I'm Sorry, But I Have No Idea How to Say Your Name

If someone has a last name that requires multiple loads of phlegm to pronounce, they probably are used to helping out... I'd go with the good ol' "hesitate as you say the start of it" strategy and just lay there waiting for help. If they don't help out, they're probably lacking in social skills to the point there's no way they matter... or they're in IT. Or both.

I'm the fuckhead who always uses nicknames or shorten their names. There's no way I'm going to pronounce your name if it takes the whole alphabet and two deep breaths to make it to the end.

'Hey, buddy. How's it going?' Worked wonders so far.

I usually go for the second option

It's perfectly fine to just ask them.

"Hey sorry, but how do you pronounce your name?" Then try to say it yourself until you get their approval.

Just ask them, and memorize the phonemes. Eventually you'll get it right. Ask someone with a foreign name, I can say that effort is really all that matters.

My name is 6 letters long and the only issue is knowing where the strong syllable is. I hate when people try yo give me nicknames solely because they are unwilling to pronounce anything other than Western names. If we're good friends, or I do something that earns me a nickname, then fine. But when someone says "Can I just call you (last syllable)" I want to hit them in the face.

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If you run across names that you can't pronounce take the opportunity to go on a rant about how america used to be a country where people had names like "bob smith" not names like "Sandeepu Jharsudghamanam".... y'know, like back in the good ol' days.

I tend to go with the second option if I know I won't be talking with the person on a day to day basis for the next year, but if I know I will be talking with the person frequently I simply double check what's the correct pronunciation.

I avoid names until they say it. I hate to call someone Michael when they prefer to go by Mike, not to mention hard to pronounce names.

HEYYYYyyyyy how's it going + vigorous handshake when I can get away with it. If you can have them say their name, say talking to someone else, that also works. If you don't know, you don't know, just ask. Most people are pretty cool about it if you say "hey, I want to make sure I get your name right", it makes them feel like you care.

I have an uncommon last name, and I'd rather take [literally] one second to set you straigh instead of you getting it wrong.

What kind of name is that anyhow? Kumar? What is that five o's or two u's?

I've seen this occur often. Phonetic is the best option if you have never heard the name before, also, pay attention to the name instead of seeing lots of letters and then acting like a moron "Wow, I'm not gonna even try". I can tell by this post there are a lot of bumbling office space types giving advice.

Great question, and I agree with the first few replies.

I agree that just asking is fine, and doesnt seem to offend anyone. I'm just thankful my Chinese and Korean colleagues often adopt "English" names because they know guys like me will dork them up otherwise.

I have a hard name to pronounce. I don't care if you butcher it, nobody gets it right on the first try. Don't make too big a deal out of it. Most people just try to say it and then ask if that's how it's pronounced.

I generally just resort to whatever racial or ethnic slur applies to that particular person

My problem is that my last name is easy to pronounce but impossible for people to spell. I say my last name, people ask me to spell it, and it's impossible to tell if it's an N or an M or a P or a B or a D. I normally just hand people my drivers license when they ask me how to spell it these days. So much easier than reciting N as in nick, P as in Paul.

Also, #3: ask your Indian or Chinese friend before meeting the person. (Normally if you're expressly meeting someone, you'll know their first/last name)

my real first name is Nandrin (hippie parents) and people f it up all the time when i first meet them ("mandarin?" "andrew?" "daniel"? "wtf?")

so......us people with non-anglo names have gotten used to helping you out. just give half an effort in trying to learn the proper way to say it (and don't be embarrassed that you don't know how before meeting us), and if it takes a second or third time to ask again how to pronounce it that's fine. 4+ times? leave me alone

I'm lucky to have an unpronounceable Russian name that can be abbreviated to a moderately common and likable American name. So I just go by that.

These are great suggestions.

I agree that there is nothing wrong with simply asking about the name pronounciation, The person definitely is aware that his or her name is difficult to read or articulate so you are not going to insult or surprise him/her.

More to that, it is not pleasant when someone mispronounce your name, but, you know, it is kind of not comfortable for some to correct you. And if you are asking about pronounciation yourself, you make life of that unlucky person a bit easier.

BR, Mark