T16:13:35Z")
seh-cil, like cecilia. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/15 "2023-06-28T16:15:22Z")
I say suh-SEEL-ya. Like Simon and Garfunkel. (I’m from Texas, by the way.) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/16 "2023-06-28T16:16:37Z")
a very good song. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/17 "2023-06-28T16:16:54Z")
I pronounce it Ed. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/18 "2023-06-28T16:24:54Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > I’m British so always read it “Sess-ill” I was waiting to hear from a Brit. I will now pronounce it Sess-ill forevermore. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/19 "2023-06-28T16:37:00Z")
Hear His Name uttered: > **[So Long to the Straight Dope: Witty Q&A Column Calls It Quits](https://news.wttw.com/2018/07/10/so-long-straight-dope-witty-qa-column-calls-it-quits)** > > After nearly half a century of answering questions ranging from the trivial to the technical to the taboo, the Chicago Reader’s informative and irreverent weekly column has ended. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/20 "2023-06-28T16:50:57Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > > [@colinfred](#): > > > > I’m British so always read it “Sess-ill”, even though I know that Zotti and most of the US pronounce it See-sill. I normally adapt the pronunciation of things to fit people, but See-sill just sounds ugly and wrong. > > Very much this. I would sound ridiculous saying ‘see-sil’, and would treat anyone who did with deep suspicion. Unless they were American. These. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236.md?page=2)