This all started because I had a UNIX dude at an interview pronounce “/etc/init.d” as “etsy-eye-nighted.” I had to ask him to repeat that. So I’ve decided to put together this pronunication guide for UNIX terms.



Operating Systems and Vendors

UNIX – YOO-niks (NOT yoo-NEEKS** or YOO-nucks**)

Linux – LIN-ucks (also, LIN-icks or LEE-nooks (official). NOT LINE-ucks** or LIE-nucks**)

Solaris – so-LAIR-is (also, so-LAHR-is. NOT SO-ler-is**)

Irix – EYE-ricks (The first I sounds like the I in “iris.”)

HP-UX – HAH-key-pucks (also, eych-pee-youu-ecks or EYCH-pucks)

AIX – ayy-eye-ecks (NOT aicks**)

SCO – ess-see-oh (also ASS-holes. NOT skoh**)

BSD – bee-ess-dee (also BEE-stee)

UCB – yoo-see-bee (NOT ukbuh**)

ATT – ayy-tee-tee (NOT at** or ayy-tee-en-TEE**)

SysV – sis-VEE (also sis-tem-VEE. NOT sis-FIVE** or sis-tem-FIVE**)

SVR4 – ess-vee-arr-FOR (also sis-VEE-arr-FOR. NOT ser-ver-FOR**)

Debian – DAY-bee-an (also De-bee-an, NOT duh-BEE-an**)

GNU – gee-enn-YOO (also guh-NOO (official). NOT noo**)

*nix – ASS-ter-nicks (also nix)

CentOS – SENT-oh-ess (NOT KENT-oh-ess** or SENT-ohss**)

Software Packages

X – ecks (NOT ten** or ecks-WIN-doze**)

Xorg – ecks-ORG (NOT zorg**)

vi – vee-EYE (NOT vie** or vee**)

fsck – fsk (also fisk, FAH-sick, EFF-suck, EFF-sick, eff-ess-see-kay. NOT fuck** or fusk**)

nroff – ENN-rawf

anything ending in a -d (like routed, crond, hald, hidd, etc.) is pronounced as WORD-dee. Examples: routed is ROWT-dee. NOT ROWT-ed**. crond is KRON-dee. NOT krond**.

httpd – eych-tee-tee-pee-dee

ptrace – PEE-trayss (NOT trayss**)

sh – ess-AYCH (NOT ssh**)

sshd – ess-ess-AYCH-dee (NOT ssh’d** or SSH-dee**)

wget – DUH-bul-yoo-get (NOT WI-jit**)

SELinux – ess-EE-lin-ucks (NOT SEE-lin-ucks** or SELL-in-ucks**)

mk- emm-KAY- (or make-)

stunnel – ESS-tun-el (NOT STUN-el**)

sysctl – SIS-kun-troll (or SIS-see-tee-ell)

-ctl – -kun-TROLL (or -see-tee-ELL)

vim – vim (or vee-eye-EMM. NOT vee-EIM**)

xinetd – ecks-EYE-net-dee (NOT ZEYE-net-dee**)

-env – -env (or -ee-en-VEE. NOT -ENN-vee**)

Protocols and Languages

LDAP – ELL-dap

ssh – ess-ess-AYCH (NOT ssh**)

Filesystems, Directories, and Files

/ – slash (NOT root**, FOR-wurd-slash**)

/bin – bin (also slash-BIN. NOT bine**)

/etc – ee-tee-SEE (or ET-see)

/lib – lib (short i – does NOT sound like “library” unless you work for IBM or with IBM people)

/misc – misk (NOT miss**)

/mnt – mownt (also emm-enn-TEE. NOT munt** or mint**)

/opt – ahpt (also oh-pee-TEE)

/proc – prock (NOT proke** or prahs**)

/sbin – ESS-bin (NOT spin**)

/srv – ess-arr-VEE (or surv. NOT SUR-vur**)

/tmp – temp

/usr – YOO-zur (NOT yoo-ess-ARR**)

/var – var (NOT vair**)

/usr/src – YOO-zur sorce

/etc/passwd – ee-tee-SEE PASS-wurd (NOT PASS-wood**)

/etc/fstab – ee-tee-SEE eff-ESS-tab (NOT EFF-stab**)

/etc/init.d – ee-tee-SEE in-IT-dot-dee

/etc/motd – ee-tee-SEE emm-oh-tee-DEE (NOT MOT-dee**)

/etc/virc – ee-tee-SEE vee-EYE-arr-see (NOT verk**)

xferstats – ECKS-fur-stats (NOT TRANS-fur-stats**)

Please let me know if you think of any others or if you have a correction. Note that many of these are specific to the U.S. and could vary by region.