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Host Pronunciation Guide

host worldbuilding audiobook

I write books with the audiobook in mind. I read my drafts aloud to my wife and I even listen to Word’s narrator as I’m writing and editing to make sure the phrasing sounds right and my punctuation is doing its work.

I find it annoying when a narrator pronounces a name or place differently than I heard it in my head. To that end, I put together a quick pronunciation guide.

Main Characters

  • Reyankaiya — Ray-an-KY-a
  • Reyan — Ray-AN
  • Kavianhar — Kavy-an-HAR
  • Parrnath Grainsmeir — PAR-nath GRAINS-myer
  • Sevvran Bital — Sev-RON bi-TAL
  • Tamura — Ta-MOOR-A
  • Mam — Just like it’s spelled. Just like people would say “Yes ma’am”. Not “mom”.
  • Lyessa — LIE-ssa. Very similar to Liza but with ses not zs.

Other Names and Places

  • Alicechandra — Alla-SHAWN-dra
  • Dean Flaa — Just like “flaw”
  • Dean Khamis — Similar to “Thomas” with the “T” replaced with a “HA” with a soft back-of-the-throat fricative
  • Fang Hui Bai — Fang whee bye
  • Gishken — GISH-ken
  • Harut — Har-ROOT
  • Quay — Kee
  • Ramasundaram — Just break it apart: Rama-soon-DAR-am
  • Tsunsk — tSUNSk. All one syllable. Should mostly sound like “suns” with a slight fricative
  • Whulge — rhymes with bulge