Language desk
< July 11	<< Jun \| July \| Aug >>	July 13 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

July 12

Pronunciation of Viking XPRS

How is the name of Viking XPRS supposed to be pronounced? I've always pronounced each letter separately, but I have heard some people pronouncing it as "Express". JIP | Talk 01:48, 12 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Probably "Viking Express". But I will join you in pronouncing it as separate letters (like "HSBC", "IMF", and "BBC") in a vain attempt to expunge such imbecilic marketing innovations to the waste-bin of history. Bazza (talk) 10:19, 12 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I'd be sorely tempted to pronounce it as an acronym – but then I can't help reading flypgs.com – the website address of Pegasus Airlines proudly displayed on both flanks of each aircraft of its fleet – as the exhortation to "fly pigs". The answer may depend on the language of the speaker as well. In English, the difference in pronunciation as an acronym and a quickly enunciated initialism is relatively small: /ɪkˈspiɑɹɛs/. The closest to an authority on how this is "supposed" to be pronounced are the people at Viking Line. --Lambiam 20:19, 12 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I've been unable to find an ad with the name stated - but given the nature of its route, it would almost certainly be intended to be spoken "express". Kind of like with "xcel" which is pronounced "excel"; or "SQL" which is pronounced "sequel". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 02:59, 13 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The name of the database query language is pronounced /ˌɛs.kjuːˈɛl/ in introductory videos,^[1][2][3] which is also the first pronunciation given at Wiktionary. --Lambiam 07:31, 14 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I've heard it as "sequel" at least as often as "S Q L". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 09:19, 14 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

This cabin tour video pronounces it "express": [4] --Amble (talk) 20:52, 13 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]