this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2026
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[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)
[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago
[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 hours ago

I like to pronounce them like squeal and dunes.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 34 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (3 children)

SQL is pronounced 'Sequel' because it was originaly SEQUEL.

SQL was initially developed at IBM by Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce after learning about the relational model from Edgar F. Codd[12] in the early 1970s.[13] This version, initially called SEQUEL (Structured English Query Language), was designed to manipulate and retrieve data stored in IBM's original quasirelational database management system, System R, which a group at IBM San Jose Research Laboratory had developed during the 1970s.[13]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL

It then later evolved, and changed from being an acronym into an initialism, kind of, sort of, mostly for people who are unaware of the etymology.

'Sequel' is quite literally the tradtional way to pronounce it.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 6 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

That would explain why it's only American to I've ever heard referred to it like that. Every European developer I've ever heard referred to it as always called it SQL as would I.

Other DNS is definitely Dennis from now on.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 hours ago

I too am going to call DNS 'Dennis' from now on, lol.

Yeah I've had some discussions over time with the whole SQL vs Sequel thing, and what I realized was that...

Well basically, I learned 'Sequel' from a bunch of old timers in the Seattle area.

The kind of people who had been writing COBOL since they got back from Vietnam, people who'd actually worked at IBM, still acted like Microsoft was an 'upstart', people who'd just offhand tell me about the one time they got 'deployed' to Saudi Arabia to flash a compromised BIOS onto hardware destined to be used in Saddam's air defense network, prior to the Gulf War.

So, they actually literally were there back when SEQUEL was invented.

[–] undree@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

Still gonna call it squirrel though

[–] NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 6 hours ago

TIL, thank you. Still not gonna say it like that.

[–] sudo@programming.dev 21 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

I had a coworker pronounce URL as Earl.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 hours ago

Want some URL Grey tea?

[–] Romer@reddthat.com 16 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Don't you mean, DEE-niss? 8====D <------ There. It's right there.

[–] icedaemon0@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago
[–] InvalidName2@lemmy.zip 13 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] nek0d3r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

You say your name right! Now, dee-NICE!

[–] I_am_10_squirrels@beehaw.org 1 points 4 hours ago

Ay-ay-ron! Is Ay-ay-ron here?

[–] GreatRam@lemmy.world 47 points 15 hours ago (5 children)
[–] kamen@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago

JSON Statham

[–] Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)
[–] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Lots of people do, and it makes no sense.

How do you pronounce "J"?

How do you pronounce "son"?

Now put them together.

[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 hour ago

Oh I get it!

How do you pronounce "e"?

How do you pronounce "yes"?

Now put them together for "eyes"!

[–] neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zone 25 points 13 hours ago (1 children)
[–] idegenszavak@sh.itjust.works 20 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] DasFaultier@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 hours ago

Ah, I see, you're a person of culture and distinguished taste.

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 9 points 13 hours ago

I feel like this one is relatively uncontroversial

URL pronounced as "earl" however? I'll spend all of my remaining energy in life ensuring the person saying it is stapled to the bottom of the Mariana trench with rebar

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[–] Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world 100 points 17 hours ago (4 children)

HTML: hatemail

HTTP: hat-top

MSDN: Mastodon

SSH: shhhhh

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

PHP: fffffffp

[–] A7thStone@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

I thought HTML was hate em all.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 23 points 16 hours ago (3 children)

Anybody else ever use HoTMetaL to make a website?

[–] markz@suppo.fi 15 points 15 hours ago (2 children)
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[–] freezy@discuss.tchncs.de 37 points 15 hours ago
[–] Charlxmagne@lemmy.world 9 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Bro I heard someone pronounce it squeal before 🫠

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[–] WanderingThoughts@europe.pub 29 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

The original product was called SEQUEL. Structured English QUEry Language. They got sued over the name by a company named Sequel, so changed it to SQL but kept calling it sequel, as do we all.

[–] Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 hours ago

Except me who call it Es-Queue-El as language intended.

/Old mans rant off

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[–] Codpiece@feddit.uk 31 points 17 hours ago (11 children)

It’s not sequel. It’s squirrel.

[–] Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world 22 points 16 hours ago

Skill. Then you can reply to any database problems your coworkers bring up with "sounds like a skill issue".

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[–] Uranus_Hz@lemmy.zip 7 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

How do you pronounce PDF file?

[–] zerofk@lemmy.zip 1 points 58 minutes ago
[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago
[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 12 points 10 hours ago

E-p-s-t-e-i-n?

[–] BlackPenguins@lemmy.world 11 points 16 hours ago (2 children)
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