I teach English to developers.
One thing I see all the time: developers read technical words every day. But they never hear them spoken. Then the interview comes. You say a word out loud. And you think... "Wait, did I say that right?"
I said "koo-BER-nets" for two years before a colleague corrected me. It happens to everyone.
Here are 10 tech words that cause confusion. Let's fix them together.
1. Cache
People often say: "cash-ay" or "catch"
Correct: "cash" /kæʃ/
Yes, like money. It looks French, but in English we say "cash".
"Clear the cache" = "Clear the CASH"
2. SQL
Two ways - both are correct:
- "S-Q-L" (say each letter)
- "sequel" /ˈsiːkwəl/
Listen to your team. Use what they use. Stay consistent.
3. Nginx
People often say: "en-jinx" or spelling it out
Correct: "engine-X" /ˌendʒɪnˈeks/
Think: "engine" + "X". That's it.
4. Linux
People often say: "LINE-ux" (long 'i')
Correct: "LIN-ux" /ˈlɪnʊks/ (short 'i', like "in")
Linus Torvalds made it. He says "LIN-ux". So we say "LIN-ux".
5. GUI
Two ways - both are correct:
- "G-U-I" (say each letter)
- "gooey" /ˈɡuːi/
"Gooey" is common in everyday conversation.
6. Kubernetes
People often say: "koo-BER-nets"
Correct: "koo-ber-NET-eez" /ˌkuːbərˈnetiːz/
Four parts: KOO - ber - NET - eez
The stress is on NET.
Say it slowly at first. Then speed up.
7. OAuth
People often say: "ow-th" (one sound)
Correct: "OH-auth" /oʊˈɔːθ/
Two parts: "OH" + "auth" (like in "authentic")
Keep them separate. OH... auth.
8. Sudo
People often say: "soo-DOO"
Correct: "SOO-doh" /ˈsuːdoʊ/
From "superuser do". Sounds like "pseudo".
9. Char
People often say: "char" (like burned food)
Correct: "kar" /kɑːr/
Short for "character". The "ch" sounds like "k". Like "car".
10. Width
People often say: "wid-TH" (strong 'th' sound)
Correct: soft 'th', almost silent
Don't push the 'th'. Say it fast: "width". Smooth.
Same for height - the 'gh' is silent. Just say "hite".
Why Does This Matter?
Here's the truth: native speakers will usually understand you anyway.
But when YOU feel confident about how you say words, something changes. You stop hesitating. You speak more clearly. You focus on your ideas, not on your pronunciation.
This is not about being perfect. It's about feeling confident.
Quick Practice
Say these out loud, right now:
- "I cleared the cache." (cash)
- "We use Kubernetes in production." (koo-ber-NET-eez)
- "Check the width." (soft 'th')
Vocabulary from This Article
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pronounce | to say a word out loud | "How do you pronounce this?" |
| syllable | one sound-unit in a word | "'Water' has two syllables: wa-ter." |
| stress | saying one part louder | "The stress is on the second syllable." |
| hesitate | to stop or pause (not sure what to do) | "He hesitated before answering." |
| consistent | always the same way | "Be consistent - use the same pronunciation." |
Your Turn
What word did you say wrong for years?
I'll go first: "Kubernetes" - I only learned the right way last year!
Drop yours in the comments. No judgment here.
I'm Jacques, an English teacher who works with developers. I help non-native speakers communicate with confidence.
Top comments (0)