The famous children’s author is one of Cardiff’s most treasured sons. But it seems like most of us have been saying his name wrong all along.
It’s likely that you’ve been referring to the Matilda author as “Ro-ald” or “Rohld”.
The British interpretation of the Scandinavian name’s pronunciation went uncorrected throughout the author’s life - even by his own family and the man himself.
However, the correct Norwegian pronunciation is “Roo-al”.
In a 1961 science-fiction television show called Way Out, hosted by Roald for CBS, an introduction for the famed writer says it very clearly.
He pronounces it ‘Roo-al’, the Norwegian way - without the ‘d’ being pronounced at the end.
The writer of 47 books was born in Llandaff to Norwegian parents and the meaning of his Nordic name is said to be ‘powerful’.
Neither his daughter Lucy or wife Felicity have corrected the pronunciation when used by journalists in interviews, MailOnline report , so perhaps we can all be forgiven.
Especially as his own granddaughter, Sophie Dahl, called him ‘Mold’.
Now a famous model, she told the Guardian earlier this year: “I called him Mold, because when I was a toddler they tried to teach me the Norwegian pronunciation of his name, but my baby tongue couldn’t get to grips with it, and instead Mold he was, ever after. Sometimes Moldy.”
Watch the programme here:
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