5 exercises on pronouncing common text-editor names aloud.
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How is "emacs" (the text editor) pronounced?
emacs is pronounced "EE-macks" /ˈiːmæks/ — two syllables, stress on the first, which has a long "ee" /iː/ vowel, and a second syllable "macks" /mæks/ rhyming with "tracks." It stands for "Editor MACroS." So "I use EE-macks", "an EE-macks buffer." Do not spell it out as letters or stress the second syllable. The first part is "ee" as in "see," never "eh." Some old-timers also say "EE-max," but the stress is always on the first syllable.
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How is "vi" (the classic Unix editor) pronounced?
vi is pronounced as two separate letters "V-I" /viː aɪ/ — "vee" then "eye." The name comes from "visual" (it was the visual mode of the ex editor). So "open it in V-I", "V-I keybindings", "exit V-I." Do not say it as a single syllable "vy" or "vee." Note the contrast: the related editor "vim" IS said as one word /vɪm/, but plain "vi" is always the two letters "vee-eye."
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How is "nano" (the beginner-friendly editor) pronounced?
nano is pronounced "NAH-no" /ˈnɑːnoʊ/ (or "NAN-oh" with a short first vowel) — two syllables, stress on the first, ending in the /oʊ/ vowel as in "go." It is the same word as the SI prefix "nano" (billionth). So "edit it with NAH-no", "NAH-no the config file." Do not stress the second syllable. The editor is named for being small and simple, echoing the "tiny" meaning of the nano- prefix.
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How is "VS Code" (Visual Studio Code) said aloud?
VS Code is said "V-S Code" /viː ɛs koʊd/ — the two letters "vee-ess" followed by the ordinary word "code" /koʊd/. So "open it in V-S Code", "a V-S Code extension." Do not blend it into "vees-kode" or read "VS" as the word "versus." The "VS" is short for "Visual Studio" and is spelled out as letters, while "Code" is a full English word. Many also just say "vee-ess code" quickly.
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How is "Sublime" (Sublime Text) pronounced?
Sublime is pronounced "suh-BLIME" /səˈblaɪm/ — two syllables, stress on the second, exactly like the ordinary English adjective "sublime" (meaning excellent or grand). The second syllable has the long "i" /aɪ/ as in "lime." So "I use suh-BLIME Text", "a suh-BLIME plugin." Do not stress the first syllable ("SUB-lime") or use a French-style "sub-LEEM." It is a real English word used as a product name.