# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/61 "2023-06-29T14:39:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Plus who’s to say “Cece” isn’t pronounced “Cess”? Side-factoid: A Canadian actor who used to appear quite frequently in British TV and movies was Cec (pronounced IIRC “Cess”) Linder ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/62 "2023-06-29T14:45:56Z")
I too would rhyme the first vowel sound in “Montgomery” with the first vowel in “Rommel”, but when saying it quickly the two do merge for me. I wouldn’t say either one is incorrect, just as I wouldn’t be prescriptive about how to pronounce “Cecil”. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/63 "2023-06-29T14:46:46Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Like _See-Sill_, just like _Beany_ and _Cecil_ That’s the only way I’ve ever heard it pronounced. I did a “pronounce” search for Cecil B. DeMille because I thought that one might be different but, no, the pronunciation given was “see-sill”. ---
**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 29, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/64 "2023-06-29T14:48:27Z")
I’m pretty sure there was Sess-Sill Fielder of Baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/65 "2023-06-29T14:50:37Z")
I just checked, and it should be “see-sill” Fielder according to the infallible Internet. LOL ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/66 "2023-06-29T15:20:25Z")
Wait, it isn;t “keckle”? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/67 "2023-06-29T15:31:16Z")
**Kenobi\_65** checked it upthread with a more official source and it is, indeed, sess-ul, which is how I remember it. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/68 "2023-06-29T15:32:51Z")
Thanks! I have also heard “sess-ul” B Demille. I wonder if that is actually correct and not my source. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/69 "2023-06-29T15:36:01Z")
Also mentioned in this thread. Also by **kenobi\_65** , though not as an official source. Also, in Cecil B Demented, it’s pronounced Sess-ul. ---
**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 29, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/70 "2023-06-29T15:37:50Z")
Here’s an actual film of Cecil B. Demille, which starts out with him pronouncing his own name. He says, “SESS-il.” [Cecil B. Demille for the March of Dimes - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYYmH7qXntE) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/71 "2023-06-29T15:39:28Z")
So, it’s official. My source sucks! LOL > [@pulykamell](#): > > **Kenobi65** checked it upthread with a more official source and it is, indeed, sess-ul, which is how I remember it. What is the “more official”, and obviously BETTER source? I need to use that in the future. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/72 "2023-06-29T15:40:16Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > What is the “more official”, and obviously BETTER source? I need to use that in the future. I mean, you can scroll up. ---
**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 29, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/73 "2023-06-29T15:40:28Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > What is the “more official”, and obviously BETTER source? Baseball Reference. It’s one of the best sites for baseball statistics and information, and in my experience, anything that’s on there is well-vetted. (They have parallel sites for football, basketball, hockey, etc.) At the top of Fielder’s page is biographical information; you may need to click on a link to unfold all of it, but one of the things which is included (which BR typically does for players with unusual names) is a phonetic spelling of his first name. > **[Cecil Fielder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |...](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fieldce01.shtml)** > > Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Cecil Fielder. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/74 "2023-06-29T16:46:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Watch the Simpsons. The Simpsons featured Cecil Terwillager, Sideshow Bob’s brother, and he does use the short e (skip to 1:35). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OmxDOA3FJNo/maxresdefault.jpg "Best of Cecil Terwilliger") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmxDOA3FJNo) ---
**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 29, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/75 "2023-06-29T17:52:10Z")
I’m kinda concerned for the the name ‘Cedric’ now. 🫡 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/76 "2023-06-29T18:01:36Z")
> [@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. I’m American, but I agree with all of this. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/77 "2023-06-29T18:28:28Z")
And yet a third pronunciation… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yBSbGX9uIVQ/hqdefault.jpg "Lucy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBSbGX9uIVQ) ---
**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 29, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/78 "2023-06-29T20:12:00Z")
that one would confuse me as well. different c’s or same c’s. english is a mess. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/79 "2023-06-29T20:26:25Z")
Can we make the Cecil Run in 12 parsecs? ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236/80 "2023-06-29T21:02:34Z")
The Gascoyne-Cecils here always say it as ‘Sissal’. > **[Marquess of Salisbury](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquess_of_Salisbury)** > > Marquess of Salisbury is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1789 for the 7th Earl of Salisbury. Most of the holders of the title have been prominent in British political life over the last two centuries, particularly the 3rd Marquess, who served three times as Prime Minister in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. > This branch of the Cecil family descends from Sir Robert Cecil, the son of the prominent statesman the 1st Baron Burghley, from his second marriage, to Mil... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-it-how-to-pronounce-cecil/986236.md?page=5)