# How should "Patel" be pronounced? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916 "2012-10-16T19:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/1 "2012-10-16T19:00:05Z")
I think I’ve been mispronouncing this name! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/2 "2012-10-16T19:03:51Z")
I voted for Puh-TELL but the folks I work with who have that name pronounce the first syllable with a hint of short a. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/3 "2012-10-16T19:07:52Z")
I would pronounce it differently to either of your options, I’d do Pat - ell, and that is the way that most actualy Patels pronounce it by the way, I know a few. ---
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/4 "2012-10-16T19:08:00Z")
I guess “puh-Tell” is closest to how I pronounce it, but I pronounce the a like how it is in “pat.” I guess I say “pat-ell.” I’ve never met anyone by that name so I have no idea if I’m completely wrong or not. ETA: Posted this before I saw **Simple Lictus** \*\*\*\*'s post. I’m glad I’m saying it correctly then! ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/5 "2012-10-16T19:10:52Z")
I agree with the three people who posted above me, based on interactions with the several people I know with that name. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/6 "2012-10-16T19:12:59Z")
I’ve known one person named Patel and he pronounced it Puh-TELL. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that way from others, too. Either way, I’m fairly certain it is not Pottle. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/7 "2012-10-16T19:36:08Z")
We had a Patel here at work. Pronounced puh-TELL. Rhymes with the toy manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/8 "2012-10-16T19:57:59Z")
We have a very large Indian population here. My graduating class started the tradition of yelling out the number of each Patel that went up for their diploma. They had to stop graduating in alphabetical order shortly after that because the large number just made it sound ridiculous. Some years its 30-40 people graduating with that name. It never occured to me that someone would pronounce it like “Pottle” or any other way. I guess I just grew up knowing the name. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/9 "2012-10-16T20:04:15Z")
Pat-el. Short ‘a’ like the name Pat. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/10 "2012-10-16T20:11:34Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > I think I’ve been mispronouncing this name! :eek: How have _ **you** _ been pronouncing it? It’s no fun to play if you don’t admit your mistake… ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/11 "2012-10-16T20:38:25Z")
Pottle. :o …because of the way it’s spelled, I think. Puh-TELL would be spelled Patell, not Patel. See? HUGE difference! ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/12 "2012-10-16T23:34:31Z")
Unless told otherwise by the person of that name I’d say Patel, it’s a fairly common name in England a la **amanset** ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/13 "2012-10-17T02:53:43Z")
I know two different, unrelated Patels. They pronounce it puh-TELL. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/14 "2012-10-17T03:12:09Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > Unless told otherwise by the person of that name I’d say Patel, it’s a fairly common name in England a la **amanset** And how is that pronounced? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/15 "2012-10-17T03:24:24Z")
Nm… ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/16 "2012-10-17T07:25:49Z")
Pa-TELL ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/17 "2012-10-17T08:17:55Z")
Pa-tail ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/18 "2012-10-17T08:31:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And how is that pronounced? What, **amanset**? 😉 Pat-ell, “Pat” like the name and “ell” as in “hell”. As **Bam Boo Gut** said, it is a fairly common name in the UK. I’ve never heard it pronounced any other way. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/19 "2012-10-17T08:45:50Z")
It should be pronounced as Al Pacino did in _Glengarry Glen Ross_: “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Puh-TELL? Aw, c’mon, what’s the point - I gotta argue with YOU?” As many words as possible should be pronounced in Pacino’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916/20 "2012-10-17T13:05:23Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Pottle. :o > > …because of the way it’s spelled, I think. Puh-TELL would be spelled Patell, not Patel. > > See? HUGE difference! Based on that logic, wouldn’t the correct pronunciation be PATE-el? Long a. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-patel-be-pronounced/637916.md?page=2)