How Do You Pronounce These Phrases From Zelda: Ocarina Of Time?

The upcoming return to 64-bit Hyrule has us discussing Ocarina of Time reminiscences, chatting about our favorite characters and executives, and customarily wanting wistfully into the center distance with a smile on our faces, questioning how all these folks and locations will look in reimagined type on Change 2.

In the midst of these chats, nonetheless, we have discovered that we do not all say these folks’s names in fairly the identical method. We have investigated Pokémon and extra common Nintendo-related phrases earlier than, however not Ocarina particularly. There’s just one option to say ‘Ocarina’, proper?

Flawed. So include us as we hit ‘X’ to leap and dive proper in…

On this web page: How do you say these Ocarina-related phrases?

1.‘Ocarina’2.‘Navi’3.‘Saria’4.‘Kaepora Gaebora’5.‘Talon’ / ‘Malon’6.‘Epona’7.‘Sheik’ / ‘Sheikah’8.‘Koume’9.‘Kotake’10.‘Volvagia’11.‘Cucco’

Earlier than we start, a be aware. As we have talked about earlier than, if somebody says a phrase otherwise from you, it does not imply they’re essentially improper! MARRY-oh, MAR-ree-oh, YOSH-ee, YO-shee – it is all good.

Even when there’s an official mannequin or we have heard it spoken in-game, regional accents will at all times fluctuate how these phrases are spoken aloud. There isn’t any 100% incorrect option to say these, except you are being intentionally obtuse (eg. ‘Hyperlink’ isn’t pronounced ‘Panbrush von Doofenstink’).

One different factor: The IPA (Worldwide Phonetic Alphabet) could be very helpful to anybody who is aware of it…however not-so-much to those that do not, which I think about is most readers. For that motive, I’ve usually averted it beneath and used capitalised approximations that almost all can hopefully parse extra simply.

‘Ocarina’

Let’s kick off with the pronunciation query that sparked this complete article: How do you say ‘ocarina’?

A few weeks in the past, John Ricciardi of 8-4 fame (Tokyo-based localisation studio and purveyor of wonderful podcasts for anybody involved in Japan, video games, or Japanese video games) highlighted on Bluesky a latest interview with former NOA producer John Wornell revealed by Hyrule Interviews, which raised the subject of OCK-arina or OH-karina.

This obtained me occupied with how ppl pronounce “ocarina” – I typically swap between “ah” and “oh” myself as a result of in Japanese, it’s “oh” however within the US it’s “ah”. In Japan ppl shorten it to 時オカ (toki-oka), which after all likewise carries the lengthy ‘o’ sound

— John Ricciardi (@johntv.bsky.social) 2026-09-24T00:10:04.039Z

Leaving apart for a second regional accent variations (the extra British-sounding OCK /ɒk/ versus the US-like ARK /ɑːk/), the true query depends upon whether or not you veer in the direction of a Japanese ‘oh’ vowel sound at first or not.

So, OC-topus or Oh-my-god?

‘Navi’

We’re again to the MARRY-oh / MAR-ree-oh with this one, though I’m wondering if the recognition of Avatar and the Na’vi imply that new gamers will lean in the direction of NAR-vee nowadays.

‘Saria’

Similar deal right here – SARRYa or SAR-ree-ya?

‘Kaepora Gaebora’

Your pronunciation of OoT’s sagely owl depends upon the way you interpret these ‘ae’s. Hey or Hello?

Alternatively, you’ll be able to have some enjoyable in the event you stress the primary syllables and hyperlink the 2 phrases in a sing-song style.

Alternatively alternatively, some would possibly separate out the ‘a’ and ‘e’ in these diphthongs into separate, distinct vowel sounds, which shifts issues up from three to 4 syllables a-piece. Every to their very own.

‘Talon’ / ‘Malon’

I say MAY-lon, you say MA-lon,I say TAY-lon, you say TA-lon,MAY-lon, MA-lon, TAY-lon, TA-lon,Let’s…keep on with the ballot format for now, as a result of we have got six extra of those to go.

A minimum of Ingo is straightforward, eh? Except there’s somebody on the market saying ‘Ingo’ with out the exhausting ‘g’, or mistaking the uppercase ‘I’ for a lowercase ‘L’. However let’s not go there.

‘Epona’

Ah, a straightforward one! Or is it? This all depends upon which syllable you stress, first or second.

What about stressing the third syllable, you ask? Hmm, you keep in mind that be aware up high the place I stated there was no improper option to say these? I lied.

Having just lately launched my youngsters to one of many web’s best movies (see above), on this family we wail her identify to the tune of day-TOE-Naaaaaaa at any time when humanly attainable. That’s the right reply.

‘Sheik’ / ‘Sheikah’

The mysterious harp-wielding stranger who Hyperlink encounters later in his journey, and Impa’s historical tribe sworn to guard Hyrule’s royal household.

Your pronunciation right here could align with the way you say the Arabic phrase ‘sheikh’ – are you shake, stylish, or one thing else solely?

I’ll assume you pronounce each the individual and the tribe equally – if not, properly, that is what the feedback are for.

‘Koume’

In the case of the witch sisters, the variety of syllables is up for debate – three, two, or one.

Combining the ‘o’ and ‘u’ into one thing like KOO-may could really feel pure in English, though in Japanese koh-OO-may would possibly sound extra correct.

Likewise, you possibly can be forgiven for combining every little thing right into a single KOOM.

‘Kotake’

koh-TAH-kay sounds affordable, positive, but when English audio system are mashing up these vowel sounds for ‘Koume’, koh-TAKE (rhymes with ‘faux’) is not off the desk. There are additionally syllable and stress choices right here.

‘Volvagia’

It is the ‘g’ that has a few of us wanting round for affirmation after saying this fiery boss’s identify out loud and realising it sounds slightly anatomical. Whether or not you’re taking the primary two syllables or the final two, it is greater than sufficient to fluster a reserved Brit.

So, is it Volvag- with a tough ‘g’ (like bag) or Volvadge- with a /dʒ/ (as in badge)?

‘Cucco’

We wrap issues up with one which may appear apparent, however in the event you say it just like the real-life chook of area and clock fame, why is not it spelt the identical? Absolutely you want one other ‘o’ on the top if it is ‘cuckoo’, no?

It appears extra like ‘stucco’, the fabric you employ for rendering the skin partitions of your own home, which is pronounced STUK-oh. So, KUK-oh? KOOK-oh? KOO-koh?

Chickens. That is what they’re known as. Hit the rooster!

And there you could have it. Hopefully you have had enjoyable taking a look at some attainable variations of acquainted figures’ names. Maybe you have modified the way you say one thing through the years? Tell us beneath.