Are you interested in learning more about Kodály, but you’re afraid to ask because you don’t know how to say his name?
Just looking at the name for English-speakers, it seems simple enough, but when you hear others say it, it doesn’t sound right at all.
I’ve never been one to make fun of others for mispronouncing this name, but I know some people will write you off for saying it wrong.
Don’t let this happen to you with this short guide to Kodály pronunciation.
The Hungarian name, Zoltán Kodály, is pronounced “Zole-taan” “Koe-Daay” with the emphasis on the first syllable. The second syllable is lengthened but not stressed, and the “l” isn’t pronounced.
Check out the rest of the post and video for more information.
Table of Contents
How Do You Say Kodály?
Let’s start with the last name; it’s the trickiest of the two.
In Hungarian, we drop the “l” sound and make the “ly” sound the “ya” sound at the end of the word “why.”
Also, in Hungarian, the accent above the “a” doesn’t indicate stress but indicates length.
The first syllable receives the emphasis.
The “Ko-” part of the name has the long “O” sound as in “doe.”
As I just mentioned, the first syllable receives the emphasis.
Check out the video below for a discussion and example.
How Do You Pronounce Zoltán Kodály?
Putting the two names together, we see the same rules play out with his first name.
The emphasis is on the first syllable, and the accent indicates the second syllable is lengthened.
The “o” sound in the first syllable is once again a long “O” as in “Doe.”
The “a” sound in “-tan” is an open “a” as in “-aw.”
Putting it together, you now know how to pronounce Zoltán Kodály.
Honestly, I’m not perfect at this either.
It’s unusual to our Anglo-American pattern of speech, especially us Midwesterners.
As long as you get the “l” out of there, no one will really say anything.
But if you’re trying to be perfect, practice slowly until it becomes a habit.
Still, pronouncing names is a sign of respect, so we should try our best to do the name justice.
But please don’t judge others for saying the name wrong.
Check out the video for a description and example of how to pronounce Zoltán Kodály.
Family Name First?
Technically, yes. In Hungarian, many people will say the family name before the given or first name.
This isn’t uncommon in other languages, though it’s different in English.
In this case, the music man’s name would be Kodály Zoltán.
Don’t try to search for his materials this way, though. You’ll end up confused!
Still, it’s interesting to note and an interesting discussion.
Final Thoughts
The next time you see the name, you now know the correct Kodály pronunciation.
You’ll likely come across many different ways to say the name, but you can rest easy knowing how to say it correctly.
You may also enjoy checking out the best Kodály method books.
