You’ve seen her face on your television screen every Tuesday night for over two decades. As Captain Olivia Benson, she is the backbone of the NYPD's Special Victims Unit. But after twenty-six seasons of Law & Order: SVU, there is still one mystery that remains unsolved for many viewers. How do you pronounce Mariska Hargitay? Honestly, if you’ve been saying it wrong, don’t feel too bad. You are in very good company. Even her own family members still mess it up. Recently, the actress sat down on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast and dropped a bit of a bombshell: she had a cousin she's known since 1994 who was still getting her name wrong at a family brunch. If her own blood can’t nail it after thirty years, the rest of us definitely need a quick lesson.
The Secret "SH" You Can't See
The biggest hurdle with Mariska’s name is a classic case of "phonetic betrayal." Looking at the letters M-A-R-I-S-K-A, your brain naturally wants to produce a sharp "S" sound, like in the word "risk."
But that is exactly where the mistake happens.
In Hungarian—the language of her father, legendary bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay—the letter "s" is almost always pronounced like the English "sh." So, while there is no "H" in the middle of her first name, there is absolutely an "H" in the sound.
The correct way to say it is muh-RISH-kuh.
Think of it like this:
- Muh (like "mustard")
- RISH (rhymes with "fish")
- Kuh (soft "a" sound)
She has heard every variation under the sun. "Maritza," "Markishka," "Marsee-kuh"—people get creative when they're confused. It got so bad on the set of SVU that she actually started writing her name on the daily call sheets as MARISHHHHHHKA just to remind the crew where to put the emphasis.
Breaking Down the Surname
Once you’ve mastered the first name, you hit the final boss: Hargitay.
This one is actually a bit more straightforward once you stop overthinking it. It’s a Hungarian name, and the "ay" at the end is the part that usually trips people up. Some people try to make it sound French or Italian, but it's actually quite crisp.
The pronunciation is HAR-gih-tay.
- HAR (like "hard")
- Gih (a short "i," like "gift")
- Tay (rhymes with "day")
When you put the whole thing together, you get: muh-RISH-kuh HAR-gih-tay.
What Does the Name Actually Mean?
It’s not just a cool-sounding name; it has deep roots. Mariska told Amy Poehler that the name is actually a Hungarian diminutive or nickname for Maria.
In Hungarian, adding "ka" or "ke" to the end of a name is a term of endearment. It’s basically the equivalent of adding "y" or "ie" in English (like turning Anne into Annie). So, "Mariska" essentially translates to "Little Maria." She was named after her grandmother, and interestingly, she has both Hungarian and Italian heritage. Despite the "Little Maria" meaning, there is nothing small about her legacy. She has played Olivia Benson longer than any other actor has played a single character in primetime TV history.
Why Does Everyone Still Mess It Up?
Aside from the tricky Hungarian spelling, there’s a bit of playfulness involved. Her longtime friend and former co-star Christopher Meloni (the incomparable Elliot Stabler) is notorious for messing with her. Mariska has mentioned that he’ll sometimes call her "Marissa" just to be a pest.
There’s also the "Jayne Mansfield factor." Mariska is the daughter of the 1950s blonde bombshell, and because Jayne was such a quintessential American icon, many people expected her daughter to have a more "traditional" Hollywood name. Mariska stuck with her roots, though, even if it meant a lifetime of correcting baristas and award show announcers.
Basically, if you want to say it like a pro, just remember the "sh."
Quick Checklist for Getting it Right:
- Forget the "S": It’s a "sh" sound. No exceptions.
- The Middle Syllable: Focus on "RISH."
- The Last Name: Keep the "Tay" at the end crisp, not drawn out.
Next time you're discussing the latest SVU crossover or her incredible work with the Joyful Heart Foundation, you can drop the name with total confidence. It’s a small sign of respect for an actress who has spent nearly three decades being the face of justice on television.
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To ensure you've truly mastered the sound, try saying it out loud three times fast—muh-RISH-kuh, muh-RISH-kuh, muh-RISH-kuh. If you can do that without slipping back into "Mar-is-ka," you've officially graduated from the Stabler school of teasing to the Benson level of expertise.
Actionable Insights:
- Listen to her introduce herself: The best way to learn is by mimicry. Check out her recent appearance on the Good Hang podcast (October 2025) to hear her say it herself.
- Use the "Call Sheet" Trick: If you have to write her name down for a presentation or an article, mentally add those extra "H"s to remind your inner voice of the correct phonetics.
- Respect the Origin: Remember that the "sh" isn't a stylistic choice; it's a fundamental rule of Hungarian phonology.