Rule of thumb — if letters form a natural syllable, it becomes a word
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1 / 5
How is API (Application Programming Interface) pronounced in technical conversations?
API — always spelled out: "AY-PEE-EYE"
API is an initialism — each letter is spoken individually. Unlike NATO or SCRUM, "API" cannot form a natural English syllable, so it is never pronounced as a word.
Other IT initialisms always spelled out:
CLI — "SEE-ELL-EYE"
GUI — "GEE-YOU-EYE" (though "GOO-ee" is also common)
URL — "YOU-ARE-ELL"
HTTP — "AITCH-TEE-TEE-PEE"
2 / 5
Which statement about pronouncing GUI (Graphical User Interface) is correct?
GUI — two accepted pronunciations:
"GOO-ee" (/ɡuːi/) — the informal word pronunciation, extremely common in everyday developer speech. Most developers say this.
"GEE-YOU-EYE" — the formal initialism, safer in formal presentations or written contexts.
This is similar to SQL ("sequel" vs "ESS-QUE-ELL") — both forms coexist. In a job interview, either is understood. Use "GOO-ee" naturally in conversation.
3 / 5
How do you correctly pronounce OAuth (Open Authorisation protocol)?
OAuth — "oh-AUTH":
OAuth is pronounced /ˈoʊɑːθ/ — "oh-AUTH", where the second syllable rhymes with "cloth" or "broth". The "O" stands for "Open" and "Auth" for "Authorisation".
Watch out for:
OAuth /ˈoʊɑːθ/ — the protocol
auth /ɔːθ/ — short for "authentication" or "authorisation" (common in code)
JWT — "JAY-double-you-TEE" (always spelled out)
4 / 5
A developer says YAML in a team meeting. Which pronunciation is correct?
YAML — "YAM-ul" /ˈjæməl/:
YAML stands for "YAML Ain't Markup Language" (a recursive acronym). It is pronounced as a word: "YAM-ul".
The /j/ sound at the start is like the "y" in "yes" — not a "w" sound.
Similar word-acronyms in DevOps/infrastructure:
YAML /ˈjæməl/ — "YAM-ul"
TOML — "TOM-ul" (Tom's Obvious, Minimal Language)
JSON /ˈdʒeɪsɒn/ — "JAY-son"
5 / 5
How is regex (regular expression) typically pronounced?
regex — "REH-jeks" /ˈrɛdʒɛks/:
The standard pronunciation uses a short /ɛ/ vowel in the first syllable — "REH-jeks". Some developers say "REE-jeks" but "REH-jeks" is more common and matches the shortened form of "regular".
The /dʒ/ sound: The "g" in "regex" is soft — like the "j" in "judge" — because it comes before "e". This is a common point of confusion for non-native speakers who might say a hard "g" (as in "get").
Related terms: "regexp" — pronounced "REH-jeks-pee" or "REH-jexp"; "regular expression" — always safe to say in full.