• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Larry Brown Sports

Larry Brown Sports

Brown Bag it, Baby

  • Home
  • Blog View
  • NFL
  • NCAAF
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • Media
  • Headlines
  • Podcast
FootballNFL pronunciation guide

How to Pronounce NFL’s Toughest Names

August 9, 2010 by Erin Redmond • Comments
FacebookTweetLinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsAppEmail

Is it just me or does it seems like athlete’s names are getting harder to pronounce each year? Sometimes it even hurts my brain to look at the jumble of letters and decipher how  to pronounce them. Well that all ends here. I’ve put together an NFL pronunciation guide for the hardest names in football. Now, you can impress your friends with your ability correctly say the name of any player that you want. Without further ado, here’s how to pronounce some of the toughest names in the league:

Arizona Cardinals:

Hamza Abdullah (Ham-za ab-duh-LA)

Kenny Iwebema (ee-WEB-uh-muh)

Deuce Lutui ( luh-TOO-ee)

Pago Togafau (PONG-oh TONG-uh-fow)

Atlanta Falcons:

Jonathan Babineaux (BAB-uh-no)

Steven Hauschka (Howsh-kuh)

Ovie Mughelli (oh-vee muh-hay-lee)

Quinn Ojinnaka (oh-gee-nak-ah)

Baltimore Ravens:

Brendon Ayanbadejo (eye-uhn-bah-DAY-zoo)

Haruki Nakamura (Ha-ROO-kee NA-ka-moo-ra)

Haloti Ngata (Ha-LOTE-ee NAH-ta)

Tom Zbikowski (Zi-buh-kow-ski)

Buffalo Bills:

Joe Klopfenstein (Klof-N-stein)

Ashton Youboty (You-boat-ee)

Carolina Panthers:

Mackenzy Bernadeau (Burr-NAR-doe)

Tony Fiammetta (FEE-ah-met-ah)

Chicago Bears:

Devin Aromashodu (Ah-row-MA-shaw-do)

Israel Idonije (eh-don-ish-aye)

Brian Iwuh (E-woo)

Brandon Manumaleuna (Mon-o-male-ee-uh-na)

Will Ta’ufo’ou (tau-FOE-oh)

Pisa Tinoisamoa (Pee-sa Teno-isa-moe-a)

Cincinnati Bengals:

Jonathan Fanene (Fuh-Nay-Nay)

Rey Maualuga (mah-wah-LOO-gah)

Chinedum Ndukwe (CHIN-eh-doom ehn-DUKE-way)

Cleveland Browns:

Scott Kooistra (KOO-struh)

Mohamed Massaquoi (MASS-a-qwah)

Dallas Cowboys:

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (Ak-WAH-zee Oh-WOON-soo AHN-sah)

Denver Broncos:

Akin Ayodele (AY-kin AY-dell)

Detroit Lions:

Gosder Cherilus (GOZ-der SHARE-uh-loss)

Isaiah Ekejiuba (Eck-ah-ju-buh)

Ndamukong Suh (en-dom-ah-ken SUE)

Green Bay Packers:

Breno Giacomini (Bre-no gia-co-mean-ni)

Cyril Obiozor (OH-bah-zore)

Houston Texans:

Pannel Egboh (PUH-nell EGG-bow)

Indianapolis Colts:

Vuna Tuihalakama (Voo-Nah Too-ee-hal-ah-ma-kah)

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Uche Nwaneri (OO’-chee wah-NAIR-ee)

Kansas City Cheifs:

Lemuel Jeanpierre (lem-YOOL john-pee-AIR)

Ike Ndukewe (ehn-DUKE-way)

Miami Dolphins:

Ikaika Alama-Francis (ee-KY-kah ah-LAH-mah)

Koa Misi (ko-a Mee-see)

Minnesota Vikings:

Husain Abdullah (WHO-sane ab-duh-LA)

Jimmy Kleinsasser (KLINE’-saw-sir)

Kenny Onatolu (on-uh-TOE-lu)

Visanthe Shiancoe (vi-sahn-te SHANK-oh)

New England Patriots:

Eric Ghiaciuc (GUY-check)

New Orleans Saints:

Stanley Arnoux (ARR-no)

Pierson Prioleau (pray-low)

New York Giants:

Nyan Boateng (Ni-ann Bo-tang)

Mathias Kiwanuka (Muh-tie-us COW-a-nuka)

Osi Umenyiora (OH-see you-mihn-YOHR’-uh)

New York Jets:

James Ihedigobo (ee-HEAD-ee-BO)

Ropati Pitoitua (Roe-PAH-tee Pit-TOE-ee-TWO-ah)

Oakland Raiders:

Nnamdi Asomugha (Nahm-Dee Aso-MU-wah)

Manase Tonga (mah-NAH-say TAWNG-ga)

Philadelphia Eagles:

Victor Abiamiri (ahb-ee-ah-MEER-ee)

Fenuki Tupou (fen-UU-kee TUU-puu)

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Chris Kemoeatu (kay-moy-AH-too)

San Diego Chargers:

Seyi Ajirotutu (SHAY-ee Ah-JEER-ah-two-two)

Legedu Naanee (Leg-a-do Nuh-nay)

Ogemdi Nwagbuo (oh-GIM-dee new-WOW-bow)

San Francisco 49ers:

Mike Iupati (Yoo-POT-ee)

Seattle Seahawks:

Jordan Babineaux (bab-uh-no)

T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Who-shh-manned-ZA-da)

Ben Obomanu (Oh-BUH-mon-u)

St. Louis Rams:

Victor Adeyanju (ah-DAY’-ahn-zhoo)

Oshiomogho Atogwe (oh-SHIM-ago a-TOG-way)

Michael Hoomanawanui (huh-oh-muh-NOW-uh-noo-ee)

Chris Ogbonnaya (oh-bun-EYE-uh)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Brandon Gilbeaux (gib-BO)

Niko Koutouvides (Koo-tuh-vee-dees)

Mario Urrutia (u-root-tia)

Tennessee Titans:

Eric Bakhtiari (BOK-tee-R-ee)

Pete Ittersagen (itter-SAY-gun)

Washington Redskins:

Maake Kemoeatu (ma-AH-kay key-moy-AH-too)

Have questions? Get answers.

  • i want more great stories!

Sign up today for free and get the best sports content sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

.

Follow Us

Get instantly notified of the most viral news stories via Google!

  • Trending stories

Jacoby Brissett with the Browns

NFL insider predicts the 1st starting QB to be benched

5 days ago
Ronald Acuna Jr in a red Braves uniform

Braves’ stance on Ronald Acuña Jr’s future has been revealed

4 days ago
Duke player Kimari Robinson on the field

Duke player under fire for forcefully swatting away female staff member

1 day ago
James Cook looks on

Joe Brady sends stern warning to James Cook

6 days ago
Dallas Goedert with his pants down

Dallas Goedert gets pantsed by opposing defender

14 hours ago

Sidebar


  • don’t miss these

CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the sideline

CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens looked so sad during Cowboys’ Week 6 loss

4 hours ago56
Aaron Rodgers talking to Josiah Trotter

Aaron Rodgers had the coldest trash talk for Josiah Trotter

4 hours ago57
Rams kicker Blake Grupe trying to tackle Cardinals kickoff returner Devin Duvernay

Rams’ 150-pound kicker was seriously injured after trying to make a tackle

4 hours ago153
Jim Harbaugh looks on at practice

Jim Harbaugh had telling comments when asked about Mike McDaniel

5 hours ago89
Bills cornerback CJ Gardner-Johnson spitting at Raiders tight end Brock Bowers

Bills’ CJ Gardner-Johnson ejected for trying to spit on Brock Bowers

6 hours ago47
JJ McCarthy on the practice field

Everyone said the same thing about JJ McCarthy replacing Jameis Winston

13 hours ago907
  • popular stories

Aaron Judge in his Yankees uniform

Report: Yankees are annoyed with Aaron Judge

Troy Aikman talking

Troy Aikman addresses report of tension with Joe Buck

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman during an intro

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly have argument before game

The Los Angeles Chargers' logo at midfield

Chargers make a move on former Chiefs wide receiver

The logo of the Los Angeles Rams at midfield

Rams make major change after their Week 5 loss

Angel Reese in her Dream uniform

Angel Reese is embracing a new nickname ahead of the WNBA Finals

Get the App

© 2026 · LB Sports Media Group Inc · Powered by Springwire.ai

Privacy Manager © 2026 · All Rights Reserved
  • X
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • About Larry Brown Sports
  • Contact
  • Editorial Process
  • Staff Writers
  • Privacy Policy
Dedicated to the memory of Nevil Vega
Team/Player Stats