API design vocabulary is discussed constantly in backend and fullstack roles, yet terms like HATEOAS and GraphQL have non-obvious pronunciations. This quiz gives you the official and community-standard forms so you can hold your own in any API architecture discussion.
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How is 'GraphQL' (the query language for APIs) pronounced?
GraphQL is pronounced /ˈɡræf.kjuːl/ — 'GRAF-kyool', officially confirmed by the GraphQL Foundation. 'Graph' uses a short 'a' (as in 'map'), and 'QL' is said as 'kyool' (like 'cool' with a 'ky' onset). Saying each letter of 'QL' separately ('GRAF-kyoo-EL') is overly formal. Stress is on the first syllable.
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How is 'HATEOAS' (Hypermedia As The Engine Of Application State) pronounced?
HATEOAS is pronounced /ˈheɪ.tiː.ɒs/ — 'HAY-tee-os', compressed to three syllables in everyday REST API discussions. Roy Fielding's community pronounces it this way. Spelling out all six letters is never done in practice, and 'hat-ee-OH-as' incorrectly stresses the wrong syllable.
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How is 'REST' (Representational State Transfer) pronounced?
REST is pronounced /rɛst/ — 'rest', exactly like the English word. It is one of the few tech acronyms that is universally treated as a regular word rather than spelled out. The vowel is a short 'e' as in 'best'. Spelling it out ('ar-ee-es-tee') is never done in natural speech.
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How is 'OpenAPI' (the API specification standard) pronounced?
OpenAPI is pronounced /ˈoʊ.pən.eɪ.piː.aɪ/ — 'OH-pun-ay-pee-eye', spelling out 'API' as three letters. The 'Open' part is the English adjective (long 'oh', then 'pun'). 'API' is always expanded to its three letter sounds in professional contexts. Compressing it to 'AP-ee' is informal and uncommon.
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How is 'webhook' (an HTTP callback mechanism) pronounced?
Webhook is pronounced /ˈwɛb.hʊk/ — 'WEB-hook', a compound of 'web' and 'hook'. The 'web' has a short 'e' (as in 'bed') and 'hook' rhymes with 'book'. Stress is firmly on the first element, as with most English compound nouns. There is no 'y' glide before the 'oo' — it is a plain 'hook'.