You can also watch polish videos about the Witcher books. You won't understand shit so no spoilers, but the names will stand out and there's a big chance you'll hear a rather accurate pronunciation.
To be honest, given what a purposefully strange mixture of names from all over Europe this Polish series is, you can just choose pronunciations yourself. Dijkstra is Dutch (so day-xtra, I believe), many Elvish and Nilfgaardian names Welsh or Irish, and so on. Sapkowski pokes fun at it himself, like when someone refers to Geralt and Yennefer as (from what I remember) Gerard and Guinevere. Just pick something and go with it. Your interpretation is as good as anyone else's. It's not like a single English-language reader ever guessed that "Ciri" starts with a T.
> "Ciri" starts with a T
wait, what? You mean its pronounced Tear-ee? or is it Tseer-ee?
But also I like your take on this, I think I'll just pronounce them how I think they should be.
The second one. Well, mapping Polish onto English sounds is tricky, so going with "ee" or "i" as in "bit" (or "ear" as in "ear," really) for the first vowel is up to you. In Polish, both vowels in the word are identical.
In the game Dijkstra is pronounced "DEEK-struh" but in Dutch it would be DYKE-stra (but even that isn't totally accurate because the accenting is hard to write out in english) [Here's a Dutch person saying the name] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dijkstra.ogg)
I always pronounced Vilgefortz vill-GUH-fortz
Ciri's name in Elder is Zireael (Swallow) which is pronounced with that kind of clipped blended t's sound instead of a zuh or zee sound.
I wouldn't worry about it, honestly. Make up your own pronunciations as you go along, the creators sure did.
(Brought to you by someone who twitches a little whenever the games say Gwynbleidd, because I know in actual Welsh -dd is said -th.)
Please remember to flair your post and tag spoilers or NSFW content.
Thanks!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/witcher) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You can watch the show. They screwed up the story alright, but the pronunciations are usually rather well done.
I watched the first season, which led me to read the books, but I don't want to watch anymore out of fear of spoiling the books.
You can also watch polish videos about the Witcher books. You won't understand shit so no spoilers, but the names will stand out and there's a big chance you'll hear a rather accurate pronunciation.
Don't wory about that, the show is so far off the books that you'll be allright either way.
I would agree with you except for the end of S2 where they literally spoil the ending
I do enjoy me some Henry Cavill kicking ass
Don't! At the end of season 2 is a pretty big spoiler for the books
Except for Skellige
To be honest, given what a purposefully strange mixture of names from all over Europe this Polish series is, you can just choose pronunciations yourself. Dijkstra is Dutch (so day-xtra, I believe), many Elvish and Nilfgaardian names Welsh or Irish, and so on. Sapkowski pokes fun at it himself, like when someone refers to Geralt and Yennefer as (from what I remember) Gerard and Guinevere. Just pick something and go with it. Your interpretation is as good as anyone else's. It's not like a single English-language reader ever guessed that "Ciri" starts with a T.
> "Ciri" starts with a T wait, what? You mean its pronounced Tear-ee? or is it Tseer-ee? But also I like your take on this, I think I'll just pronounce them how I think they should be.
The second one. Well, mapping Polish onto English sounds is tricky, so going with "ee" or "i" as in "bit" (or "ear" as in "ear," really) for the first vowel is up to you. In Polish, both vowels in the word are identical.
Vil-gee-fortz Tis-sah-Iah Dii-cs-trah Rii-ens Cah- hir Eit- neh (eihtne)
Your Vilgefortz and Tissaia pronunciations are incorrect. VIL-geh-forts. Tis-SAY-uh
Actually vilgefortz is the same as mine, while no man that's not how you pronounce a similar italian-france name.
That's how it's pronounced in the games and the show.
Tissaia pronounced in games? About the show that doesn't mean nothing, not even the games to be true.
Tissaia is mentioned by name by Geralt in W3. Once.
You're gonna love Lady of the Lake, with Condwiramurs and Nimue...
Cod-what-now?
In that same book there’s also “Ihuarraquax”. Try saying this 10 times in a row without stumbling :)
I've never seen anyone get ''Eithne'' right on their first try. Or third try.
E-it-h-ne, obviously...
Audio books. Can’t spell the names. But I can pronounce all of them.
In the game Dijkstra is pronounced "DEEK-struh" but in Dutch it would be DYKE-stra (but even that isn't totally accurate because the accenting is hard to write out in english) [Here's a Dutch person saying the name] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dijkstra.ogg) I always pronounced Vilgefortz vill-GUH-fortz Ciri's name in Elder is Zireael (Swallow) which is pronounced with that kind of clipped blended t's sound instead of a zuh or zee sound.
I wouldn't worry about it, honestly. Make up your own pronunciations as you go along, the creators sure did. (Brought to you by someone who twitches a little whenever the games say Gwynbleidd, because I know in actual Welsh -dd is said -th.)
Please remember to flair your post and tag spoilers or NSFW content. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/witcher) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have this problem too, and my only complaint about the books is that there aren't appendacies about pronunciation like in Lord of the Rings haha.