Not sure this needed to be necro'd. The WotC seal of approval "this is the official pronunciation" sound clip was linked to in #2. This has been officially answered.
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In English, generally anytime a “G” is followed by either an “e” or an “i” it will have a soft g sound.
However, genasi isn't necessarily a word in the english language. I mean, it is, clearly, fantasy races in RPG's don't actually have languages - but the argument could be made that genasi, when pronounced by a genasi, would have a hard g, irrespective of english language pronunciation.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
In English, generally anytime a “G” is followed by either an “e” or an “i” it will have a soft g sound.
However, genasi isn't necessarily a word in the english language. I mean, it is, clearly, fantasy races in RPG's don't actually have languages - but the argument could be made that genasi, when pronounced by a genasi, would have a hard g, irrespective of english language pronunciation.
They probably also don’t use the Latin alphabet, so that spelling is likely anglicized spelling, and therefore likely phonetic. So I stand by my previous comment.
They probably also don’t use the Latin alphabet, so that spelling is likely anglicized spelling, and therefore likely phonetic. So I stand by my previous comment.
While a valid point, I cannot agree. Say genasi pronounce their own race name with a hard g. How, pray tell, would you spell it?
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Well given it is derived from Genie, which is in turn, derives from the Arabic Djinni... both are pronounced with a J sound (and a silent D in the case of Djinni), so soft G
Yes but ... I mean, we still don't know how the Djinn would pronounce it. Arabic is no different than english in this particular context.
The point I'm trying to make doesn't really have anything to do with languages, real or imagined. Really, it's a question of ... I've made a race called the Harn. They're ogre sized knuckle walkers, big shaggy brutes. I know exactly how the Harn pronounce the name of their people. But all I can do - here, in this context - is to put letters together. Phonetics or no, that's all I have.
So ... I might have an idea that the H was only hinted at, like in french. Technically, I could have spelled it differently - Aarn, for instance - but that too would have been wrong, because that doesn't include the subvocal H.
Never mind. I have no opinion about how genasi is pronounced - and I pronounce it like Sposta suggests - but it's still a fair point: If it were a hard g, how would anyone know? =)
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
They probably also don’t use the Latin alphabet, so that spelling is likely anglicized spelling, and therefore likely phonetic. So I stand by my previous comment.
While a valid point, I cannot agree. Say genasi pronounce their own race name with a hard g. How, pray tell, would you spell it?
ut it's still a fair point: If it were a hard g, how would anyone know? =)
You ask them?
"Hey, French person, how do you say French in French?"
"Français." (fraan-say).
-
You're making this a whole big thing and it doesn't seem to serve any point? It's made up. Pick a way to say it, and just say in your world the genasi said 'this is how we say we it'. Done.
By the fluffy gods dude. And I thought my head was exhausting.
Here, have a cookie and relax that noggin'. 🍪
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
They probably also don’t use the Latin alphabet, so that spelling is likely anglicized spelling, and therefore likely phonetic. So I stand by my previous comment.
While a valid point, I cannot agree. Say genasi pronounce their own race name with a hard g. How, pray tell, would you spell it?
Ghenasi
Is the "Gh" pronounced the same as "tough", "through", "ghost", or "neighbor"?
Interestingly, adding an “h” between “g” and “e” is how Italian denotes that the “g” should be pronounced hard.
The closest equivalent convention in English is the addition of “u”, as in guess and guest, or in rogue and plague. The only non-loan words in English I can think of where the g before an e is hard are get and gelding.
Anyway, it’s been established that Genasi has a soft g. Though talking about spelling conventions is fun 😊
Clearly, this is a non-issue. But it's .. fluff, it's story and world building, and that's my primary interest. To be honest, I think genasi would have a far more gutteral, far less melodious language than english, and I do think that should be a hard g. Not quite as in ghoul, but more like the german gegen or gefunden. Basically - even harder.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Shouldn't that vary between them, though? I can see that for Earth Genasi, but why would the much more fluid natured air or water Genasi have such hard sounds?
Unclear. To my mind, genies - and thus genasi - are creatures of earth and fire. I can't be certain of the 'real world' origin, but as far as I've been able to learn, that's what they are. So I'm somewhat unconcerned with the others. I do realise I cannot just apply that conviction to everyone else and expect it to stick without notice =)
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
In my mind, the whole theme of genie’s in Dnd came from stories in Arabia. (Primordial is just Arabic in my campaigns) And thus the pronunciation of Genasi would probably follow whatever pronunciation rules Arabic has. If any of you happen to speak arabic (fluently) please chime in.
And no, google translate does not count for pronunciation.
Clearly, this is a non-issue. But it's .. fluff, it's story and world building, and that's my primary interest. To be honest, I think genasi would have a far more gutteral, far less melodious language than english, and I do think that should be a hard g. Not quite as in ghoul, but more like the german gegen or gefunden. Basically - even harder.
Shouldn't that vary between them, though? I can see that for Earth Genasi, but why would the much more fluid natured air or water Genasi have such hard sounds?
Assuming that in your world (1) Genasi speak Primordial, (2) Genasi is a word in Primordial and (3) Genasi live in linguistically distinct communities, based on their elemental ancestry, you could have four different pronunciations for Genasi. For example, Water Genasi might use the soft g (Jenasi), Fire the hard, Earth maybe pronounce it hard and further back (an uvular G) and Air instead pronounce it with a breathy h (Henasi).
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is it with a soft g or nah? My friends say it with a soft g.
Click the speaker icon next to where it says Genasi on their race page to hear the dulcet tones of Matt Mercer guide you through pronouncing Genasi.
Tl;dr, it's Gen as in generate, as as in assume, i as in yeti
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Easy way to remember it: soft G as in "genie"
Thanks guys! I appreciate it!
In English, generally anytime a “G” is followed by either an “e” or an “i” it will have a soft g sound.
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Not sure this needed to be necro'd. The WotC seal of approval "this is the official pronunciation" sound clip was linked to in #2. This has been officially answered.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
However, genasi isn't necessarily a word in the english language. I mean, it is, clearly, fantasy races in RPG's don't actually have languages - but the argument could be made that genasi, when pronounced by a genasi, would have a hard g, irrespective of english language pronunciation.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
They probably also don’t use the Latin alphabet, so that spelling is likely anglicized spelling, and therefore likely phonetic. So I stand by my previous comment.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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Hardcovers, DDB & You
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While a valid point, I cannot agree. Say genasi pronounce their own race name with a hard g. How, pray tell, would you spell it?
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Yes but ... I mean, we still don't know how the Djinn would pronounce it. Arabic is no different than english in this particular context.
The point I'm trying to make doesn't really have anything to do with languages, real or imagined. Really, it's a question of ... I've made a race called the Harn. They're ogre sized knuckle walkers, big shaggy brutes. I know exactly how the Harn pronounce the name of their people. But all I can do - here, in this context - is to put letters together. Phonetics or no, that's all I have.
So ... I might have an idea that the H was only hinted at, like in french. Technically, I could have spelled it differently - Aarn, for instance - but that too would have been wrong, because that doesn't include the subvocal H.
Never mind. I have no opinion about how genasi is pronounced - and I pronounce it like Sposta suggests - but it's still a fair point: If it were a hard g, how would anyone know? =)
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Ghenasi
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
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You ask them?
"Hey, French person, how do you say French in French?"
"Français." (fraan-say).
-
You're making this a whole big thing and it doesn't seem to serve any point? It's made up. Pick a way to say it, and just say in your world the genasi said 'this is how we say we it'. Done.
By the fluffy gods dude. And I thought my head was exhausting.
Here, have a cookie and relax that noggin'. 🍪
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Interestingly, adding an “h” between “g” and “e” is how Italian denotes that the “g” should be pronounced hard.
The closest equivalent convention in English is the addition of “u”, as in guess and guest, or in rogue and plague. The only non-loan words in English I can think of where the g before an e is hard are get and gelding.
Anyway, it’s been established that Genasi has a soft g. Though talking about spelling conventions is fun 😊
Thanks =)
Clearly, this is a non-issue. But it's .. fluff, it's story and world building, and that's my primary interest. To be honest, I think genasi would have a far more gutteral, far less melodious language than english, and I do think that should be a hard g. Not quite as in ghoul, but more like the german gegen or gefunden. Basically - even harder.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Unclear. To my mind, genies - and thus genasi - are creatures of earth and fire. I can't be certain of the 'real world' origin, but as far as I've been able to learn, that's what they are. So I'm somewhat unconcerned with the others. I do realise I cannot just apply that conviction to everyone else and expect it to stick without notice =)
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
In my mind, the whole theme of genie’s in Dnd came from stories in Arabia. (Primordial is just Arabic in my campaigns) And thus the pronunciation of Genasi would probably follow whatever pronunciation rules Arabic has. If any of you happen to speak arabic (fluently) please chime in.
And no, google translate does not count for pronunciation.
Assuming that in your world (1) Genasi speak Primordial, (2) Genasi is a word in Primordial and (3) Genasi live in linguistically distinct communities, based on their elemental ancestry, you could have four different pronunciations for Genasi. For example, Water Genasi might use the soft g (Jenasi), Fire the hard, Earth maybe pronounce it hard and further back (an uvular G) and Air instead pronounce it with a breathy h (Henasi).