pronounce varchar

[Mark]

I have it in my head that varchar is correctly pronounced as var-"car".
However, I'm now surrounded by people who say var-"char". It's knocking my
confidence on the topic down to zero.

Which is it? Thanks!

-Humbled by Pronunciation in the Midwest

[Aaron Bertrand [SQL Server MVP]]

Post by Mark
I have it in my head that varchar is correctly pronounced as var-"car".
However, I'm now surrounded by people who say var-"char". It's knocking
my confidence on the topic down to zero.

I've heard both, and I've also heard varchar (since the char part is about
character data, but if you just say "care" it sounds like a cartoon about
cuddly bears that shoot rainbows out of their bellies.

For what it's worth, I say var-kar.

I don't think it really matters, unless you're dealing with someone who
isn't going to understand you if you pronounce it one way or the other.
It's the same for words like potato (some people say "pa-tatt-oh" nstead of
"pa-tayt-oh") or SQL (some say "sequel", others spell it out).

A

[EMartinez]

On Mar 2, 8:21 am, "Aaron Bertrand [SQL Server MVP]"

Post by Aaron Bertrand [SQL Server MVP]

Post by Mark
I have it in my head that varchar is correctly pronounced as var-"car".
However, I'm now surrounded by people who say var-"char". It's knocking
my confidence on the topic down to zero.

I've heard both, and I've also heard varchar (since the char part is about
character data, but if you just say "care" it sounds like a cartoon about
cuddly bears that shoot rainbows out of their bellies.
For what it's worth, I say var-kar.
I don't think it really matters, unless you're dealing with someone who
isn't going to understand you if you pronounce it one way or the other.
It's the same for words like potato (some people say "pa-tatt-oh" nstead of
"pa-tayt-oh") or SQL (some say "sequel", others spell it out).
A

I don't believe it matters either; however, I pronounce it var-"char."

Regards,

Enrique Martinez
Sr. SQL Server Developer

[David Markle]

What about "vair"-"care"?

Post by Mark
I have it in my head that varchar is correctly pronounced as var-"car".
However, I'm now surrounded by people who say var-"char". It's knocking my
confidence on the topic down to zero.
Which is it? Thanks!
-Humbled by Pronunciation in the Midwest

[--CELKO--]

I have it in my head that varchar is correctly pronounced as var-"car". However, I'm now surrounded by people who say var-"char". It's knocking my confidence on the topic down to zero. <<

LOL! We never passed a rule about that in ANSI X3H2; however the name
is "S-Q-L" and not "Sequel" for the record. Most of us said "var-
CHAR", but we had no reason.