The Art of Pronouncing 50 Names Correctly in One Night

At award ceremonies, I might introduce 30-50 people in one evening, each name requiring correct pronunciation: Arabic names with emphatic consonants, Indian names with subtle vowel distinctions, Chinese names with tonal patterns, French names with silent letters. At one gala, I called 15 award winners the day before. Three of them told me their names had been mispronounced for years.

How Do You Learn 50 Names in One Night?

You learn 50 names through systematic preparation: phonetic guides, recording and playback, syllable breakdown, and direct confirmation when possible.

For a recent awards ceremony, I received the winner list one week before. I immediately requested phonetic pronunciations from the organizer. For names I was uncertain about, I called the recipients directly. Yes, it takes time. Yes, it is worth it.

Name pronunciation is respect. Getting it right tells people they matter enough for you to do the work.

I write phonetic notes directly on my script. Not just the names, but emphasis points. "ah-MEER" not "AY-meer." "rah-MEE-zah" with the stress on the second syllable. I practice out loud. I record myself and play it back. I sound like a lunatic in my hotel room the night before, but on stage, I sound confident.

What Happens When You Call People Directly?

When you call people directly, you confirm pronunciation and build personal connection that improves your hosting.

Those 15 calls I made? They did more than verify names. They created connection. When I introduced those recipients on stage, they smiled before I even finished their names. They knew I had done the work. They knew I respected them.

One recipient told me, "You are the first person to say my name correctly in 10 years of awards ceremonies." Another said, "My colleagues all say it wrong. Thank you." These moments matter. Name pronunciation is respect, and respect is the foundation of good hosting.

Want an MC who gets the details right? Learn about my approach and view my portfolio.

What About Really Difficult Names?

Really difficult names require extra practice, native speaker consultation, and sometimes on-site confirmation.

Dubai's diversity means I encounter names from every continent. Some Arabic names have consonants that do not exist in English. Some Indian names have distinctions I did not initially hear. When I am really struggling, I consult native speakers. I ask colleagues. I practice until the sounds feel natural.

I have hosted events across the Gulf, South Asia, and Europe. I have learned to hear distinctions I never noticed before. I have trained my ear and my mouth to handle phonetic challenges. It is a skill I have built through hundreds of introductions.

Why Does This Matter So Much?

Name pronunciation matters because it signals respect, builds trust, and honors the individuals being recognized.

When you hire Rima Iskandarani, you get someone who treats every name as important. I do not wing it. I do not guess. I prepare. Your award winners, your speakers, your VIPs deserve to hear their names spoken correctly. It is a small thing that makes a huge difference.

At one ceremony, I watched the previous year's MC struggle through names, mangling several. The audience winced. This year, with me hosting, multiple people commented on how "professional" the event felt. The content was the same. The difference was preparation. The difference was respect.

Ready for an MC who gets every name right? Contact me to discuss your awards ceremony or recognition event.