Ken Jennings’ Secret Card for Contestants Revealed

As the host of Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings often encounters contestant names that require careful pronunciation. A recent revelation from an upcoming contestant has shed light on how Jennings prepares – with a helpful phonetic guide.

The Pronunciation Card

Contestant Tim Swankey, competing on the March 10th episode against James Denison and Sapan Vora, shared a photo of the card Jennings uses to assist with pronunciation. Swankey posted the image on Reddit, responding to a fan question about whether Jennings practices names beforehand.

The card included a phonetic spelling of Swankey’s last name (“Swonkey”) and the correct pronunciation of his hometown, Marcellus, New York (“Marsellus”). It also noted that he was at the middle podium with a “B” in the corner. The card contained five anecdotes about Swankey, with Jennings circling the one he planned to discuss during the interview. The card was signed by Jennings for Swankey.

Contestant Experiences

Swankey confirmed that the Jeopardy! staff, specifically Sabrina, collaborates with contestants to select the most engaging anecdote.

Another contestant, Ian Morrison, shared his card on the Reddit thread, noting Jennings didn’t seem to necessitate it for his first name. Jordan Stefanski, a contestant from April 30, 2025, described a more challenging experience, recounting multiple reshoots due to mispronunciations of his name and hometown by both Sarah and Jennings.

Other contestants mentioned being asked to submit a voice recording of their name the day before their episode to further assist Jennings.

Preparation Behind the Scenes

Contestants also revealed that Jennings receives the clues the day before the taping, allowing him to review and annotate them.

Jeopardy! airs weekdays, check local listings, and is available for streaming the next day on Hulu and Peacock.