How Do You Pronounce Moleskine?
The expensive notebook from bookstores.
One can find many things on Moleskine®’s official YouTube channel. An ad for planners. A Game of Thrones thing. A traveling exhibition inspired by paper — OK. (Whether one wants anything one might find on Moleskine®’s official YouTube channel is up to one.) However, something one will not find on Moleskine®’s official YouTube channel is an official Moleskine®-sanctioned pronunciation of Moleskine®.
This is because there is no official Moleskine®-sanctioned pronunciation of Moleskine®.
Incredible. The notebooks? Yes, you remember them from the rack at the bookstore. From Molskine’s official website:
Many Moleskine users send us enquiries as to which is the correct way of pronouncing the word “Moleskine”. The answer is: there is no predetermined answer.
Moleskine is a brand name with undefined national identity. And that’s the way we like it. As a literary name, it was used by British travel writer Bruce Chatwin in his book “The Songlines”, referred to the little black notebooks he usually bought from a stationery store in Paris.
Everyone should feel free to pronounce it as he/she prefers. Enjoy.
EXCUSE ME?
I would “Enjoy.” you to just tell me how to say it; you’re a notebook.
This was brought to my attention today when Silvia Killingsworth Slack chatted me and said:
We believe in transparency here at The Hairpin, just like the website Gawker sort of did but only in some ways. Yes, I would like to do a post on How Do You Pronounce Moleskin
e.
How do you pronounce Molskine?
Silvia Killingsworth, editor of The Awl and The Hairpin, pronounces it “MOLE-skin.”
- ✓ That is an acceptable pronunciation of Moleskine.
Brian Feldman, Spoon fan, pronounces it “mole-skin.”
- ✓ That is definitely a pronunciation of Moleskine.
Alex Balk, online writer, says “I am sorry to say I pronounce it ‘mole-skeyn.’” [Ed. note: he means mole-skyne, not mole-skayn.]
- No reason to be sorry, Alex.
- ✓ That is an acceptable pronunciation of Moleskine.
Mike Dang, lovable Slack personality, pronounces it “Mole-skin.”
- ✓ That’s just right.
Megan Reynolds, editor of The Billfold, pronounces it “mole-skin.”
- Megan, I’d like to be the first to congratulate you on your pronunciation of Moleskine.
- ✓ It is acceptable.
Christine Friar, a Twitter favorite among the who’s-who, pronounces it “mole — skin.”
- ✓ “Like.”
Adam Frucci, un-boxer of the 2012 Toyota Yaris, says, “I don’t pronounce it,” and “I’ve never said it out loud,” and “never thought it much either.” OK.
- ✖ That is incorrect.
Michael Macher, just “Macher” to friends, pronounces it “Mol-es-skin.”
- ✓ Ultimately whatever way you want to say it is the correct way.
Nicole Dieker, writer at The Billfold, pronounces it “Mole Skin.”
- Write something about this, Nicole.
- ✓ You’re right.
Dusty Matthews, tech, pronounces it “mole-skin.”
- ✓ Yay, Dusty. Everyone say “yay” for Dusty.
Casey Johnston, swole woman, said, “mole like the animal. skin like that which covers our bodies.”
- ✓ And she is bench pressing 1000 pounds of correct pronunciation.
Keenan Trotter, one of my favorite living men, said, “i pronounce it like mole-skin, where ‘mole’ rhymes with coal and ‘skin’ rhymes with spin”
- ✓ Oh yes.
Leah Finnegan, author of Leah Letter, pronounces it “mole-skin.”
- ✓ Fuck.
Samer, from Deadspin, said, “like the notebook? hmm. i would say i pronounce it mole-skin but that’s probably wrong. i just generally avoid it by calling it a ‘notebook’ but mole-skin is my final answer.”
- ✓ Yes.
Kelly Conaboy, me, pronounces it “mole skin.”
- ✓ Perfect.
How do you pronounce Molskine? Say your answer aloud.