Ahem, Actually, “Oedipus” is pronounced “GOD-OH”

by Zach Raffio. @zachraffio.

NEW YORK, NY. — Oh, you just saw Robert Icke’s political thriller reimagining of Oedipus? Yeah, I can tell, based on the way you’re pronouncing — or shall we say, MIS-pronouncing — the play name. Sorry, I don’t mean to condescend, I just think you should know: it’s not “EE-DEH-PISS,” it’s pronounced “GOD-OH.”

It’s an easy mistake! Lots of academics don’t teach it right, and if you’ve only ever heard something pronounced one way, of course you’ll say it wrong like a gross little idiot. But now you know, and I hope you pronounce it correctly moving forward. And I’ll be checking in on you every now and then, just to make sure. I may even invite my best friend to join.

While I have you — and by “have you” I mean you’re waiting for the subway and I’m standing really close — I do believe I recently heard you refer to an act two Hadestown song as “Wait for Me RePRIZE.” Ok… so let’s talk about that then? It’s eight minutes until the next train anyway.

It’s not “re-prize,” sweetheart. That makes it sound like a “Wheel of Fortune” winner have their winnings to, uh, gave their winnings to… a “Wheel of Fortune” guy gave his prize to someone, someone else.

No, it’s actually pronounced “Madame Rose,” but again, not expecting you to know that. You are, after all, a little dumb fella, and I have a BA from an almost-accredited mail university. So.

Finally — and I’ll let you go, because I actually have plans with my best friend — you didn’t hear that song on the Hadestown “Soundtrack.” No. No no no, you married and employed loser. You heard it on the "Cast Recording." So when you talk about hearing the song "THE SCHOOL-YURR SISTERS," you heard it on the Hamilton "Cast Recording." Take notes if you need...

So there you have it: you’re a little bit more eloquent in the manner you pronounce these classic theatre terms, and I got to talk to a person for a couple of minutes. Everybody wins!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go hang out with my best friend. His name is Aaron Tevâyiaët by the way.