JK Rowling reveals Harry Potter fans have been saying Voldemort's name wrong all these years

  • Rowling was replying to fan's tweet when she revealed shocking fact
  • Said that the 't' at the end of Voldemort's name is supposed to be silent
  • Means his name sounds like French 'vol de mort' meaning flying death
  • His name could also translate a 'voleur de mort' meaning death thief

From Hermione to Diagon and Rubeus, Harry Potter books have been tripping fans up for years over how to pronounce certain words.

And now author J K Rowling has revealed that everyone has been saying Voldemort's name wrong as well.

While tweeting a fan of the books, Rowling revealed that the 't' at the end of the dark wizard's name is actually supposed to be silent.

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JK Rowling has revealed that millions of Harry Potter fans have been pronouncing the name of Harry's arch-nemesis Voldemort incorrectly for years

JK Rowling has revealed that millions of Harry Potter fans have been pronouncing the name of Harry's arch-nemesis Voldemort incorrectly for years

Rowling was responding to a tweet by Potter fan Michael Lucero where he suggested that actually the 't' at the end of the dark wizard's name is silent

Rowling was responding to a tweet by Potter fan Michael Lucero where he suggested that actually the 't' at the end of the dark wizard's name is silent

Twitter user Michael Lucero had messaged Rowling to say that his 'favorite  

Rowling confirmed that the French-style pronunciation is correct, though added: '...but I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who pronounces it that way.'

Fans were quick to point out that, spoken in the French fashion, the name of Harry's arch-nemesis sounds like the phrase 'vol de mort', literally translated as 'death flight'.

However, others pointed out that it could also be short for 'voleur de mort, which means 'death thief' or 'to steal from death'.

The translation seems appropriate, since Voldemort was stopped from dying after being magically linked with Harry while trying to cast the killing curse avada kedavra on him.

Rowling then confirmed it, though admitted that she was likely the only person saying it that way

Rowling then confirmed it, though admitted that she was likely the only person saying it that way

Said without the 't', Voldemort's name sounds like 'vol de mort', a French phrase meaning 'flying death', or 'voleur de mort' which means 'death thief'

Said without the 't', Voldemort's name sounds like 'vol de mort', a French phrase meaning 'flying death', or 'voleur de mort' which means 'death thief'

However, others took the news less well, pointing out that all of the characters in the Harry Potter films pronounce the name with a 't' at the end.

Obviously furious, Twitter user Casey Hill wrote: 'That they didn't fix this in the movies is a load of b******t with a silent "t."'

Another annoyed fan, going under the twitter handle of Erika R, added: 'Why not have them say it that way in the movies?'

Intriguingly some people pointed out that in the first two audio books, released before the first film came out, narrator Jim Jules didn't use the 't' before adopting it later.

That perhaps suggests that a deliberate decision was taken by the filmmakers to change how it was pronounced in order not to confuse the audience.

 

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