5 exercises on pronouncing command-line tool names aloud.
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1 / 5
How is "kubectl" pronounced?
kubectl has several accepted pronunciations: "kube-control" (since it controls Kubernetes), "kube-cuttle" /ˈkjuːb kʌtəl/ (like "cuttlefish"), or spelling the tail "kube-C-T-L." The maintainers favour "kube-control." So "run kube-control get pods." The "kube" part /kjuːb/ rhymes with "tube." Avoid the jokey "kube-cuddle." It is the CLI for Kubernetes ("koo-ber-NET-eez").
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How is "nginx" pronounced?
nginx is said "engine-X" /ˈɛndʒɪn ɛks/ — the ordinary word "engine" plus the letter "X." The name is literally "engine x" written without spaces. So "serve it behind engine-X", "an engine-X reverse proxy." Do not spell it out or say "en-jinks." Once you know it is "engine x," the spelling makes sense: n-gin-x.
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How is "jq" (the JSON processor) pronounced?
jq is said "J-Q" /dʒeɪ kjuː/ — two letters spelled out, "jay, cue." It is the command-line JSON processor. So "pipe it into J-Q", "a J-Q filter." It is not blended into a word like "jock." The "q" is the standard letter name "cue" /kjuː/. Both letters keep their ordinary English names.
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How is "tmux" (the terminal multiplexer) pronounced?
tmux is said "tee-mux" /tiː mʌks/ — the letter "T" (tee) plus "mux" /mʌks/ (the clipped form of "multiplexer," rhyming with "bucks"). So "split the pane in tee-mux", "a tee-mux session." The "T" stands for "terminal." Do not spell out all the letters. "Mux" is itself common jargon for multiplexer, with a short /ʌ/ vowel.
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How is "curl" pronounced?
curl is pronounced "curl" /kɜːrl/ — one syllable, exactly like the English word "curl" (a coil or twist), with the /ɜːr/ vowel as in "fur." So "fetch it with curl", "a curl request." Its author has confirmed it is said like the word "curl," though some jokingly expand it "see-URL" (it does handle URLs). The standard spoken form is the plain word "curl."