Astarion’s Name: How *BG3* Fans Have Been Pronouncing It Wrong (and Why We Might Be Okay With That)

For over 200 hours of voice acting in Baldur’s Gate 3, no character ever uttered Astarion’s full name. We, the dedicated fanbase, have spent years scrutinizing “Ancunín” etched on his gravestone. While we guessed at pronunciations, ranging from “an-KYU-nin,” a new audio sample has revealed the “correct” way to say it – and it’s causing quite a stir.

The Great Pronunciation Debate

This week, a snippet from the upcoming Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion audiobook, narrated by Neil Newbon (Astarion’s voice actor), offered the first official pronunciation. According to Newbon, “Ancunín” is closer to “an-soo-neen.” This revelation has ignited a fierce debate online, with many gamers questioning whether to embrace this new information or stick with their established pronunciations.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion, written by T. Kingfisher and narrated by Newbon, is a prequel novel exploring Astarion’s life as a magistrate-turned-vampire under Cazador Szarr before the events of Baldur’s Gate 3. The book will be available on September 29th through major retailers, with the audiobook accessible on platforms like Audible, Spotify, and Libby. A five-minute audio sample from the first chapter, which opens with Astarion bleeding out in an alleyway contemplating blood-tinged turnips as fashion inspiration, is now available.

The confusion stems from the accent mark over the “í,” a detail easily overlooked on a gravestone. Commenters dissecting this news on X note that the accent softens “nin” into “neen.” The pronunciation of the “c” remains open to interpretation, leading to camps divided between “soo” and “koo.”

Deeper Lore: Sebastian and Beyond

The book itself is generating excitement and discussion among early listeners. Kingfisher consulted directly with Stephen Rooney, Astarion’s original writer at Larian Studios, to ensure the prequel felt authentic and consistent with the game’s lore. The result is a mix of confirmations and surprises that may require adjustments from the Baldur’s Gate 3 community. The book may settle a years-old fan question by naming the “darling boy” Astarion references in-game as “Sebastian,” while other choices, like having Astarion call Cazador “Father” instead of “Master,” are more controversial.

New characters are also being introduced: Hahn den Suriel, an Aasimar paladin who becomes an ally to Astarion during his prequel adventures. After the first five minutes of the audiobook, in which we hear Newbon cataloguing the aftermath of a disastrous day on the magistrate’s bench, Astarion will surely need all the help he can get to navigate the book’s events.

Ultimately, after Astarion spent Baldur’s Gate 3 allowing players to mispronounce his last name in silence, Newbon is here to set the record straight – assuming you’re willing to accept his authority. Whether you embrace “an-soo-neen” or stick with your established pronunciation, one thing is certain: the debate will continue.

Source: Polygon