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Is there a proper pronunciation for the word Linux?

Could someone write the phonetics for pronouncing "Linux", and also the somewhat notorious variant "Lye-nix"?

I think this is right...

  • Lɪnɪx, NOT Lɚnɪx.

...or perhaps...

  • Lɪnʌx, NOT Lɚnʌx*

Can someone confirm the correct phonetics? (Listen to Linus on the matter).

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closed as not constructive by Mark Henderson♦ Jan 4 at 6:28

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15 Answers

up vote 21 down vote

Linus Torvalds take on the matter.

Edit: Links seems to be down. Here is the almost complete content:

"Hello this is Linus Torvalds and I pronounce Linux as Linux."

(alternative Source)

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Thankyou! We're onto a good start. – Xerxes May 29 '09 at 10:16
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up vote 2 down vote

Crikey! Do you all say "..ix"? I've always pronounced the "u" as a "u"...

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I give you +1 for just admitting that you've mispronounced it, and now you know =D. – Xerxes May 29 '09 at 10:24
I dunno - Linus Torvalds sounds like he says it my way - though maybe that's because of how I interpret a Finnish accent through British ears... – teedyay May 29 '09 at 10:27
My bad teedyay - I completely misread your post - you were referring to the ending "...ix", I was talking about the starting "li..." =) In which case - I think your pronunciation must have been perfectly fine. – Xerxes May 29 '09 at 10:34
I guess the people who say -ix, also pronounce Linus as line-is, right? :) – Micke May 29 '09 at 10:39
liNIX, as in uNIX. Sheesh – Dave Cheney May 29 '09 at 12:46
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up vote 2 down vote

There is a you-tube video where Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, explains how the word should be pronounced. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IfHm6R5le0

some more referrance: http://safalra.com/science/linguistics/linux-pronunciation/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux

gives you audio files.

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up vote 1 down vote

As for i know I used to pronounce LINUX. L I N U X.. :-)

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up vote 1 down vote

I always say unix - but that doesn't endear me to the devs...

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Linux is not unix :-P – vartec May 29 '09 at 10:48
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ohhh i know.... still its funny to me... – Preet Sangha May 29 '09 at 10:52
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up vote 1 down vote

AFAIK, you should pronounce it "lee-nooks"

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lol thats very funny... – Preet Sangha May 29 '09 at 10:58
That is, phonetically, how they say it in Finnish. And since Linus is from Finland, well, there you have it. – Jonathan J Jan 4 at 5:49
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up vote 1 down vote

in Italy: "leenooks" (in phonetic symbols: l'inucs)

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up vote 1 down vote

Lye nucks

I know people who say lih nucks, but its just sounds wrong to me

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+1 me too. I started pronouncing it this way and it was burned into my brain before I learned that it was "wrong". If saying lye-nucks is wrong, I don't want to be right! – Mr. Shiny and New 安宇 May 29 '09 at 12:53
Just remember, folks LINE-X is a brand of Pickup truck bed liners, not operating systems ;-) – Barton Chittenden Jan 4 at 6:01
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up vote 1 down vote

2 out of 10 people will pronounce common everyday words differently - what makes you think and hope there will ever be a consencus on how to p-ronounce "Linux" ?

Apart from that ... like Linus with an x. (I don't think I can post audio with these answers :)

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up vote 0 down vote

I would say "Li-nix".

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up vote 0 down vote

Is this important?

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Not really - but it certainly is fun, wouldn't you agree? 8) – Xerxes May 29 '09 at 11:55
It doesn't bother me, but I've seen this discussion everywhere, several times, and it's getting boring... :-) I personally say Linux. ;-) – Sena May 29 '09 at 11:57
Party pooper. =) – Xerxes May 29 '09 at 12:02
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up vote 0 down vote

Linux pron:Lyn-ux

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up vote 0 down vote

I normally go with "ooboon2"

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up vote 0 down vote

That's GNU Linux to you. Just ask Richard M. Stallman.

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