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1. pavel_+(OP)[view] [source] 2025-10-09 20:18:46
Samesies; when I moved to Texas, people put the accent in my name on the wrong syllable, but after awhile that began to sound more natural than my name with the accent in the correct place but with an American accent. "PAYvel" sounds worse to me than "PahVEL", so I go by the latter - presumably fucking it up for every Pavel that comes into these people's lives after me.
replies(2): >>rkomor+uj >>int_19+uI
2. rkomor+uj[view] [source] 2025-10-09 22:41:08
>>pavel_+(OP)
What gets me is the people who decide not to call me by the name I specifically introduce myself with.

I have a nasal vowel in my name that, so far in my life, only French and Portuguese speakers have pronounced properly.

I learned English in the US young enough that no one guesses I'm not native, and I anglicized my name so that it could be pronounced easily. It is what I go by.

I introduce myself with this adopted pronunciation. People often ask me how to pronounce it in French, so I tell them, but reiterate that I go by the anglicized pronunciation.

Inevitably, those folks start using their wrong attempt at French and I have to correct them and tell them I go by the anglicized pronunciation.

Edit: strong feelings had, obviously.

replies(1): >>pavel_+yB1
3. int_19+uI[view] [source] 2025-10-10 04:18:49
>>pavel_+(OP)
I'm also Pavel, and it just seems to be one of those names that native English speakers have trouble with.

Protip: it seems to help if you stick an accent on "a": "Pável". In US, people have usually seen enough Spanish to interpret this more or less correctly, and of course it also doubles as a stress marker.

That said, personally, I often don't bother and also go with the default [ˈpei.vɪl] just because it's easier to go with the flow.

replies(1): >>pavel_+nB1
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4. pavel_+nB1[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-10-10 13:25:36
>>int_19+uI
> it's easier to go with the flow.

Yep.

I've told people that my name has been mangled sufficiently, that when people discuss gravel, I snap my head in their direction.

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5. pavel_+yB1[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-10-10 13:26:32
>>rkomor+uj
Yeah. Every time someone asks me, "but how do you really pronounce it", I do a big internal sigh and resign myself to the next 10 minutes being a useless pronunciation lesson.
replies(1): >>rkomor+zG1
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6. rkomor+zG1[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-10-10 13:51:29
>>pavel_+yB1
And when they somehow come away satisfied that their wrong pronunciation works... ugh.

I will say though, I'm perfectly fine with people not being able to pronounce my name, and I do expect the same courtesy in return. I'll give it my best shot, but if it's not happening, it's just not happening.

replies(2): >>pavel_+2L1 >>huhker+W67
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7. pavel_+2L1[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-10-10 14:13:59
>>rkomor+zG1
> And when they somehow come away satisfied that their wrong pronunciation works... ugh.

Whatever the outcome, I'm just pleased that that particular conversation has come to an end.

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8. huhker+W67[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-10-12 17:18:33
>>rkomor+zG1
> I'm perfectly fine with people not being able to pronounce my name... I'll give it my best shot, but if it's not happening, it's just not happening.

It's hard to square this with all of the frustration you're expressing in your other comments.

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