In those situations, I repeat it back to them and ask if I got it right. In my experience, people with accents tend to be amused when people earnestly struggle to pronounce their names.
this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2025
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For something like the example you shared, I don't think so. For a name in a significantly different language that doesn't have a direct equivalent in my own, I'll do me best to use the appropriate phonemes - but not an "accent" per se.
Pronounce their name as best as you can. Im sure both of you can be native and non-native speaker to each and own tongue.
There are some people will upfront dislike you or gives negative impression for saying their name in not a proper way. (Dont worry you'll encounter them less)
If there's a common way of pronouncing it in your accent/dialect use that one unless asked to use a different one.
Otherwise it might come off as you making fun of either their name or accent.
So in the example you gave maybe use "Baub" instead of "Bahb".
I would probably be a bit offended and think you were making fun of my accent if you copied me.
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Wild thought: this could've saved the Mitsubishi Pajero in Latin America.
I think it depends on whether the sound difference actually makes a phonemic difference in the source language—like, would a native speaker hear it as an oddly-pronounced version of the correct sound, or as a distinct, different sound in that language?
Just pronounce it as it's supposed to be pronounced according to it's written form
If you get the chance, don’t be afraid to ask. People are usually pretty clear on what they will respond to, if asked. If the accent or name is too hard, you can work with them on a compromise nickname that’s easier for you and that they agree to.
Yes because accents are funny
I mean I'll.try but I am not confident in myself here
Well i know two Ralph, one american and one south African. I call them differently, South African Ralph doesn't mind I call him Rolf, he thinks I got it bang on.
This reminds me of the time when I met a British girl during my backpacking days in Australia. She got very upset every time anyone called her Sarah (American accent), because her name was Saaaarah (long first vowel). Everyone around her did their best to accommodate her. But it never even crossed her mind that all of us intentionally pronounced our own names in a very English friendly way, to make it easier for her as an English native speaker to address us 🤦🏻♂️
I always present myself with a pronunciation that is easier to pronounce in English. Saying my name as my mother calls me is just weird and strange when you say it in the middle of an English sentence. And likewise, I think it's strange of people to assume that I should be using sounds that don't exist in my native language to pronounce their name, if that is the language we're speaking together.
depends on name, but probably not, don't mock people's voices
This has me thinking of Marnus Labuschagne
American Bobs are Bohbs not Bahbs that's Babs