How Do You Pronounce "Linux"?

[skellington]

Hi all - Okay. . .how the Hell do you pronounce "linux"? I keep hearing two different ways:

Linux. . .as in "lie-nex". A hard "i". Lie-nex.

Linux. . .as in "lin-nex". A soft "i" that rhymes with the human name "Lynn". Like "lynn-nex".

Which one is it?

Thanks.
--

Kas! | Blue Pixel Digital - a digital foundry.
--
Are you normal enough?

[admin]

I go with "Lynn-ux"

I believe both ways are correct, as it was never really decided by the original developers (rumor). Though go way back and you are referring to Mr Linus. I think that is pronounced "lynn-us". Anyone know if thats right?

[pete865]

Yup they are both right, lie-nux is the english pronunciation, and Lynn-nux is
the finnish(?) pronunciation, just like Linus is lie-nus in english.

[skellington]

Excellent! Thank you for the replys.

Kas! | Blue Pixel Digital - a digital foundry.
--
Are you normal enough?

[heydiddlediddle]

You say tomato, I say tomato.

[therobear]

Close. actually, there's a voice sample of Linus saying "Linux" out there somewhere, and he pronounces it "LEE-nooks." Though this would be the "canon" pronounciation, nobody outside Finland(and perhaps Sweden) use it for some odd reason of vernacular. (Maybe that sort of pronounciation is too hard for us lazy Americans to adapt to...>shrug
In any case, the majority of Linux advocates/programmers I've seen in public use "Lyn-nux." Linus's position on the matter is to the effect of "pronounce it any damned way you want," so I'd suggest avoiding peer pressure and going with the pronounciation you're most comfortable with. =)

Personally, I say "Lyn-nux" vocally, but use "Lye-nux" as a mental cue. (Don't ask. I don't think that even I completely understand my own methods of association...)

[user_deleted]

In many regions, Linux is pronounced "Fin-Dows" with a hard "i"

[geoffcrowther]

findows? hahahaha

8) how appropriate

[dcruz]

Well, being a Swede... I would say that the name Linus is pronounced: Lee-n-uuss.

Linus Thorwald is a member of the swedish speaking Finnish minority and his name is a Swedish name.
I guess that the Finnish and Swedish pronounciation of Linux would be Lee-n-ux. We have quite long pronounciations of the wovels compared to English.

[joojaa]

Well beinga member of EXACTLY that minority i can tell yuor right except id say the u is short tough its a bit variying depending on where you are.

Interestingly tough mostly when we speak of linux,in finnish Liinus himself refeers to it, using the finnish word transcryption is used so the i sound is short (because in finnish the letters do specify exactly how its pornounced, and a double letter being long). Ontheotherhand whan he speaks english or sweedish he uses the long version

Finnish is a wierd sounding language for most of you, not realy comparable to anything do you need a soundsample . Maybe the problem is that the longer version doesnet suit the finish "tone" and so this is probably why its not specified wich is the correct one.

[zane]

After watching the movie "Revolution OS" where they ask Linus that exact question, he says it is pronounced "leh-nex", and should always be pronounced like that.

As for his name, he says in English it is usually "Lie-nus", in Swedish it is usually "Lee-nus" and in Finish "Leh-nus", if I remember correctly. But right after giving those pronouncations of his name, he stressed that the pronouncation of his name is not that big of a deal, as long as Linux is "leh-nex".

[joojaa]

Yeah i know hes pronounciation has amercanized a lot... Anyway i have documentary info whare he is asked the same question, and he has a different answer at different times... so maybe its just something thats not defined or in anycase not defined well enough, untill after the fact wich means theres a lot of difference out there (you cant go changing the rules after a pronounciation becomes prevalent in area because changing back is NOT possible).

anyway its a bit academic who cares, right!

[user_deleted]

Well anyone I've discussed Linux with across Canada has spoken the word as "Leh-nux" but said fast enough it sounds like "Leh-nix". Anyway, it really doesn't offend people because Linux is global thanks to Linus. So someone in Sweden may say Linux differently than North Americans or those in Asia, etc.