5 exercises on how to say database vocabulary aloud correctly.
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How is "SQL" most traditionally pronounced — and is there a second accepted form?
SQL has two equally accepted pronunciations. "Sequel" /ˈsiːkwəl/ is the original pronunciation, dating from SQL's predecessor language SEQUEL, and remains extremely common especially among Oracle and older RDBMS engineers. "S-Q-L" /ɛs kjuː ɛl/ (spelling it out letter by letter) is also widely used, especially in the open-source community. Both are professional and understood worldwide. PostgreSQL engineers often say "post-gres-sequel" or "post-gres-S-Q-L" — either is correct. Never say "squeal." Pick one and be consistent; neither is wrong.
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How is "NoSQL" (Not Only SQL) databases pronounced?
NoSQL is pronounced "no-sequel" /ˌnoʊˈsiːkwəl/ by most engineers, or "no-S-Q-L" by those who prefer the initialism form. The "No" is the English word "no" /noʊ/. So "a NoSQL database" is "a no-sequel database" or "a no-S-Q-L database." The "no-sequel" form is more common in casual conversation. Since "SQL" itself has two pronunciations, "NoSQL" inherits both. Avoid invented forms like "noss-kel" — always treat it as "no" plus "SQL" in your preferred pronunciation.
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How is "Redis" (the in-memory data store) pronounced?
Redis is pronounced "RED-iss" /ˈrɛdɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first, short /e/ vowel as in "red." The name is an abbreviation of "Remote Dictionary Server." So "use RED-iss as the cache", "the RED-iss cluster", "store sessions in RED-iss." Do not say "REE-diss" (long /iː/ vowel) or "reh-DEE" (wrong stress). The Redis project itself uses "RED-iss" in promotional material. Since it begins with "red," think of the colour to remember: RED-iss.
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How is "schema" pronounced?
Schema is pronounced "SKEE-mah" /ˈskiːmə/ — two syllables, stress on the first, long /iː/ vowel ("ee"), ending in a weak schwa. It is borrowed from Greek (σχῆμα) via Latin. So "the database SKEE-mah", "a JSON SKEE-mah", "validate against the SKEE-mah." Do not say "SHAY-mah" (wrong initial consonant) or "ske-MAH" (wrong stress). The word follows the pattern of Greek-Latin borrowings in English: "SKEE-mah", "STEE-mah" (stigma), "THEEM-ah" (theme). Stress is always on the first syllable.
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How is "sharding" (horizontal database partitioning) pronounced?
Sharding is pronounced "SHARD-ing" /ˈʃɑːrdɪŋ/ — two syllables, stress on "SHARD." A "shard" /ʃɑːrd/ is a piece or fragment (like a shard of glass), and "sharding" is the process of splitting a database into shards. So "horizontal SHARD-ing", "the SHARD-ing key", "SHARD-ed database." The initial "sh" /ʃ/ is the same sound as in "shell" and "share." Do not say "SHARE-ding" (wrong vowel) or stress the second syllable. In British English the vowel is /ɑː/ ("ahrd"), in American English it is also /ɑːr/ ("ard").