Denzel Washington reveals real pronunciation of his name

Decades into his Academy Award-winning career, Denzel Washington is setting the record straight on how to pronounce his name.

During a Sept. 2 appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," "The Equalizer" actor shared that his first name was originally pronounced differently from how the masses say it. Kimmel told Washington that in 1987, there were zero football players named "Denzel" and now there are four, something the late-night host credits to the actor's fame.

Washington agreed, adding that he is confident many Denzels were named after him because of the unique pronunciation of his name.

He recounted being named Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. after his father, Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. prompted his mother, Lennis Washington, to pronounce her son's name differently.

"My mother would say 'Denzel (Den-zil)' and we both show up," he told Kimmel, emphasizing the first syllable and the shortened "e" sound. "So she said 'from now on you're Denzel.' That's how we got to pronounce Denzel."

"Oh, that's smart," Kimmel replied.

How to pronounce Denzel Washington's name

Washington clarified that his first name was originally pronounced "DEN-zil" just like his father, as opposed to the "Den-ZEL" he uses now.

Watch how Denzel Washington pronounces his name: