Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, set to release on February 29, is re-introducing the character Cait Sith from the original Final Fantasy VII. This has sparked a debate among fans about the correct pronunciation of “Cait Sith,” as it derives from Celtic mythology. The game developers, Square Enix, have finally revealed the pronunciation in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, causing mixed emotions among fans. Square Enix revealed on Twitter that Cait Sith should be pronounced as “Kate Sihth,” which aligns with how many fans have been saying it. However, this decision has received criticism for erasing the term’s history deeply rooted in a different culture and folklore.
The response to Square Enix’s announcement has been divided, with some fans feeling vindicated in their pronunciation while others argue that it disregards the original Gaelic pronunciation. The Japanese pronunciation is closer to the original Gaelic, but English-speaking territories will use the more anglicized pronunciation. This ruling by Square Enix was expected to settle the long-standing debate, but instead, it has only added fuel to the fire.
Pronunciation debates have been common in the Final Fantasy franchise, particularly concerning character and concept names. The lack of voice acting in earlier games led to fans interpreting the names in different ways. The inconsistency in pronunciation extends to other characters and concepts in the series, adding to the confusion among fans. Despite disagreements over pronunciations, one thing most fans can agree on is the popularity of the character Andrea Rhodea in the Final Fantasy VII subseries.
