nginx (“engine x”) is an HTTP web server, reverse proxy, content cache, load balancer, TCP/UDP proxy server, and mail proxy server. […] [1]

I still pronounce it as “n-jinx” in my head.

References
  1. Title (website): “nginx”. Publisher: NGINX. Accessed: 2025-02-26T23:25Z. URI: https://nginx.org/en/.
    • §“nginx”. ¶1.
  • pyre@lemmy.world
    481·
    7 days ago

    I laughed out loud when I first learned that imgur is supposed to be pronounced as "imager’… well you fuckin chose the wrong combination of letters for that didn’t ya

    • iconic_admin@lemmy.world
      154·
      7 days ago

      1000% I say gif too, like gift. If you wanted it pronounced like “jiff” then you should have spelled it with a J.

      • oatscoop@midwest.social
        4·
        6 days ago

        I flew from Jermany to Tanzania and saw some jeriatric jiraffes.

        I say it “Jif” because:

        • That’s what the format’s creator named it.
        • It’s weird, but “soft G” is a thing and acronyms and the only “rule” for pronouncing acronyms is “it’s easy to say”.
        • It annoys people that are way too invested in it. Sure, it’s immature – but it’s low stakes and not particularly “shitty”. I enjoy it and you only YOLO once.
      • tyler@programming.dev
        21·
        6 days ago

        jif was copyrighted. gif was literally named after the peanut butter. it came with a jingle “choosy developers choose gif”. How many different forms of proof do you need.

    • dan@upvote.au
      4·
      6 days ago

      Am I missing something? I’ve always pronounced it “imager”. How else would you pronounce it?

      • pyre@lemmy.world
        9·
        6 days ago

        as it’s spelled: im gur.

        It’s one thing to name it imgr, but putting a fucking u after the g makes it a hard g in literally every instance. the letter u is the reason the g is pronounced as a hard g in words that otherwise wouldn’t need a u: fragile / guile, digest / guest, etc.

        • tyler@programming.dev
          31·
          6 days ago

          it’s spelled img - ur, as in img or the shortening of image in every context. You can’t shorten image any other way.

          • pyre@lemmy.world
            11·
            6 days ago

            it’s spelled img - ur

            no, it’s spelled imgur. I know what img stands for which is why I said it would be one thing to call it imgr. the u doesn’t make sense and it hardens the g. it’s funny that you talk about how it’s customary that img stands for image but you act like ‘ur’ is also a thing by itself.

            well it is, just not in that way. if your img-ur breakup made any sense for pronouncing img as if it’s independent then why not consider what ur stands for? it’s a shortening of your or you’re. so why not pronounce it image your? because it’s bullshit and the spelling is ridiculous.

    • fibojoly@sh.itjust.works
      3·
      6 days ago

      I mean every time I hear about the damn thing it’s because it’s been misconfigured and is causing some fucking ruckus. The whole thing is cursed so jinx really feels appropriate where I’m standing from.

  • FrostyCaveman@lemm.ee
    13·
    7 days ago

    I think software name pronunciation discussions are so hilariously absurd that I sometimes purposefully vocalise nginx as “Nuhh Ginks” just to put a hat on it

  • Opisek@lemmy.world
    4·
    6 days ago

    My lead dev used to pronounce it njinx and I always needed some time to realize what he’s talking about.

    • rwdf@lemmy.world
      2·
      6 days ago

      It’s obviously kubecontrol! I will die on this hill.

      Also, Containerd … Not helped by the cli nerdctl.

    • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      Hm, my guess would be either “cube control” or “cube C-T-L”.

      EDIT (2025-02-28T09:02Z): Hm, actually, given that it’s for Kubernetes [1], maybe it’s “koob control” or “koob C-T-L”… [2]?

      References
      1. Type: Documentation. Title: “Command line tool (kubectl)”. Publisher: Kubernetes. Published: 2024-01-01T21:15-08:00. Accessed: 2025-02-28T11:01Z. URI: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/.
      2. Type: Article. Title: “How to pronounce Kubernetes so you don’t get laughed at”. Author: “Blue Matador”. Publisher: “Blue Matador, Inc.”. Published: 2020-06-03. Accessed: 2025-02-28T11:07Z. URI: https://www.bluematador.com/blog/how-to-pronounce-kubernetes.
        • §“So, how do you pronounce Kubernetes?”.

          Kubernetes is pronounced coo-ber-net-ees […]

      • randint ランディント@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyzEnglish
        2·
        5 days ago

        Yes, like the Vietnamese name “Nguyen”, but not like “wininks”. The best I could describe it is as a hybrid between “ninks” and “ginks”. Pronounce the first consonant with the back of your tongue while keeping the image of pronouncing an “n” sound in your head.

        • fibojoly@sh.itjust.works
          2·
          5 days ago

          Oh shit my bad, I mixed Ng and Nguyen, thanks for correcting me.
          Also that’s hilarious, I’m totally trying that one with the lads Monday, they’re gonna love it :D

  • infinitesunrise@slrpnk.netEnglish
    4·
    7 days ago

    I’ve always pronounced it “In-jen-iks”. I blame Jurassic Park and it’s fictional biotech company InGen, but it does kinda also sound like “eugenics”. But I dunno man, if you want everyone to pronounce your software a specific way maybe spell it in a manner where the pronunciation is more obvious? Just a thought.

  • glitchdx@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    I’m glad there’s pronunciations provided, because to me it looks like it should sound like a slur.

    • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      No [1.1].

      EDIT 2025-02-28T10:17Z: Actually, @Aatube@kbin.melroy.org, I was wrong in my initial interpretation [1.2]. So, from what I can tell, you are, in actuality, the only one itt! 😊

      References
      1. Type: Post. “TIL that "nginx" is pronounced "engine-x", and not "n-jinx"”. Author: “Kalcifer” @Kalcifer@sh.itjust.works. Publisher: “Programmer Humor” !programmer_humor@programming.dev. sh.itjust.works. Lemmy. Published: 2025-02-26T23:27:35Z. URI: https://sh.itjust.works/post/33487588.
        1. Type: Comment. Author: @SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world. Published: 2025-02-27T00:18:34Z. Accessed: 2025-02-28T06:38Z. URI: https://sh.itjust.works/post/33487588/16948274.

          • I always heard it as /ŋiŋks/ in my mind

        2. Type: Comment. Author: @SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world. Published: 2025-02-28T09:09:54. Accessed: 2025-02-28T10:24Z. URI: https://sh.itjust.works/post/33487588/16975245.

          Nope.

          • The thread from which that quote originated was as follows:

            TIL that “nginx” is pronounced “engine-x”, and not “n-jinx” […]

            I always heard it as /ŋiŋks/ in my mind

            Do you mean /ɲiɲks/? […]

            Nope.