J.K. Rowling: You've all been saying Voldemort's name wrong
Thought you knew everything there was to know about "Harry Potter"? You may be wrong.
J.K. Rowling claims she is the only person who can pronounce the name of "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." When one fan tweeted at the "Harry Potter" author: "One piece of Harry Potter trivia I always forget to mention: the 't' is silent in Voldemort, according to @jk_rowling."
Rowling responded in a defeated tone, saying, "... but I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who pronounces it that way."
... but I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who pronounces it that way. https://t.co/HxhJ5XY5HP
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 9, 2015
There is one group of readers who have been pronouncing Voldemort correctly all along: the French.
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic students would be so smug. Perhaps Hogwarts students would have pronounced the name incorrectly as well.
@jk_rowling @mhenrylucero @Universe_Box it's because it's French for "flight of death" so the t should be silent #MiniFrenchLessons
— Hi. (@itsgurrett) September 9, 2015
One Twitter user pointed out that when separated, Voldemort becomes "vol de mort," which means "flight of death" in French.
A Twitter user purporting to be the Dark Lord himself complained that Muggles never listen, and referenced a previous tweet from 2010 in which he told fans, "Yo my names Voldemort & the t is silent, but don't say my name or imma get violent. #FreestyleFriday"
@jk_rowling Muggles never listen https://t.co/at5koM4Wsq
— The Dark Lord (@Lord_Voldemort7) September 10, 2015
Unfortunately, it seems like the pronunciation issue is past the point of no return thanks to the pronunciation actors used in "Harry Potter" films. Apparently, the "Harry Potter" audiobooks voice actor used to say it the French way, and switched over after the films. Oh well -- c'est la vie.