Every Oscar season seems to bring a new mispronunciation that goes viral. Two years ago, it was “Adele Dazeem.” Last year, it was “Dick Poop.” This Oscar season, already, we’ve had Anthony Mackie’s unconventional take on the name of the co-star of The Danish Girl (“Alicia Viiiikkkk”) and Dennis Quaid’s announcement of this year’s Golden Globe nomination for “Sheesha” Ronan. Here’s hoping Sheesha finds success on Sunday night.
To avoid the humiliation of your own “Adele Dazeem,” just look over this handy cheat sheet, which also includes video tutorials from many of the expected nominees themselves.
Saoirse Ronan (star of Brooklyn)
Saoirse is pronounced “sir-shuh, like inertia,” according to Good Samaritan and actor Ryan Gosling.
Domhnall Gleeson (star of Brooklyn, Ex Machina, The Revenant, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Domhnall says it’s pronounced “like tonal, but with a D instead of a T.” DOUGH-null.
Alicia Vikander (star of Ex Machina and The Danish Girl)
It’s uh-LIH-see-uh vih-CAN-der.
Cate Blanchett (star of Carol)
It’s pronounced BLAN-chit, not blan-CHET.
Idris Elba (star of Beasts of No Nation)
It’s IH-driss ELL-buh (not “EE-dris,” as Americans often say).
Mark Ruffalo (star of Spotlight)
He pronounces his name RUFF-uh-lo, not ROOF-uh-lo.
Paul Dano (star of Love & Mercy)
It’s DAN-oh, not DAY-no.
Jacob Tremblay (star of Room)
Tremblay pronounces his name trom-blay, not trem-blay. (You can hear Tremblay say his name at :40 below.)
Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu (writer-director of The Revenant)
Pronunciation: ah-lay-HAHN-dro gon-SAH-les ih-NYAR-ee-too
Emmanuel Lubezki (cinematographer of The Revenant)
Pronuncation: ay-mahn-WELL loo-BESS-key
Phyllis Nagy (screenwriter of Carol)
Nagy is one syllable—say it like the second syllable in menage.
Ennio Morricone (composer, The Hateful Eight)
Pronunciation: EN-yo MORE-ee-CO-nay.
László Nemes (director and co-writer of foreign film Son of Saul)
Pronunciation: lass-low nuh-mesh.
Deniz Gamze Ergüven (director and co-writer of foreign film Mustang)
Pronunciation: DEH-nihz GAHM-ze AHR-guhv-ahn.
Anomalisa (animated film)
The title is a portmanteau of the word anomaly and the love interest’s name, Lisa: anoma-Lisa.
Idina Menzel (Voice, Frozen Fever)
Pronunciation: uh-DEHLL dah-ZEEMH.
