Pronunciation of Aquarium Terms

I'm not sure being a pronunciation nazi in a hobby where so many of the words are in latin and just down right tongue twisters is of much use.

 

theres one guy at the local store that calls Halides "Metal Halos".. I dont want to correct him..

also when people call my CBS a crab thing and my clowns Nemos..

 

Either way of saying Acropora is correct, "laymens latin" is fine. I agree that it is Hay-lide as well. I've taken latin and can say with great confidence that as long as you say it with confidence, its probably ok.

 

I disagree wholeheartedly. Ever have someone ask you about their cauliflower coral? Well, that's a pocillipora, schleronepthya, or a cladiella? Each of those are called cauliflower corals and each has ENTIRELY DIFFERENT care needs.

When someone asks about their blue tang, are they asking about Acanthurus coeruleus or a Paracanthurus hepatus? Again, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT fish both called blue tang. One is a peaceful grazer and the other will beat the living daylights out of any other fish of similar or smaller size.

I think that people should stop using common names. If people would use proper names using binomial nomenclature, it would really help in answering their questions.

 

Being originally from Germany and now living in Spain (after 8 years in the US), I still have a problem with it.... never know but so far, everybody understands what I'm talking about... worst case, I take a pic with me lol

 

That's another point in my favor. The proper scientific Latin name is the same no matter where in the world you are. On the other hand, many of the common names are different in different countries.

 

what about chaeto? People pronounce it chay-toe. It is supposed to be pronounced key-toe....never knew that until the other day, thanks horkn

 

Not disputing what you're saying, I see it as people enjoying the hobby and just keeping it as a hobby, they won't apply the effort to learn all these seemingly complicated terms/names.

Other people who would enjoy the hobby with a passing will learn the terms and won't feel overwhelmed by them, which I think would be the minority.

Me, I'm in between, I only know the broad names, the majority of what's in my tank (corals-wise), I have no clue what their specific or latin names are.

 

yeah, didnt we just have this problem with the Strawberry Crab?

 

I have always pronounced it as a "z," so "zen ia"