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Original poster

Pronunciation of Roald

58 replies

whatausername · 15/12/2021 21:15

Row (as in a boat)?
Roll?
Road?
Rolled?

Not using it, just curious. I always hear Roald Dahl referred to by his full name. I think I say "row" and it runs into Dahl. What is the correct pronunication? Any Norwegians about?

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Legomania · 15/12/2021 21:26

Roh - ald, surely?

Most of your versions leave out a whole syllable of his name!

dementedpixie · 15/12/2021 21:26

Row-ad (row as in row a boat)

CrispAndFrosty · 15/12/2021 21:28

I've always said it like the past tense of roll, "rolled". Google tells me the Norwegian pronunciation is "Roo-all".

MajorCarolDanvers · 15/12/2021 21:31

Row-ald

groovergirl · 15/12/2021 21:32

My Norwegian cousin has this name.

English speakers tend to pronounce it as Row-ald but the Norwegian is more like Roo-ald, with a short a in the -ald.
When he was at school in Australia the teachers kept calling him Ronald and ticking him off for misspelling his name!

WhispersOfWickedness · 15/12/2021 21:32

The d is silent at the end, like Astrid Smile

CrispAndFrosty · 15/12/2021 21:38

@WhispersOfWickedness

The d is silent at the end, like Astrid Smile
Wait, whaaat? I did not know that about Astrid! Is it like Astree?
dementedpixie · 15/12/2021 21:41

@WhispersOfWickedness

The d is silent at the end, like Astrid Smile
I sound the D in Astrid Confused
Itmustbeaproblemwithyourdoodad · 15/12/2021 21:43

I love this name and we very nearly named our son it but chickened out because of the pronunciation issues. We were saying “Rowuld” but Google said that was incorrect, which made me confused and a bit sad. So he’s Rupert instead but I still feel a bit sad he’s not Roald because it feels like such an epic name to me.

Itsnotalwaysme · 15/12/2021 21:43

Like mould but with an r Grin

YodaiamsaidI · 15/12/2021 21:46

I always thought it was pronouned Rowal,but I'm notorious for mispronouncing words

LoannaJumley · 15/12/2021 21:48

It's Row-old isn't it?

YodaiamsaidI · 15/12/2021 21:52

A show he was on said Roo-al

Original poster
whatausername · 15/12/2021 21:56

@Itsnotalwaysme

Like mould but with an r Grin
I think when I slow down "Roald Dahl" that is actually what I get for his first name. Which in my accent is the same as "rolled".

Or maybe I'm 50/50 on row and rolled. My bored mind is wandering tonight 😂 Stuck in bed ill!

OP posts:
DixieSun · 15/12/2021 22:00

My grandad was friends with him and called him Roo al

Original poster
whatausername · 15/12/2021 22:02

Oh and, in my defence, as a little kid I probably mispronounced his name and it has stuck ever since. If you process a wrong pronunciation or spelling as a young child it really seems to stick! Never too late to learn though :-)

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Original poster
whatausername · 15/12/2021 22:03

@DixieSun

My grandad was friends with him and called him Roo al
A short 'a' and emphasis on the 'roo'?
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RebeccaCloud9 · 15/12/2021 22:12

My mind is blown. Always been rolled in my head - only ever heard it like this. Can't believe it has been wrong this whole time!

BiscuitLover3679 · 15/12/2021 22:14

I always thought it was Roll!

BiscuitLover3679 · 15/12/2021 22:15

@WhispersOfWickedness

The d is silent at the end, like Astrid Smile
Please explain!
TuftyMarmoset · 15/12/2021 22:15

I pronounce it the same as rolled but I’ve always suspected that isn’t correct!

Definitely pronounce the d in Astrid though.

Clevs · 15/12/2021 22:21

On its own I pronounce it 'Rolled'. But when I say 'Roald Dahl' I am a bit lazy and say 'Roll' because the D of his surname makes it sound like 'Rolled' anyway!

AndTime · 15/12/2021 22:26

I've always said rolled too but I have never said it without his surname which kind of flows into it.

Pyracanth · 15/12/2021 22:37

Roald -
Ro - as in how a cockney would pronounce the a in the word ball.
ald - is pronounced “ull” as in Ullswater and with the tongue at back of mouth on the “ll”
And if proper Norwegian pronunciation then the R would be rolling.

Pyracanth · 15/12/2021 22:37

Oh and the d is silent