*During a lively appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on September 2, Denzel Washington clarified a decades-long misconception about his name.
“My name is not pronounced Den-zelle. My name is pronounced Den-zuhl,” the Hollywood icon declared, noting it rhymes with “pencil.” He explained that his mother altered the pronunciation to “Den-zelle” to avoid confusion with his father, Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. “My mother would say, ‘Denzel,’ and we’d both show up. So she said, ‘From now on, you’re Den-zelle,'” he shared.
Washington, promoting his new drama-thriller “Highest 2 Lowest,” also discussed his love for hip-hop. He praised his co-star ASAP Rocky, saying, “I get it, Rihanna,” and added, “He’s very nice. He’s handsome. He’s a good guy.”
Denzel Washington revealed that his name has been mispronounced throughout his entire four-decade career, sharing how it actually should be pronounced. https://t.co/n7Zna4vieB pic.twitter.com/GgEPGYWkJJ
— E! News (@enews) September 4, 2025
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When host Jimmy Kimmel asked for his top rappers, Washington named Nas as a favorite for his lyrical prowess: “Because I talk a lot. So, he’s a wordsmith.” He also highlighted the collaboration “Brand New Teeth” by Samara Cyn and Smino, noting, “I’m up on this now. I was talking about it the other day.”
The name pronunciation revelation isn’t entirely new for dedicated fans. Washington previously confirmed on “The Graham Norton Show” in 2013 that his name is pronounced “Den-zuhl,” though he’s long been known as “Den-zelle” professionally.
Kimmel also pointed out the rise in popularity of the name Denzel, joking, “There were zero in 1987,” before Washington’s first Oscar win. “There’s a lot of Denzels now,” Washington responded, acknowledging his influence.
Watch the full interview via the clip below.
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