Pronounciation of "Taito"

[Jibbajaba]

I am curious how people pronounce "Taito". I have always said "Tay-Toe", but recently I heard someone say "Tie-Toe", which now that I think about it, seems like it is probably the correct Japanese pronounciation.

So how do YOU say Taito?

Chris

[pseudonym]

I pronounce it both ways but it's usually Tie-Toe more.

[delafro]

"Tie-toe" would be the correct Japanese pronounciation.

Actually if you wanted to be strict, it would be more like Tah-ee-toh.　タイトー。

[Synergy]

"Tie-toe" here as well. As in, "Man Bubble Bobble Part 2 is expensive! Damn you, "tie-toe" games!!!11" LOL

[Wavelflack]

Back when it was on the side of Frontline and Jungle Hunt cabinets, it was "Tay-toe". Like what your fries are made of.

Later on, I understood it to be "Tie-toe", because that's how the receptionist at Taito USA answered the phones. Also, the "Dr. Taito" recorded announcements while on hold pronounced it that way. However, I thought it sounded pretty gay, so I stuck with "Tay-toe."

Then I bought a Taito Saturn game (I can't remember if it was Bubble Bobble, Bubble Symphony, or what), and the squeaky typical prepubescent japanese female voice said "Ta-haw-toe", then "Tie---TOE!" I guess they are now giving you an option, or something.

Anyway, the cool people pronounce it "Taytoe".

The end.

[PingvinBlueJeans]

I used to pronounce it "Tay-toe" until I heard a Japanese chick pronounce it "Tie-toe" and I realized that she must be right. :)

[Wavelflack]

It's right, if you are a japanese chick.

[NE146]

Tay toe is the honkey-ized version :P

It's pretty much Tie-Toe for us (or delafro's more accurate pronunciation above). There's zero debate there :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqCwcQmjH60

[DonMarco]

Tay-tow would be spelled "Teito" in Japanese.

Tie-toe would be and is "Taito". (Which is what I say.)

[Aussie2B]

I'm pretty sure I said "Tay-toe" as a kid, but once I got better informed, it's been "Tie-toe" ever since. My boyfriend jokingly calls it "Tee-toe", which, I think, is what he and his brother said as kids, for some unknown reason. o_O

[Damaramu]

I've always pronounced it "tie-toe".

[badinsults]

I've always pronounced it "tie-toe".

[dreamcaster]

Tay-toe is the way I say it, but I the tie-toe is probably more correct.

[Emuaust]

japanese way is ta ee toh
they pronounce each vowel so neither of the 2 options
in the poll are technically correct, ill skip voting on this one
:-P

[Aussie2B]

The vowels are separate on the basis that the Japanese have no character for producing a hard "i" sound so it's written as "ta-i-to", but stressing the separation of the vowels when pronouncing them WOULD be incorrect. The vowel sounds are supposed to be spoken very fast, so it should sound, to a foreign ear at least, like a two syllable word. I mean, English speakers pronounce a hard "i" virtually the same. Try slowing it down and pay attention to your mouth movements. You'll open your mouth at the start as if you're pronouncing a soft "o" (or to the rest of the world, it's a soft "a" since many of the European languages don't pronounce a soft "a" like in "apple" such as we do), then as you finish the "i", your mouth will close up a bit and tighten like you're pronouncing a hard "e" as in "bee".

[Kitsune Sniper]

Tah-eeh-toh.

Just like I was taught in Japanese class years ago.

[Muscelli]

i pronounce it like tay-tee-oh which is wrong but i like it that way :)

[smork]

Always been ta-ee-toh for me, so I went with tie-toh.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Tay-Toe

[funksoulfather]

I've always pronounced it Tay Toe, but now I'll be second guessing myself everyime I say it. Just like what happened to me when I pronounced Gaiden as Gay Den instead of Guy Den.

[Damaramu]

snip

Yup. Just like I learned in my Japanese class. :D

[Pantechnicon]

I've always said Tay-Toe, although this is obviously wrong when compared to other Anglicized Japanese words like Bandai, samurai, kaiju, etc. Next time I have an opportunity to say it out loud I'll switch to something that better approximates the correct pronunciation.

[cyberfluxor]

I'm also in the wagon of "Tay-toe" up until I played games that actually spoke the name in the title screen "Tai-toe". I still sometimes say "Tay-toe", then correct myself split seconds later. I sometimes get odd stares from fellow games due to my stress on trying to say it right.

[BZero]

I pronounce it Tie-too ("oo" like in "moo", not the word "too").

[MuppetMaster]

When I was younger I called it Tay-To. I know now thats its Tie-Toe but I still say Tay-To :P Hell old habits are hard to break.

[MrRoboto19XX]

Oddly enough, Ive always read it with my mind knowing it should be "Tie-Toe" but Ive always said "Tay-Toe".

I think Ill keep saying Taytoe, reminds me of the days when the internet didnt exist and japan seemed infinate worlds away.

[mezrabad]

Tie-toe is close enough.

I think a Japanese person would say it is three syllables - ta-ee-to, and they would spell it with three syllables but if you asked them to pronounce it most people who weren't used to listening to Japanese would hear "tie-toe".

[Arcade Antics]

ROSEBUD.

[SeGaFiEnD]

Tie Toe. My favorite part of playing a Taito game is hearing the girl say (in a cute voice) TIE-TOE! :eek 2:

[Jumpman Jr.]

I always thought it was "Tay-shio" or something like that. Although, now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever come across a situation in my life where I had to pronounce it.
But whenever I read the word, I read it as "Tay-shio" as in "Ratio."

[Doom Gaze]

I've always said Tay-to. Never really gave it a second thought.

[Ed Oscuro]

First thought: It's pronounced "Squee-nix" now.

Second thought: This thread has made that squeaky Japanese girl's "Taito!" shout reverbrate through my dome for the last three minutes. @_@

[Gapporin]

[insert obligatory "Throatwarbler Mangrove" joke here]

[j_factor]

I've always said "tie-toe". Also, I don't think "ta-ee-toe" is a different pronunciation at all, it's just what it sounds like when you say it slower.