You've (Probably) Been Pronouncing Hunter X Hunter Wrong - CBR

Among the most notorious anime debates is how to pronounce the title of shonen classic, Hunter x Hunter. It is not, in fact, "Hunter ex Hunter," as most people say. "Hunter by Hunter" and "Hunter versus Hunter" are also wrong. Many other shows and movies have debated pronunciations for years without an explanation, but Hunter x Hunter has an answer. Through vigorous debate and some help from the series' creator, the real pronunciation has been found once and for all.The first candidate for a Hunter x Hunter pronunciation is the popular "Hunter ex Hunter," where you pronounce the "x" as, well, an X. It rolls off the tongue nicely and helps distinguish the series from other hunter-related media. The second is where you ignore the "x" entirely, saying simply "Hunter Hunter." This variation is also quite punchy, though it does silence the ever-troubling "x." You could also say "Hunter versus Hunter," as the anime includes a lot of hunter-on-hunter fighting. There are a few others, such as "Hunter by Hunter" or "Hunter times Hunter" (reading the "x" as a multiplication sign), but the debate mostly focuses on "Hunter ex Hunter" and "Hunter Hunter." A lot of fans prefer the former.RELATED: Hunter x Hunter's Nen May Be the Most Effective Power System in Anime

The Hunter x Hunter Pronunciation Debate

It certainly makes sense. After all, why would the "x" be silent? To answer this question, we have to look into what the title really means, and what role the "x" really plays. There's some debate on this too, but most accept the title isn't anything profound. Hunter x Hunter is a literal title for an anime about hunters, and the "x" is a stylistic addition. But here's the thing: that "x" we've been talking about isn't a letter at all -- it's the symbol for multiplication ("×"). Technically, Hunter x Hunter should be translated as "Hunter × Hunter." Then again, because "x" is a passable substitute for "×" in English, there's no real need.

Anime such as Hunter x Hunter, Highschool DxD, Kiss x Sis, Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb and more all contain the incorrectly translated "×," and are generally pronounced differently. The "×" could mean "and," "versus," "x," or something else. All in all, it's purely aesthetic, and it can have any number of correct pronunciations. However, the most common pronunciation of "×" is none at all. As in, the "×" is indeed silent. So, while the multiplication sign could work in favor of the "Hunter by Hunter" or "Hunter times Hunter" pronunciations, the most likely option is actually "Hunter Hunter."

RELATED: Does Hunter x Hunter Actually Subvert Classic Shounen Anime Tropes?

How to Say Hunter x Hunter, According to the Creator

Of course, there's only one way to know for sure. So, above is a video of Yoshihiro Togayashi (the series' creator) actually saying "Hunter Hunter," confirming the pronunciation as Neil Gaiman did for The Sandman's Constantine.

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Really, it's fine to say Hunter x Hunter however you like. If "Hunter ex Hunter" rolls off the tongue better, it's no big deal. A large portion of the fan base agrees. However, for fans wanting to be completely accurate, the answer is "Hunter Hunter," and that's final. You can't argue with the creator himself.