5 exercises on pronouncing database product names aloud.
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How is "MySQL" most commonly pronounced?
MySQL has an official pronunciation of "my-S-Q-L" /maɪ ˌɛs kjuː ˈɛl/ ("my-ess-cue-el"), but in everyday speech "my-sequel" /maɪ ˈsiːkwəl/ is extremely common and fully understood. So "a MySQL database" is "a my-S-Q-L database" or "a my-sequel database." The "My" part is from the co-founder's daughter's name, My. Both pronunciations are professional. Avoid "MIS-kel" or spelling out every single letter including M and Y.
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How is "PostgreSQL" most commonly pronounced in conversation?
PostgreSQL is almost always shortened to "Postgres" /ˈpoʊstɡrɛs/ in conversation — two-ish syllables, "post" + "gres." The full official reading is "post-gres-Q-L" ("post-gres" plus "sequel" or "S-Q-L"). So "we use Postgres", "the Postgres connection." Avoid "post-gree" (wrong vowel) or trying to spell out every letter. In daily standups almost everyone simply says "Postgres."
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How is "SQLite" pronounced?
SQLite is pronounced either "sequel-light" /ˈsiːkwəl laɪt/ or "S-Q-L-ite" /ˌɛs kjuː ˌɛl ˈaɪt/ ("ess-cue-el-ite"). The author, D. Richard Hipp, states it can be said either way — both are correct. The "-ite" suffix rhymes with "light" / "byte." So "store it in SQLite", "a SQLite file." Avoid "squee-light" or "skwy-leet." Since "SQL" itself has two pronunciations, "SQLite" inherits both, and the "-ite" ending is consistent.
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How is "MongoDB" pronounced?
MongoDB is pronounced "MON-go-D-B" /ˈmɒŋɡoʊ ˌdiː ˈbiː/ — "MON-go" (stress on the first syllable, like the word "mango" with an o) followed by "D-B" spoken as two letters. The "DB" is never said as a word. So "a MON-go-D-B collection", "store it in MON-go-D-B." The name derives from "humongous." Do not stress the second syllable ("mon-GO") or blend "DB" into "dub." Many databases use this pattern: name + spelled-out "D-B."
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How is "Redis" pronounced?
Redis is pronounced "RED-iss" /ˈrɛdɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first, short /e/ vowel as in "red." It abbreviates "Remote Dictionary Server." So "cache it in RED-iss", "the RED-iss cluster." Do not say "REE-diss" (long vowel) or "reh-DEE" (wrong stress). Think of the colour "red" to remember the first syllable: RED-iss. The project itself uses this pronunciation.