<p>Roar-oh-know-ah is the pronunciation of Roronoa</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-17T05:59:30.260Z
This doesn't really answer the question, which (despite the title) was about the character's surname.
senshin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-17T06:26:04.193Z
@senshin You point is valid, but you got the details mixed up. His first name is Zoro, and last name is Roronoa.
Masked Man
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-17T04:48:33.360Z
2013-11-17T04:48:33.360Z
sight ward
<p>The pronunciation of the hiragana character ろ is the correct way to pronounce the <code>ro</code> in Roronoa Zoro's name. This pronunciation lies somewhere in between the English pronunciations of <code>Ro</code> and <code>Lo</code> (though closer to <code>Ro</code>). You can find an audio file with the pronunciation on <a href="http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/hiragana" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this page</a> at guidetojapanese.org.</p>

<p>The canonical Roman spelling for his name is <code>Roronoa Zoro</code>, since this is the spelling used on his bounty poster. In the English dub, 4kids changed his name to <code>Zolo</code> for some reason. </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9ST3gm.png" alt="Zoro&#39;s bounty poster"></p>

<p>His first name is Zoro, and last name is Roronoa. The Japanese place their family name before their first name. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-21T16:08:34.430Z
That's a tiny bounty.  It's a thousand'th of vash's
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-17T02:36:51.670Z
2013-11-21T05:02:59.040Z
2013-11-21T05:02:59.040Z
Masked Man
<p>I've heard from varying sources that Roronoa's name is pronounced two different ways and I was wondering what is the correct way to say it. I have heard it pronounced 'Zoro' in the manga but my bilingual (Japanese and English) friend says that it is pronounced 'Zolo.' So what is the correct way to pronounce his name? </p>

<p>What I'm trying to ask is, is his name Zoro or Zolo?</p>

<p>Also is Roronoa his first or last name?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-16T20:34:33.980Z
Japanese makes no distinction between R and L in pronunciation. Both are equally correct (Zoro vs Zolo).
Madara's Ghost
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-17T01:51:47.660Z
@MadaraUchiha To be more precise, the pronunciations of ら (ra), り (ri), る (ru), れ (re), ろ (ro) lie somewhere in between the corresponding R & L sounds of English.
Masked Man
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-17T01:52:48.243Z
@Cyberson By the way, did you mean how to *spell* Zoro's name?
Masked Man
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-17T09:43:27.000Z
Its the same how Luffy's name is pronounced. *Ruffi or Ruffy or Luffy*. That's japanese for you my friend! :)
Rahul
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2013-11-21T05:04:41.550Z
@Cyberson I had overlooked your last question about the first name and last name. Now I have answered that as well.
Masked Man
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-21T16:08:57.027Z
watch some subbed anime.  they'll say his name
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
<one-piece>
How do you pronounce Roronoa's name?
# How do you pronounce Roronoa's name?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-11-16
I've heard from varying sources that Roronoa's name is pronounced two different ways and I was wondering what is the correct way to say it. I have heard it pronounced 'Zoro' in the manga but my bilingual (Japanese and English) friend says that it is pronounced 'Zolo.' So what is the correct way to pronounce his name?

What I'm trying to ask is, is his name Zoro or Zolo?

Also is Roronoa his first or last name?
**Tags:** one-piece
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Japanese makes no distinction between R and L in pronunciation. Both are equally correct (Zoro vs Zolo).  
> **username_2**: @MadaraUchiha To be more precise, the pronunciations of ら (ra), り (ri), る (ru), れ (re), ろ (ro) lie somewhere in between the corresponding R & L sounds of English.  
> **username_2**: @Cyberson By the way, did you mean how to *spell* Zoro's name?  
> **username_3**: Its the same how Luffy's name is pronounced. *Ruffi or Ruffy or Luffy*. That's japanese for you my friend! :)  
> **username_2**: @Cyberson I had overlooked your last question about the first name and last name. Now I have answered that as well.  
> **username_4**: watch some subbed anime.  they'll say his name  
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2013-11-17. Score: 6 | Accepted answer
The pronunciation of the hiragana character ろ is the correct way to pronounce the `ro` in Roronoa Zoro's name. This pronunciation lies somewhere in between the English pronunciations of `Ro` and `Lo` (though closer to `Ro`). You can find an audio file with the pronunciation on [this page](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/hiragana) at guidetojapanese.org.

The canonical Roman spelling for his name is `Roronoa Zoro`, since this is the spelling used on his bounty poster. In the English dub, 4kids changed his name to `Zolo` for some reason.

![Zoro's bounty poster](https://i.sstatic.net/9ST3gm.png)

His first name is Zoro, and last name is Roronoa. The Japanese place their family name before their first name.
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2013-11-21): That's a tiny bounty.  It's a thousand'th of vash's  
---
### Answer by username_5 on 2013-11-17. Score: 1
Roar-oh-know-ah is the pronunciation of Roronoa
> **Comments:**
> **username_6** (2013-11-17): This doesn't really answer the question, which (despite the title) was about the character's surname.  
> **username_2** (2013-11-17): @senshin You point is valid, but you got the details mixed up. His first name is Zoro, and last name is Roronoa.  
---
