Chessic Pronunciations

Many chess-related names and terms have non-obvious pronunciations to English speakers. Here's a guide to some common ones.

A

Alapin (uh-LAH-pin), Semyon [a player and an opening]
Alekhine (ahl-EEK-heen), Alexander [a player]
Aronian (uh-ROE-nyen), Levon [a player]

B

Bogoljubov (bah-gah-LEEU-bahf), Efim [a player]
Boleslavsky (ba-leh-SLAV-skee), Isaak [a player]
Botvinnik (baht-VIHN-ik), Mikhail [a player]
Bronstein (brahn-SHTAYN), David [a player]

C

Caissa (kah-EE-suh) [a patron goddess]
Caro Kann (KAH-ro kahn) [an opening]
Caruana (kar-WUAN-ah), Fabiano [a player]
Chajes (HA-yes), Oscar [a player]
Chigorin (CHIH-ga-wren), Mikhail [a player]
Colle (KAW-lee), Edgard [a player and an opening]

D

Dvoretsky (dvahr-YET-skee), Mark [a player]

E

En passant (ahn pah-SAHN) [a move]
En prise (ahn preez) [a situation]
Euwe (EUW-veh), Max [a player]

F

Firouzja (fey-RUDES-ja), Alireza [a player]
Fianchetto (fee-an-KET-toe) [a move]
FIDE (FEE-day) [an organization]

G

Giuoco Piano (JO-ko pee-AH-no) [an opening]
Gligoric (glee-GO-rich), Svetozar [a player]
Gruenfeld (GREWN-felt), Ernst [a player and an opening]

H

Hoogeveen (hoe-ger-VEIN) [a place]

I

Ivanchuk (ee-vahn-CHOOK), Vasily [a player]

J

J'adoube (zha-DOOB) [a non-move]
Janowsky (yan-KOF-sky), Dawid [a player]

K

Karjakin (car-YACK-kian), Sergey [a player]
Kasparov (kah-SPAHR-off), Garry [a player]
Kavalek (kuh-VAHL-ek), Lubomir [a player]
Keres (CARE-ess), Paul [a player]
Korchnoi (kahrch-NOY), Viktor [a player]

L

la Bourdonnais (lah boo-do-NAY), Louis [a player]
Lange (LAHN-guh), Max [a player and an opening]
Linares (lee-NAH-res) [a place]
Lucena (lou-SEN-uh), Luis [a player and a situation]

M

Maroczy (MAH-rote-see), Geza [a player and a situation]

N

Najdorf (NIGH-dorf), Miguel [a player]
Nepomniachtchi (nyea-pome-NYA-schee), Ian [a player]

P

Pachman (POKH-mon), Ludek [a player]
Petrov (peh-TROEF), Alexander [a player and an opening]
Petrosian (peh-trows-YAHN), Tigran [a player]
Pirc (peerts), Vasja [a player and an opening]
Praggnanandhaa (PRAG-non-ahn-da), Rameshbabu [a player]

R

Reti (RAY-tee), Richard [a player and an opening]
Ruy Lopez (RUE-ee LO-pez) [a player and an opening]

S

Scheveningen (SKHAY-vuh-ning-uhn) [a place, an opening, and a team matching system]
Sinquefield (SINK-feeld), Rex [a benefactor and a tournament]
Smyslov (smih-SLOVF), Vasily [a player]
Spassky (SPAHS-key), Boris [a player]
Steinitz (SHTINE-its), William [a player]

T

Taimanov (tie-MAH-naff), Mark [a player]
Tal (tahl), Mikhail [a player]
Tarrasch (TA-rawsh), Siegbert [a player]
Tartakower (tart-a-KO-ver), Savielly [a player]
Timman (TIE-mahn), Jan [a player]

W

Wijk aan Zee (vayk ahn zay) [a place]
Winawer (VIN-ah-ver), Szymon [a player and an opening]

Z

Znosko-Borovsky (ZNOE-ska bah-ROEV-skee), Eugene [a player]
Zugzwang (TSOOK-tsvung) [a situation]
Zwischenzug (TSVISH-en-tsook) [a move]