Hexed

Pronunciation Guide

Just as with the Irish words in Hounded, I wouldn’t want anyone to see the Polish, Russian, German, and Irish in Hexed and think to themselves, Do I really have to read that stuff properly? You don’t. I want you to enjoy yourself, and if you prefer saying words any old way you like, then I’m on your side. But if you’re the sort who’d like to hear precisely how things should sound coming out of the mouths of these characters, then I’ve provided the guide below to help you do that.

Written Polish has a few letters that aren’t pronounced the way they are in English. Rather than try to explain them all, please take my very informal phonetic pronunciations here and trust me—unless you’d rather not.

Berta = Berta (this one’s just like it looks; I promise things will get interesting soon)

Bogumila = BO goo ME wah (However, her American nickname, Mila, would be pronounced ME lah, because otherwise Americans would constantly question why she pronounced her l like a w)

Kazimiera = KAH zhee ME rah

Klaudia = Klaudia (just like it looks)

Malina Sokolowski = Ma LEE nah SO ko WOV ski (that’s right, no l sound in her last name)

Radomila = RAH doe ME wah

Roksana = Roke SAH nah

Waclawa = Va SWAH va

Bean sidhe = BAN shee

Dóigh = doy (means burn)

Dún = doon (means close or shut)

Freagróidh tú = frag ROY too (means you will answer)

Múchaim = MOO hem (means extinguish)

Fragarach = FRAG ah rah (named sword: The Answerer)

Moralltach = MOR al tah (named sword: Great Fury)

The remaining phrases in Polish, Russian, and German can all be listened to online as sound files on my website, kevinhearne.com, if you feel like clicking on over there.

Goibhniu = GUV new (member of the Tuatha Dé Danann; master smith and brewer of fine ales)