What is the correct pronunciation of the word "eBay", and how has the name (not the company) evolved?

Asked by ibstubro (18804

) December 12th, 2015

ebay currently uses no caps in the company name on the website, but spellchecks commonly only accept “eBay”.

Common usage seems to be Ebay, and that’s the only way I’ve heard it pronounced. “E-bay.”
Were they originally shooting for people saying “e-Bay”, and if so, why?

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3 Answers

The legal corporate name is eBay, Inc.

Also, all the text on the web site reads “eBay”. Only the logo is lower case.

I’ve never thought the pronunciation was anything other than “eebay”.

jaytkay (25810

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It’s pronounced EE-bay, with about the same sound and emphasis as “deejay” (DJ), and I don’t think the name has evolved at all. The company began in the Bay Area, the bay in question being San Francisco Bay and specifically the South Bay, otherwise known as Silicon Valley. The company was launched under another name at a time when lots of e-businesses (“dotcoms”) were being launched in this same area. After the name was changed to eBay, it stayed that way.

Jeruba (55830

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