How did we not know this?
Harry Potter may technically be over – for now – but fans definitely take the series seriously.
With seven books, nine (soon to be ten) films and a two part play in the West End, the fantasy series has some of the most devoted fans across the globe.
And while many die-hard Harry Potter fans are able to recite the ingredients in Polyjuice Potion in their sleep (knotgrass and shredded Boomslang skin, anyone?) or know how many knuts are are in a galleon (493), it turns out there’s still some things to learn.
Pottermore – the ultimate source of all knowledge of the magical World of Witchcraft and Wizardry – released a list of the words and names that Harry Potter fans have been (most likely) pronouncing wrong.
And while some people have caught onto them over time – like Hermione – there were some that even the Her team got stumped by.
We always thought that Ron, Hermione and Harry were purchasing goods with Galleons, Sickles and k-nuts (with a silent k).
Like knife, knock, knit, knickers, and knight.
But we’ve been reading it (and saying it) wrong this whole time, and our minds are actually blown.
According to the lexicon, the smallest coin in the wizarding world is actually pronounced ca-nut.
Yes, you read that right. Ca-nut.
We’re not too sure how to feel about that.
The members of the wizarding community may have been afraid to say Tom Riddle’s other name at the start, but we weren’t – we were just saying it wrong.
We always were convinced that He Who Must Not Be Named’s name was pronounced Vol-de-mort.
But it turns out the t is meant to be silent – and J.K. Rowling confirmed it years ago, too.
… 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
In 2015, she retweeted someone who said:
“One piece of Harry Potter trivia I always forget to mention: the ‘t’ is silent in Voldemort, according to @jk_rowling.”
The author then quipped:
“but I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who pronounces it that way.”
