How to Pronounce PostgreSQL: The Complete Guide for Developers
PostgreSQL is pronounced /ˌpoʊstɡrɛsˈkjuːɛl/ (POST-gres-Q-L), or simply "Postgres" (/ˈpoʊstɡrɛs/) in casual conversation. If you work with databases, you've almost certainly said "PostgreSQL" out loud at some point — in a standup, an architecture discussion, or a job interview. And you've probably heard it pronounced three different ways by three different people. Here's the definitive guide to getting it right, plus the hidden history behind why this particular database has such a complex name.
The correct pronunciation: "POST-gres-Q-L"
Official: "POST-gres-Q-L" (POST-gres for "Postgres," then spell out Q-L)
Break it into pieces:
- POST: Rhymes with "coast" or "toast" — never "pahst"
- gres: Pronounced "grehs" or "gress" (like "progress" without the "pro")
- Q-L: Spell it out rather than saying "sequel" — this distinguishes it from plain SQL
So the full pronunciation is: "POST-gres-Q-L" or sometimes "POST-gres-ess-Q-L" if you're enunciating clearly.
What people actually say (and what's acceptable)
In practice, you'll hear variations:
- "POST-gres" (stopping after the first part — very common and widely understood)
- "POST-gres-sequel" (treating SQL as "sequel" — acceptable, especially if your team uses it)
- "Postgre-S-Q-L" (emphasizing the S-Q-L parts separately — formal but less common)
Most PostgreSQL developers use "Postgres" as shorthand. In casual team conversations, saying just "POST-gres" is perfectly fine and probably the most common choice. Save the full "POST-gres-Q-L" for formal contexts like conferences or client presentations.
Where the name comes from: A brief history
Understanding the name's origin explains the pronunciation:
INGRES (1970s-1980s): The original database system was called INGRES, developed at UC Berkeley. Pronounced "IN-gres" (like "ingress" — entry). INGRES was academic and never captured significant market share.
Postgres (1986): When Michael Stonebraker's team continued the project after INGRES, they named it "Post-Ingres" — literally "after Ingres." This quickly shortened to Postgres, pronounced "POST-gres." For years, the database was simply called Postgres.
PostgreSQL (1996): When the open-source community took over the project, they renamed it PostgreSQL to emphasize its SQL compatibility. This was during the late 1990s SQL boom, when SQL support was a major selling point. The name stuck, even though most people still call it Postgres for short.
Why "-gres" and not "-gree"?
One common mistake: people think "-gres" rhymes with "free" or "knee" (long E sound). It doesn't. The "-es" at the end of "Ingres" is pronounced like "es" in "dress" or "bless" — a short E sound, followed by the S.
So: POST-gres (rhyme with "toast-less"), not "POST-greek."
The official PostgreSQL stance
The PostgreSQL community has never been dogmatic about pronunciation. The official documentation and project leaders use "POST-gres" or "Postgres" interchangeably. Most core developers and maintainers just say "Postgres" in conversation.
In the PostgreSQL community, you're also likely to hear technical jargon like "SQL" (whether said as "sequel" or spelled out), "psql" (the command-line client, pronounced "psee-Q-L"), and references to "PG" (short for PostgreSQL, just say "P-G").
Practical advice: When to use which pronunciation
- In your dev team: Just say "Postgres." Everyone understands, and it's the fastest.
- In technical writing/docs: Use "PostgreSQL" (the official name) or "Postgres" (the common nickname).
- In client/stakeholder meetings: "PostgreSQL" with the full "POST-gres-Q-L" pronunciation sounds more professional and emphasizes the SQL capability.
- At conferences: "Postgres" is what you'll hear most from the community, so match that tone.
Build confidence with database terminology
PostgreSQL pronunciation is just one piece of speaking confidently about databases. If you're working with databases, you'll also want to master SQL pronunciation and MySQL pronunciation — each with its own interesting history and community conventions.
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