Nagy Name Pronunciations

Update! I no longer have the time to keep up with this site, but do not despair! I have create a new Nagy forum in which you can communicate with other Nagy's around the world. Visit the Online Nagy Forum!

So what is the proper pronunciation of this truly august surname? As I understand from some Hungarian sources of mine the best pronunciation is "nudyuh" with the emphasis on the first syllable. I have also heard Hungarians pronounced it like "nudge" and "nahdge" (which is the one I often use when I introduce myself).

Bryan Dawson from the Hungary Page wrote me the following:

Actually, there is no consonant in English to match the Hungarian "gy" letter. The closest in English would be Nudge. The gy to Francophones is like the "di" in dieu, which is correct.

If you are a Nagy and have been frequently harassed by the blatant "phoneticide"of your last name, please do not hesitate to call your local chapter of  Nagy Anti-Defamation League. Counselling sessions are available upon request.

If you have anything else would like to add concerning Nagy or and other strange phonetic utterings thereof, please visit Mark the Great, err I mean Nagy, at: vonnagy@yahoo.com

I have compiled some of  the most common pronunciations of Nagy: Naggy (as in Shaggy) Neggy (as in Peggy) Noggy (as in Foggy) Nay-jee Noogy Nuggy Nagy (like Navy, with a hard g) Nah-gee (emphasis on 2nd syllable) Naw-gee (frequently heard in the American South) Naaaaahhhhhhgeeeeeee (this is one I heard often growing up in North Georgia) Naaaaahhhhhhgeeeeeee (a North Georgia hybrid, same basic pronounciation as above but with slight whistling effect from missing teeth) N-N-Na-Na-ah-ah-ah-ah-g-g-ge-ge-ee (a frequent stutter heard by folks trying to  say Nagy right) Honorary Mentions: I was emailed by another Nagy living in Hawaii who was called green onion, because Japanese for green onion was "negi"! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's a fantastic email I received from "English Nagy": So, what if your name is ENGLISH NAGY? Can you even imagine the blank stares you get? Here's my story: I started at my current job about three years ago and my boss was introducing me to my first new client. Let me explain that we were in a very upscale setting (I represent several luxury hotel properties) and my boss introduces me as the new sales manager, British Navy. No joke. We just all gaped at one another and then started laughing. All I could think of was how many jokes she and her husband (the owner of the company) had made in my absence about their new company representative... Jay Nagy wrote me this pronunciation: oh and to add to the pronuncation debate, my family's always pronounced it as the last sound in the word "espionage", with the french-like G sound.