Comment by Cony

Listen, finding out what Severian is up to is all nice and well BUT WHAT ABOUT ZOMBIE PONY?

Also, I like the look on Xira's face when Tareth mentions Jonan

Also also, I wonder how you pronounce Xira.

Reply by Rachel's Mom

*Also, I like the look on Xira's face when Tareth mentions Jonan* -- ME TOO!!! It's a little like Jasmine's after she pretends the camel is the doctor and Aladdin is dragging her away. :)

I'm betting on "Zheera" for the pronunciation.

Reply by Glew

On the pronunciation: Wouldn't it be "kseera"? I guess it's time for me to give up on finding out how any unknown English word is pronunced :S

Reply by Obligatonym

What about "Sheera"?

My knowledge of languages is limited but, from what I gather, "X" is kind of a linguistic wildcard that can be pronounced however.

Reply by notepadgirl

It kinda is in Portuguese. I mean, there's "SHame" X when at the start of words, "Zebra" X, "Salad" X when at the end of the syllable and "foX" X in some words.

And of course the sound IPA calls [x] is written in Portuguese as "R", because why the heck not.

X is so misterious... Pretty fitting.

Reply by Shazzbaa

I pronounce it ZEE-rah (exactly the same pronounciation as the villain of Lion King 2; boy did I do a double-take when I re-watched that movie), but if you think it sounds better a different way and want to pronounce it that way in your head while reading THAT'S FINE BY ME. C:

(X is usually pronounced with that "ks" sound, like how fox rhymes with socks. But there's a few words that use it as a "z" sound for whatever reason, like xylophone - I think this has to do with the fact that English borrows from a zillion other languages? I've heard "Xavier" pronounced both "Eks-ay-vee-er" and "Zay-vee-er" depending on who says it. However I DO FEEL THE NEED TO POINT OUT that "Xira" isn't an English word, it's a name I made up, so no need to give up hope on the English language over that xD)

Reply by Nziz

I think the words that start with X use it like a Z. At least, that's my general understanding without going into a GoogleWarp of research trying to find out. :)

("Right, pronunciation of the letter X." Fifteen minutes later... "Australian snakes, neurotoxins, and Portal 2? How did I get here??")

Reply by Glew

Wait WHAT?!
It's pronounced "zilofon"? Okay, English, it's just not going to work. Go, just go over there and feel ashamed and never come back...

Also, I never really got the whole "exavier" thing. Why can't it be just "xavier"??? Whatever. I'm going to eat some ghoti now.

Reply by Cony

Ah alright, thank you.