Getting the Name Right

Getting the Name Right — Politely ask a colleague to clarify how to pronounce their name.

A First-Day Introduction

You’ve just joined a project team. A colleague introduces herself, but you aren’t sure where the stress falls in her name. You want to get the pronunciation right, so you ask politely, listen, and check your understanding. A useful exchange can be brief: ask for the pronunciation, listen to the syllables and stress, then say the name back for confirmation. If you don’t catch it the first time, asking again is better than pretending you understood.

A Small Sign of Respect

In many English-speaking workplaces, it is generally acceptable to ask someone directly how to pronounce their name, especially when you first meet. A brief, sincere question and an attempt to repeat the name can show care. Norms vary between people and workplaces, so follow the other person’s lead. If you’re unsure, ask rather than guessing from spelling or apologising at length.

Hear the Stress, Keep Their Version

A syllable is one beat in a spoken word. Word stress is the syllable that stands out most. In the dialogue, Agnieszka tells Jordan where the stress falls; Jordan listens and checks rather than relying on spelling. Names can have personal or regional pronunciations, so treat a stress pattern in an example as practice—not as a rule for every person with that name.

Ask, Listen, Check

Make the Introduction Yours

Materiał przygotowany z pomocą AI.