nginx (“engine x”) is an HTTP web server, reverse proxy, content cache, load balancer, TCP/UDP proxy server, and mail proxy server. […] [1]
I still pronounce it as “n-jinx” in my head.
References
- Title (website): “nginx”. Publisher: NGINX. Accessed: 2025-02-26T23:25Z. URI: https://nginx.org/en/.
- §“nginx”. ¶1.
There’s a linux file called fstab which is often pronounced f-s-tab because it’s a table of file systems. It was somewhat surprising to hear Dave Plummer pronounce it as “f-stab”, as in stabbing someone…
Whereas fsck, short for “file system check”, should be pronounced “fisk” when someone in a suit is around, otherwise it’s “fuck”.
f*ck. You can even occasionally get away with spelling it like this
it kinda ends up as “fsuck” for me, which is apt-get when it doesn’t magically fix all my filesystem issues
It’s ef sock in my head
f-s-tab is feeble. Unsatisfactory. Bureaucratic.
f-stab is jocose. Nonchalant. Sharp.
Is that pronounced as gokoze?
Insert dank Winnie the Pooh meme here for F-STAB
N-jinks is silly, f-stab is cool.
With the issues i had in the past with fstab, the desire to stab someone was certainly provoked.
That’s… Unfortunate.
“F-stab” is just more fun to say.
It’ll forever be F-stab in my head
I was a non violent youth when I first saw an fstab, perhaps that got me thinking “F S tab”
I’ve been pronouncing it N-gin-X, which is probably close enough once slurred together
I always called it “in-gen-ix”, which doesn’t even make sense now that I think about it.
Unless you’re from New Zealand
Uhn-jun-uhks in NZ TYVM.
Who cares? Pronounce it whichever way you want as long as it’s clear/understandable. It would take longer for me to understand what piece of software engine-x is, but it takes a second at most.
“Nugginx” is how I have always read it
As a scandi Iv’e been leaning more into ‘enginks’ - close to ‘engangs’ and french kinks.
As always, first impressions count. There is no way I’m starting to call it engine x now, except for fun.
I’ve done a semi-exception in the case of Xitter. I like this new name Elon chose because it brings the possiblity of playful sounds. Same goes to Xitler.
In Chinese, “X” makes a “sh” sound.
Take from that what you will.
That’s the point…
I always heard it as /ŋiŋks/ in my mind
Ok so I know what ŋ sounds like but I bet there are some idiots here who don’t, so maybe explain it.
For them
On https://www.ipachart.com/ you can click on every symbol to hear it.
In relation to English, it’s the “ng” sound in the common “-ing” ending or suffix.
Wikipedia has an entire article on it (of course): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiced_velar_nasal
For some reason if you put that sound at the beginning of a word most English speakers can’t say it.
I used to pronounce the name Nguyen as “ngoo-yen” until somebody told me it’s pronounced “win”, and i was like “What?”
hnn-geenks
Saying nginx with a “hard g” can get you into some real trouble…
Is that rap slang if you’re referring to a lady? 😬🫣
And I will always pronounce SQL as “squeal”
That’s great actually!
I say PSQL as Pee Sequel
I say FAQ as fuck you.
My brain first interpreted SQL as ‘squirrel’ and that now refuses to relinquish its claim as default pronunciation in my mind.
genius
I still say it this way in my head…
Getting into documentation is dangerous territory… Try not to make a habit of it!
Wait, so this isn’t a testosterone supplement?
When this baby hits 200rps, you’re gonna get some hairs on your chest
It’s short enough I just spell it out
You have to say it in a commanding Japanese accent… Engine X
It sounds way cooler that way
like this?
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
🤌
I look forward to the day when all these lame-ass, insider naming conventions are looked down upon as the stupid things they are.
Wtf does “en jinx” or “engine X” have to do with it’s functionality?
I hate looking for an app on my phone that does a particular thing but hell if I can recall what the idiot developed called it.
N. Gin X
It’s this guy in powered up Boss form
Things like that are called “jargon” and are perfectly normal and acceptable in a given field, always been that way.
If you don’t know how to pronounce, or even spell, NGINX, you probably have no use for it.
