Pronounciation of Evangelion: That Is (Not) How You Say It

[Squigsquasher]

It seems even the way to say the names and phrases in the series can cause mass debates and rampant anger (One Hour Photo anyone?). So, basically, this is the thread for discussing mispronounciations of names and words in Evangelion that you or others have made.

Myself, for a long, long time I was (I am ashamed to admit) pronouncing Evangelion as "Ee-van-jee-lee-on", which is possibly even worse than Evanjellyon. What can I say, I was an idiot.

Anyway, your tales of pronounciation blunders?

[TMBounty_Hunter]

I avoid physical Eva gatherings like the plague.

I went to one and everyone was saying Kowaru instead of Kaworu.

[Squigsquasher]

everyone was saying Kaworu instead of Kaworu.

Umm, is this a joke that my puny brain is incapable of processing?

[Mr. Tines]

We have a word filter for people who say Kowaru.

[Bagheera]

Myself, for a long, long time I was (I am ashamed to admit) pronouncing Evangelion as "Ee-van-jee-lee-on", which is possibly even worse than Evanjellyon. What can I say, I was an idiot.

In defense of the latter that is how the word would normally be pronounced in English (see evangelical, evangelist, evangelism . . . why wouldn't Evangelion follow suit?).

Anyway, your tales of pronounciation blunders?

I'm still getting out of the habit of pronouncing the U in Asuka's name. It's helped to think of her name as a feminized version of Oscar.

[Mr. Tines]

Listening to the Japanese helps, as does knowing that Japanese vowels are often swallowed (to help register the sound against the subtitles).

[ShockTrance]

I used to pronounce Evangelion with a soft G before I watched the series, but that stopped as soon as I heard the characters say it. A friend of mine who's seen Eva pronounces Asuka as "Uh-Soo-Kuh", which is strange, considering that he watched the sub and thus heard the correct pronunciation.

I went to one and everyone was saying Kowaru instead of Kaworu.

That's both hilarious and horrifying. I'd probably go insane if I actually heard multiple people mispronounce it like that.

[NemZ]

could be worse... they might have been saying "Kwaaaruu"

[Catamari]

could be worse... they might have been saying "Kwaaaruu"

Don't remind me. AWL pronounces it like that. It sounds like it should be written as "Quaroo".

[CJD]

I still struggle to pronounce "Eva" and "Evangelion" long after I learned the correct pronunciation. I've gotten better with it after I made a conscious effort to try and change it last year but I still catch myself saying "Eeva" or "Eevangelion" from time to time.

Also Seele which I want to pronounce seal. And for that matter maybe Wille since I don't know how the fuck that's pronounced. I should probably load up 3.0 and see...

I'm still getting out of the habit of pronouncing the U in Asuka's name. It's helped to think of her name as a feminized version of Oscar.

And that's the exact same for me too, right down to the Oscar.

[Mr. Tines]

And for that matter maybe Wille since I don't know how the fuck that's pronounced.

Try the little speaker icon at http://translate.google.com/#auto/en/Wille


Also, Oscar.

[tzigi]

You know what the fun thing is? That Evangelion should be pronounced "Ewanghelion" [gh] standing for hard g (think "spaGHetti"). That's the proper Ancient Greek pronounciation of its source word.

[CJD]

Try the little speaker icon at http://translate.google.com/#auto/en/Wille

Jesus that's not at all what it looks like.

[pwhodges]

If you're used to reading German, that's exactly what it looks like!

[Jayfive]

How come I see so many Eva-related vids on YT with people who claim to know the show saying 'Rit-Sue-Ko' and 'A-Suh-Ka'. That drives me round the bend.

[Bagheera]

How come I see so many Eva-related vids on YT with people who claim to know the show saying 'Rit-Sue-Ko' and 'A-Suh-Ka'. That drives me round the bend.

If Eva can use a nonsensical pronunciation of Evangelion why can't viewers use nonsensical pronunciations of its cast? Tit for tat, seems fair to me!

[C.A.P.]

Let's ask the S2 Works to remind us how to say it.

[Reichu]

If Eva can use a nonsensical pronunciation of Evangelion

If that's how they want "Evangelion" as it refers to fictional giant cyborgs to be pronounced, then that's how it's pronounced. They're not talking about the 'good news' in Greek (beyond making an allusion to it).

If I ever pronounced anything from the show wrong, I quickly self-corrected when I started digging deeper.

[Joy Evangelion]

Before I watched the series I bought my copy of the platinum edition at this store that sells used games and dvds and etc. that they keep stored in this locked window case, so if you want to buy something you've got to tell the staff to unlock the case and get it for you. So, I told the dude working there that I wanted the "evanjellion" dvds, and I still feel like a dick about it. I'll probably never get over it...

Oh, I also dislike how the English cast pronounces Nerv as "Nerve," but I get a huge kick out of the way the narrator on the Manga Entertainment EoE trailer pronounces Seele. He should stick to quoting Milton

[Chuckman]

I think I pronounce everything right. I used to pronounce Asuka Ah-su-ka until I saw the show.

Ritsuko will always be Ritt-sue-kho to me no matter what. I can't help it, my brain refuses to parse that word differently.