[RPG] How to pronounce “svirfneblin”

dungeons-and-dragonsgnomeslanguagespronunciation

In a campaign I'm writing, an aged sage sends my party to the Underdark to aid Deep Gnomes against a Drow takeover. The group that will be playing this has read R.A Salvatore's books and knows both terms.

As it is a knowledgeable person sending them on the quest, I feel that he wouldn't use “Deep Gnome” over “Svirfneblin”, but I've only ever read the word, I've never heard it out loud. I'd like to use it, as I think it would be more in the NPC's character, but only if it's said correctly. Can someone spell it out phonetically for me please?

Best Answer

There's a pronunciation guide on the Wikipedia Page, which references an old FAQ, for whatever that's worth. Essentially it's pronounced how its spelled, no real trick to it.

Might help to think of it as "Smurf-Neblin", only with a V instead of the M in smurf. Doesn't really roll off the tongue no matter how you pronounce it, but I'd guess that's half the point.

It should also be pointed out that this is the name that the Deep Gnomes have for themselves in their own language, not necessarily what anyone else calls them, so you shouldn't feel obligated to use it all the time. More likely it'd be used among themselves, or by people that are trying to make nice with them, such as merchants or diplomats.

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