Title: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Post by: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Bernards and Bernardsville in NJ seem to indicate that the name is the typical Bernard male name, but both pronounced as Bur-nerd and Bur-nerdville respectively.
Then Reading, PA is spelled like "Reading a book" but is pronounced as the same as Redding in CA.
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won't derail this later.
Newark, DE is pronounced New Ark, Delaware.
Town, BTW, means any incorporated community or non incorporated for those to use.
Then Reading, PA is spelled like "Reading a book" but is pronounced as the same as Redding in CA.
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won't derail this later.
Newark, DE is pronounced New Ark, Delaware.
Town, BTW, means any incorporated community or non incorporated for those to use.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Post by: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Big John on May 27, 2022, 10:28:40 AM
Post by: Big John on May 27, 2022, 10:28:40 AM
Worcester, MA - "Wooster"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 10:32:16 AM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 10:32:16 AM
Doesn't this topic assume English is a phonetic language? It isn't.
There's no real reason Reading shouldn't be pronounced red-ding. I mean, it just rhymes with breading, dreading, and treading.
But, having said that, my submission is Norfolk, Nebraska. Pronounced nor-fork.
There's no real reason Reading shouldn't be pronounced red-ding. I mean, it just rhymes with breading, dreading, and treading.
But, having said that, my submission is Norfolk, Nebraska. Pronounced nor-fork.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 27, 2022, 10:33:49 AM
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 27, 2022, 10:33:49 AM
Place names that come from foreign languages are pronounced differently "as they're written" in their native language than in English.
Versailles in both Kentucky and Indiana are pronounced as they're written in English but not in French.
Pulaski and Kosciusko counties in Indiana are not pronounced as they're written in either English or Polish.
Versailles in both Kentucky and Indiana are pronounced as they're written in English but not in French.
Pulaski and Kosciusko counties in Indiana are not pronounced as they're written in either English or Polish.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: rlb2024 on May 27, 2022, 10:35:28 AM
Post by: rlb2024 on May 27, 2022, 10:35:28 AM
Natchitoches, LA -- pronounced "Nak-it-tush".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: hotdogPi on May 27, 2022, 10:37:31 AM
Post by: hotdogPi on May 27, 2022, 10:37:31 AM
Peabody, MA: accent on the first syllable; o is a schwa
Leominster, MA: three syllables, but the one in the UK has only two (and phonetic would indicate four)
Woburn, MA: o is pronounced like in the o in "prove"
Leominster, MA: three syllables, but the one in the UK has only two (and phonetic would indicate four)
Woburn, MA: o is pronounced like in the o in "prove"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 27, 2022, 10:44:21 AM
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 27, 2022, 10:44:21 AM
I had to pick up my daughter at a friend's house on Leicester Street. Everybody who lives on the street calls it Lie-Chester and if I hadn't started watching Premier League soccer I'd have never known better.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 10:46:46 AM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 10:46:46 AM
One that's bothered me before is Zeigler, Illinois. It's named after Levi Ziegler Leiter (co-founder of Marshall Field & Co.), but notice that the vowels are switched around. I don't know why that is. But in German, ei and ie are pronounced differently. Thus, the name Zeigler should be prounced ts-eye-glerr instead of ts-ee-glerr. But, of course, the town in Illinois is pronounced the way it isn't spelled.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:49:29 AM
Post by: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:49:29 AM
Quote from: cabiness42 on May 27, 2022, 10:33:49 AM
Place names that come from foreign languages are pronounced differently "as they're written" in their native language than in English.
Versailles in both Kentucky and Indiana are pronounced as they're written in English but not in French.
Pulaski and Kosciusko counties in Indiana are not pronounced as they're written in either English or Polish.
My parents both of Polish Heritage would pronounce Pulaski as Puh Lah Skee, and Kosciusko as Cuh Chis Coe.
Also Bogota, NJ is not pronounced as it is in Columbia. It rhymes with Pagoda.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Takumi on May 27, 2022, 11:15:50 AM
Post by: Takumi on May 27, 2022, 11:15:50 AM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AMThat and Staunton with its silent U.
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: MATraveler128 on May 27, 2022, 11:20:49 AM
Post by: MATraveler128 on May 27, 2022, 11:20:49 AM
Haverhill, Massachusetts looks like it should be pronounced Haver - Hill, but it's actually pronounced HAY - vril.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 12:37:37 PM
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 12:37:37 PM
Many town and city names in the UK, although it might be partly the accent. Reading is pronounced "redding", for example, and anything ending in -gate is pronounced "-git".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 12:49:22 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 12:49:22 PM
Quote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 12:37:37 PM
Reading is pronounced "redding", for example
As I said earlier:
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 10:32:16 AM
There's no real reason Reading shouldn't be pronounced red-ding. I mean, it just rhymes with breading, dreading, and treading.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 12:53:04 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 12:53:04 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won’t derail this later.
This pronunciation is the one that's pronounced like it's written, as evidenced by your transcription. It's the city in Texas that isn't, by giving the "ou" a very uncommon "yoo" sound.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:02:28 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:02:28 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 12:53:04 PMQuote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won't derail this later.
This pronunciation is the one that's pronounced like it's written, as evidenced by your transcription. It's the city in Texas that isn't, by giving the "ou" a very uncommon "yoo" sound.
Yeah, I'm struggling to come up with a single word other than Houston where the hou is pronounced as hew.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 27, 2022, 01:04:57 PM
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 27, 2022, 01:04:57 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:02:28 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 12:53:04 PMQuote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won't derail this later.
This pronunciation is the one that's pronounced like it's written, as evidenced by your transcription. It's the city in Texas that isn't, by giving the "ou" a very uncommon "yoo" sound.
Yeah, I'm struggling to come up with a single word other than Houston where the hou is pronounced as hew.
House and hound are the most common words starting with hou and both are pronounced like the street in Manhattan and not the city in Texas.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Dirt Roads on May 27, 2022, 01:19:31 PM
Post by: Dirt Roads on May 27, 2022, 01:19:31 PM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Right next door is the town of Natural Bridge, which oldtimer locals pronounced as nat-choo-larr bridge.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: GaryV on May 27, 2022, 01:21:00 PM
Post by: GaryV on May 27, 2022, 01:21:00 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:02:28 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 12:53:04 PMQuote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won't derail this later.
This pronunciation is the one that's pronounced like it's written, as evidenced by your transcription. It's the city in Texas that isn't, by giving the "ou" a very uncommon "yoo" sound.
Maybe not with a leading H, but there are lots of words with OU in them that are pronounced "oo". St. Louis for one - which of course is pronounced differently in English vs French.
Yeah, I'm struggling to come up with a single word other than Houston where the hou is pronounced as hew.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Dirt Roads on May 27, 2022, 01:25:05 PM
Post by: Dirt Roads on May 27, 2022, 01:25:05 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won't derail this later.
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 12:53:04 PM
This pronunciation is the one that's pronounced like it's written, as evidenced by your transcription. It's the city in Texas that isn't, by giving the "ou" a very uncommon "yoo" sound.
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:02:28 PM
Yeah, I'm struggling to come up with a single word other than Houston where the hou is pronounced as hew.
Quote from: cabiness42 on May 27, 2022, 01:04:57 PM
House and hound are the most common words starting with hou and both are pronounced like the street in Manhattan and not the city in Texas.
Sorry to pile on, but the town in West Virginia is pronounced the same way as the big city in Texas, but spelled much differently "Hugheston". Which of course, is not pronounced the way that it is written (but most certainly everyone here can tell how to pronounce it by its spelling).
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:27:10 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:27:10 PM
Quote from: GaryV on May 27, 2022, 01:21:00 PMQuote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:02:28 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 12:53:04 PMQuote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:15:26 AM
Houston Street in NYC, though not a town, is pronounced House Ton and not like the city in Texas. Alright not like someone else won't derail this later.
This pronunciation is the one that's pronounced like it's written, as evidenced by your transcription. It's the city in Texas that isn't, by giving the "ou" a very uncommon "yoo" sound.
Yeah, I'm struggling to come up with a single word other than Houston where the hou is pronounced as hew.
Maybe not with a leading H, but there are lots of words with OU in them that are pronounced "oo". St. Louis for one - which of course is pronounced differently in English vs French.
(Fixed your formatting, because [Preview].)
The "oo" sound is not the sound |CtrlAltDel| mentioned. Nor is it the sound I mentioned. The word hew is pronounced hyo͞o.
The "oo" sound is not the sound of the ou in Houston. To put it another way, I'm betting you don't say L-yoo-iss, nor do you say Hoo-ss-ton.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:27:56 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:27:56 PM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on May 27, 2022, 01:25:05 PM
(but most certainly everyone here can tell how to pronounce it by its spelling)
hug Hesston ? :nod:
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 02:07:05 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 02:07:05 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:27:56 PMQuote from: Dirt Roads on May 27, 2022, 01:25:05 PM
(but most certainly everyone here can tell how to pronounce it by its spelling)
hug Hesston ? :nod:
Well, maybe not everyone. :-D
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 02:24:38 PM
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 02:24:38 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 12:49:22 PMQuote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 12:37:37 PM
Reading is pronounced "redding", for example
As I said earlier:Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 10:32:16 AM
There's no real reason Reading shouldn't be pronounced red-ding. I mean, it just rhymes with breading, dreading, and treading.
The word "read" can be pronounced "reed" or "red" depending on context. Both are sometimes correct.
That isn't the case with "reading"; the city name is the only exception.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 02:27:28 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 02:27:28 PM
So... In order to conform to your expectations, the name Reading should be able to be pronounced two different ways, depending on its grammatical verbal tense?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 02:30:22 PM
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 02:30:22 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 02:27:28 PM
So... In order to conform to your expectations, the name Reading should be able to be pronounced two different ways, depending on its grammatical verbal tense?
No, I'm just saying it's not unreasonable to expect it to be pronounced like the word reading, as I thought it was for most of my life.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 27, 2022, 02:32:29 PM
Post by: Rothman on May 27, 2022, 02:32:29 PM
Street in NYC came before the silly city in Texas...
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 02:38:12 PM
Post by: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 02:38:12 PM
Here in northeast Wisconsin, the surest way of all to tell the locals from the tourists (and Illinoisians) - "Shawano" (city and county). It is 'SHAW-no'. *NOT* 'sha-WA- no'.
:nod:
Mike
:nod:
Mike
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on May 27, 2022, 02:41:02 PM
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on May 27, 2022, 02:41:02 PM
Quote from: Big John on May 27, 2022, 10:28:40 AM
Worcester, MA - "Wooster"
You're not wrong, but many in Massachusetts pronounce it "Woosta" .
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Bruce on May 27, 2022, 02:54:28 PM
Post by: Bruce on May 27, 2022, 02:54:28 PM
Sequim is pronounced closer to "Sk-wim"
Skagit is "Ska-jit", with no "g" sound
Spokane is "Spo-CAN", not "cane" as some people try to say
Poulsbo is "PAULs-boh"
A few more examples are in this neat quiz from The Seattle Times (which has audio clips): https://projects.seattletimes.com/2015/pronunciation-quiz/
Skagit is "Ska-jit", with no "g" sound
Spokane is "Spo-CAN", not "cane" as some people try to say
Poulsbo is "PAULs-boh"
A few more examples are in this neat quiz from The Seattle Times (which has audio clips): https://projects.seattletimes.com/2015/pronunciation-quiz/
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 03:17:05 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 03:17:05 PM
Quote from: Bruce on May 27, 2022, 02:54:28 PM
Skagit is "Ska-jit", with no "g" sound
That might only throw us off because we process it as a compound word: skag-it.
However, git is pronounced as jit in words such as the following:
digit
legitimate
agitate
fugitive
longitude (US pronunciation)
Sagittarius
regurgitate
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: english si on May 27, 2022, 03:45:11 PM
Post by: english si on May 27, 2022, 03:45:11 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on May 27, 2022, 10:44:21 AMI had to pick up my daughter at a friend's house on Leicester Street. Everybody who lives on the street calls it Lie-Chester and if I hadn't started watching Premier League soccer I'd have never known better.The worst thing about Leicester's 5000-1 Championship is that it means that the shibboleth to see whether the American you are talking to in London is a tourist or an immigrant has pretty much gone.
If you say Lie-cester Square, you will get the tourist treatment. If you correctly say Les-ter Square, your Americanness will be overlooked and you'd be treated slightly differently as if you are capable of thicker accents, slang, some knowledge of the city, etc.
Quote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 12:37:37 PMMany town and city names in the UK ... anything ending in -gate is pronounced "-git".Err what? Some UK accents might have it, but it's normally 'gate'. It's not here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_irregularly_spelled_English_names#Place_names
Unlike: -borough / burgh ('-bra'), -bury ('-bri'), -cambe ('-com'), -cester ('-ster'), -ham ('-um'), etc, it's not on the list. It's an alternative for a couple of the -gate places I've looked at, but not really how they are said.
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 27, 2022, 02:41:02 PMThe IPA for UK/MA cities is /ˈwʊstər/ and Wikipedia's pronounciation guide is "WUUS-tər" (w as in wine, uu as in book, s as in sigh, t as in tie, ər as in letter). While non-rhotic accents like the Massachusetts one (or mine) have apparently merged ər as in letter and ə as in comma, I assure you we are saying the former, even if the latter sounds identical (though I feel there's a slight difference in the way I say them*). The r is considered to be pronounced, even if it's not the way that those with rhotic accents would pronounce it.Quote from: Big John on May 27, 2022, 10:28:40 AMYou're not wrong, but many in Massachusetts pronounce it "Woosta" .
Worcester, MA - "Wooster"
*Perhaps it's like Southern English English dialects only putting one-r in graph, despite (non-rhotic) northern English people thinking we southerners are adding one and saying grarf. I'm saying /ɡɹɑːf/ (or 'graaf' if you want), they are saying /ɡɹæf/ or 'graef'. They cannot hear the difference between the broad-a and ar as they don't use the broad-a /ɑː/, only the flat-a /æ/ - the difference is small, and not noticeable unless you do the same thing
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 27, 2022, 03:53:30 PM
Post by: Rothman on May 27, 2022, 03:53:30 PM
Quote from: english si on May 27, 2022, 03:45:11 PMPfft. In American, it's not a harsh STAAH, but it definitely not "ster." The ending is swallowed.Quote from: cabiness42 on May 27, 2022, 10:44:21 AMI had to pick up my daughter at a friend's house on Leicester Street. Everybody who lives on the street calls it Lie-Chester and if I hadn't started watching Premier League soccer I'd have never known better.The worst thing about Leicester's 5000-1 Championship is that it means that the shibboleth to see whether the American you are talking to in London is a tourist or an immigrant has pretty much gone.
If you say Lie-cester Square, you will get the tourist treatment. If you correctly say Les-ter Square, your Americanness will be overlooked and you'd be treated slightly differently as if you are capable of thicker accents, slang, some knowledge of the city, etc.Quote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 12:37:37 PMMany town and city names in the UK ... anything ending in -gate is pronounced "-git".Err what? Some UK accents might have it, but it's normally 'gate'. It's not here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_irregularly_spelled_English_names#Place_names
Unlike: -borough / burgh ('-bra'), -bury ('-bri'), -cambe ('-com'), -cester ('-ster'), -ham ('-um'), etc, it's not on the list. It's an alternative for a couple of the -gate places I've looked at, but not really how they are said.Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 27, 2022, 02:41:02 PMThe IPA for UK/MA cities is /ˈwʊstər/ and Wikipedia's pronounciation guide is "WUUS-tər" (w as in wine, uu as in book, s as in sigh, t as in tie, ər as in letter). While non-rhotic accents like the Massachusetts one (or mine) have apparently merged ər as in letter and ə as in comma, I assure you we are saying the former, even if the latter sounds identical (though I feel there's a slight difference in the way I say them*). The r is considered to be pronounced, even if it's not the way that those with rhotic accents would pronounce it.Quote from: Big John on May 27, 2022, 10:28:40 AMYou're not wrong, but many in Massachusetts pronounce it "Woosta" .
Worcester, MA - "Wooster"
*Perhaps it's like Southern English English dialects only putting one-r in graph, despite (non-rhotic) northern English people thinking we southerners are adding one and saying grarf. I'm saying /ɡɹɑːf/ (or 'graaf' if you want), they are saying /ɡɹæf/ or 'graef'. They cannot hear the difference between the broad-a and ar as they don't use the broad-a /ɑː/, only the flat-a /æ/ - the difference is small, and not noticeable unless you do the same thing
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: GaryV on May 27, 2022, 03:59:31 PM
Post by: GaryV on May 27, 2022, 03:59:31 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 01:27:10 PM
(Fixed your formatting, because [Preview].)
The "oo" sound is not the sound |CtrlAltDel| mentioned. Nor is it the sound I mentioned. The word hew is pronounced hyo͞o.
The "oo" sound is not the sound of the ou in Houston. To put it another way, I'm betting you don't say L-yoo-iss, nor do you say Hoo-ss-ton.
Sorry about the formatting. My mouse has taken upon itself a mind of its own, and the cursor jumps to a new position from time to time.
I thought you were only talking about the vowel sound, oo vs ow.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: abefroman329 on May 27, 2022, 04:03:59 PM
Post by: abefroman329 on May 27, 2022, 04:03:59 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 02:38:12 PMAnd in Illinois, people seem to have a hell of a time with Des Plaines (duh-SPLAINES)
Here in northeast Wisconsin, the surest way of all to tell the locals from the tourists (and Illinoisians) - "Shawano" (city and county). It is 'SHAW-no'. *NOT* 'sha-WA- no'.
:nod:
Mike
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: steviep24 on May 27, 2022, 04:06:45 PM
Post by: steviep24 on May 27, 2022, 04:06:45 PM
Chili, NY (in the Rochester area) is not pronounced like the food or the country Chile.
We say it as ChI-lI (with long I's).
We say it as ChI-lI (with long I's).
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Brandon on May 27, 2022, 04:17:00 PM
Post by: Brandon on May 27, 2022, 04:17:00 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 27, 2022, 04:03:59 PMQuote from: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 02:38:12 PMAnd in Illinois, people seem to have a hell of a time with Des Plaines (duh-SPLAINES)
Here in northeast Wisconsin, the surest way of all to tell the locals from the tourists (and Illinoisians) - "Shawano" (city and county). It is 'SHAW-no'. *NOT* 'sha-WA- no'.
:nod:
Mike
Living along the actual river as I have since 1980, it's des-PLAINS.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 04:26:58 PM
Post by: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 04:26:58 PM
Quote from: english si on May 27, 2022, 03:45:11 PM
...Quote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 12:37:37 PMMany town and city names in the UK ... anything ending in -gate is pronounced "-git".Err what? Some UK accents might have it, but it's normally 'gate'. It's not here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_irregularly_spelled_English_names#Place_names
Unlike: -borough / burgh ('-bra'), -bury ('-bri'), -cambe ('-com'), -cester ('-ster'), -ham ('-um'), etc, it's not on the list. It's an alternative for a couple of the -gate places I've looked at, but not really how they are said.
I guess I shouldn't have made such a blanket statement because I was thinking of Harrogate specifically; I'm not as sure about other "-gates". From my own experience (I have family/friends that live not too far away), it's definitely not "gate" as Americans would pronounce it with the hard "a"... it sounds more like "git", or perhaps "gut" would be more precise.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: skluth on May 27, 2022, 04:28:51 PM
Post by: skluth on May 27, 2022, 04:28:51 PM
Quote from: Brandon on May 27, 2022, 04:17:00 PMAmericans are really bad with French names. The St Louis suburb of Des Peres is pronounced Day Pair, reasonably close to the original. De Pere, the similarly-named suburb of Green Bay is pronounced Dee Pier (or Deep Ear said really fast).Quote from: abefroman329 on May 27, 2022, 04:03:59 PMQuote from: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 02:38:12 PMAnd in Illinois, people seem to have a hell of a time with Des Plaines (duh-SPLAINES)
Here in northeast Wisconsin, the surest way of all to tell the locals from the tourists (and Illinoisians) - "Shawano" (city and county). It is 'SHAW-no'. *NOT* 'sha-WA- no'.
:nod:
Mike
Living along the actual river as I have since 1980, it's des-PLAINS.
FWIW, my mom was born in Shawano. And yes, it was hysterical watching the guest celebrities visiting for telethons try to pronounce it when I was growing up. Their butchering of the longer tribal names like Winneconne and Weyauwega were almost as funny.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 06:09:50 PM
Post by: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 06:09:50 PM
Quote from: skluth on May 27, 2022, 04:28:51 PMQuote from: Brandon on May 27, 2022, 04:17:00 PMAmericans are really bad with French names. The St Louis suburb of Des Peres is pronounced Day Pair, reasonably close to the original. De Pere, the similarly-named suburb of Green Bay is pronounced Dee Pier (or Deep Ear said really fast).Quote from: abefroman329 on May 27, 2022, 04:03:59 PMQuote from: mgk920 on May 27, 2022, 02:38:12 PMAnd in Illinois, people seem to have a hell of a time with Des Plaines (duh-SPLAINES)
Here in northeast Wisconsin, the surest way of all to tell the locals from the tourists (and Illinoisians) - "Shawano" (city and county). It is 'SHAW-no'. *NOT* 'sha-WA- no'.
:nod:
Mike
Living along the actual river as I have since 1980, it’s des-PLAINS.
FWIW, my mom was born in Shawano. And yes, it was hysterical watching the guest celebrities visiting for telethons try to pronounce it when I was growing up. Their butchering of the longer tribal names like Winneconne and Weyauwega were almost as funny.
Yes, good ol' De Pere, WI.
:spin:
Anyways, the national network radio and TV sports guys get Green Bay wrong all too often, too. It is 'green bay' (Equal soft emphasis on both words). *NOT* 'GREEN bay'.
:nod:
Mike
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CoreySamson on May 27, 2022, 08:56:25 PM
Post by: CoreySamson on May 27, 2022, 08:56:25 PM
One of my favorites is Refugio, TX (pronounced re-FYOOR-ee-oh).
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 09:04:39 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 09:04:39 PM
Quote from: skluth on May 27, 2022, 04:28:51 PM
Americans are really bad with French names. The St Louis suburb of Des Peres is pronounced Day Pair, reasonably close to the original. De Pere, the similarly-named suburb of Green Bay is pronounced Dee Pier (or Deep Ear said really fast).
To say nothing of the decidedly un-French pronunciation of Illinois. There are even people out there, literate and grown up and everything, that take it to the next level and pronounce the s.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Flint1979 on May 27, 2022, 09:22:19 PM
Post by: Flint1979 on May 27, 2022, 09:22:19 PM
Au Gres, Michigan is pronounced Aww Gray.
Grand Marais, Michigan is pronounced Grand Muh-Ray.
Mackinac is pronounced Mackinaw and also spelled that way at times.
Grand Marais, Michigan is pronounced Grand Muh-Ray.
Mackinac is pronounced Mackinaw and also spelled that way at times.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Scott5114 on May 27, 2022, 09:52:48 PM
Post by: Scott5114 on May 27, 2022, 09:52:48 PM
Quote from: CoreySamson on May 27, 2022, 08:56:25 PM
One of my favorites is Refugio, TX (pronounced re-FYOOR-ee-oh).
Any town with a Spanish origin, I'll pronounce according to Spanish pronunciation rules, and the residents can be mad about it.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Takumi on May 27, 2022, 10:05:12 PM
Post by: Takumi on May 27, 2022, 10:05:12 PM
Gqeberha, South Africa. Pronounced "Port Elizabeth" .
:spin:
:spin:
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 11:20:26 PM
Post by: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 11:20:26 PM
Louisville, OH and Louisville, KY are not pronounced the same. Ohio says it likes it's written. The city in Kentucky doesn't.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Big John on May 28, 2022, 02:35:55 AM
Post by: Big John on May 28, 2022, 02:35:55 AM
DeKalb IL is how it is spelled. DeKalb GA omits the "l".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AM
Post by: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AM
New Orleans, LA - the locals pronounce "Orleans" with the e silent. I have verified this myself with a coworker who traveled there couple weeks ago.
The Bay Area has several cases of this:
San Rafael - The e is silent
Vallejo - The j is silent (but still differs from Spanish pronunciation)
Ygnacio (Valley Road) - "ig-nay-sho", not "ig-na-see-o"
Concord, CA is pronounced like "conquered" unlike Concord, PA and other east coast cities of the same name
The Bay Area has several cases of this:
San Rafael - The e is silent
Ygnacio (Valley Road) - "ig-nay-sho", not "ig-na-see-o"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 04:24:54 AM
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 04:24:54 AM
Quote from: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AM
New Orleans, LA - the locals pronounce "Orleans" with the e silent. I have verified this myself with a coworker who traveled there couple weeks ago.
The Bay Area has several cases of this:
San Rafael - The e is silent
Vallejo - The j is silent
Ygnacio (Valley Road) - "ig-nay-sho", not "ig-na-see-o"
Concord, CA is pronounced like "conquered" unlike Concord, PA and other east coast cities of the same name
San Rafael is San Ra-fai-el (not San Rafall or something like that). E's not silent.
Vallejo is Val-ay-ho. Not sure what you meant by the j being silent, but it isn't. Just has the h sound.
I lived in Clayton and heard Ygnacio both ways, but sho was more common.
Concord is pronounced conquered in the East more frequently than Con-cord (e.g., better known cities like in MA and NH). Concord, PA is a tiny backwater. If they say Con-cord, so be it.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 1995hoo on May 28, 2022, 08:31:19 AM
Post by: 1995hoo on May 28, 2022, 08:31:19 AM
Bumpass, Virginia, is not pronounced as though you're referring to a collision with someone's rear end; rather, it's pronounced like the last name of Ralphie's neighbors in the BB gun movie, the people whose dogs stole the turkey–"bump us."
Rio Road in Charlottesville is pronounced with a long "I" sound, like "rye" with an "o" on the end. There are various explanations and nobody seems to know which one is true (if any).
I'm sure we've had this discussion before because I'm sure I've mentioned those two names.
Rio Road in Charlottesville is pronounced with a long "I" sound, like "rye" with an "o" on the end. There are various explanations and nobody seems to know which one is true (if any).
I'm sure we've had this discussion before because I'm sure I've mentioned those two names.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Big John on May 28, 2022, 08:43:29 AM
Post by: Big John on May 28, 2022, 08:43:29 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 28, 2022, 08:31:19 AMThis? https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=13242.msg2000770#msg2000770
Bumpass, Virginia, is not pronounced as though you're referring to a collision with someone's rear end; rather, it's pronounced like the last name of Ralphie's neighbors in the BB gun movie, the people whose dogs stole the turkey–"bump us."
Rio Road in Charlottesville is pronounced with a long "I" sound, like "rye" with an "o" on the end. There are various explanations and nobody seems to know which one is true (if any).
I'm sure we've had this discussion before because I'm sure I've mentioned those two names.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: US 89 on May 28, 2022, 09:25:03 AM
Post by: US 89 on May 28, 2022, 09:25:03 AM
Quote from: skluth on May 27, 2022, 04:28:51 PM
Americans are really bad with French names.
This may be true as a general rule, but see Duchesne UT, which is pronounced exactly as it would be in French
Elsewhere in Utah... Hurricane is not pronounced like the storm, but with a much reduced third syllable (HUR-ih-kun). If you want to sound really local, make it two syllables by dropping the middle one.
Ouray is "YOU-ray" , just like in Colorado
Mantua is "MAN-uh-way"
Anything named Weber is pronounced with a long E - not like the grill brand (which really should be spelled Webber anyway). Same with Heber.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kernals12 on May 28, 2022, 09:38:00 AM
Post by: kernals12 on May 28, 2022, 09:38:00 AM
Worcester (Wuss-ter) and Peabody (Pea-buh-dee) here in Mass.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 10:05:59 AM
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 10:05:59 AM
Also in MA: Woburn. Can be pronounced as Whoa-burn or Woo-burn.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 28, 2022, 11:14:24 AM
Post by: roadman65 on May 28, 2022, 11:14:24 AM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 10:05:59 AM
Also in MA: Woburn. Can be pronounced as Whoa-burn or Woo-burn.
Just like Baw ston is Bah Ston to Bostonians.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Takumi on May 28, 2022, 11:22:32 AM
Post by: Takumi on May 28, 2022, 11:22:32 AM
Mebane, NC. Pronounced "meh-bun" .
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 11:39:26 AM
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 11:39:26 AM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 10:05:59 AMMeh. The MBTA says WHOA-bin. That's what I go with.
Also in MA: Woburn. Can be pronounced as Whoa-burn or Woo-burn.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 11:39:49 AM
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 28, 2022, 11:14:24 AMNah. You're mixing Worcester and Boston accents on that one.Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 10:05:59 AM
Also in MA: Woburn. Can be pronounced as Whoa-burn or Woo-burn.
Just like Baw ston is Bah Ston to Bostonians.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rick Powell on May 28, 2022, 12:15:10 PM
Post by: Rick Powell on May 28, 2022, 12:15:10 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 09:04:39 PM
To say nothing of the decidedly un-French pronunciation of Illinois. There are even people out there, literate and grown up and everything, that take it to the next level and pronounce the s.
By no means complete list of IL mispronunciations of place names.
Cairo = KAY-ro
Vienna = VY-enna
Teheran = Tuh-HERR-an
Eldorado = El-du-RAY-doe
San Jose = San JOE
Des Plaines = Dess Plains
Bourbonnais = Burr-bo-NAISE or Burr-BONE-iss
Marseilles = Marr-SALES
Joliet = JOE-lee-et or JOLLY-et
La Salle = LAY Sall
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: GaryV on May 28, 2022, 12:28:44 PM
Post by: GaryV on May 28, 2022, 12:28:44 PM
Quote from: US 89 on May 28, 2022, 09:25:03 AMProbably doo-SHEN?Quote from: skluth on May 27, 2022, 04:28:51 PMThis may be true as a general rule, but see Duchesne UT, which is pronounced exactly as it would be in French
Americans are really bad with French names.
The French u does not have a corresponding sound in English. I was taught to purse your lips as if saying oo as in tooth, but then try to pronounce ee as in teeth.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: -- US 175 -- on May 28, 2022, 01:24:07 PM
Post by: -- US 175 -- on May 28, 2022, 01:24:07 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 10:49:29 AM
Also Bogota, NJ is not pronounced as it is in Columbia. It rhymes with Pagoda.
The TX town of Bogota is also like "pagoda".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on May 28, 2022, 01:28:45 PM
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on May 28, 2022, 01:28:45 PM
Monticello, as it refers to Thomas Jefferson's estate, is pronounced like the musical instrument. However, most cities named Monticello in the US seem to call themselves "Montisello".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: -- US 175 -- on May 28, 2022, 01:30:36 PM
Post by: -- US 175 -- on May 28, 2022, 01:30:36 PM
Quitaque, TX = "kitty-kway"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: -- US 175 -- on May 28, 2022, 01:34:06 PM
Post by: -- US 175 -- on May 28, 2022, 01:34:06 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 28, 2022, 01:28:45 PM
Monticello, as it refers to Thomas Jefferson's estate, is pronounced like the musical instrument. However, most cities named Monticello in the US seem to call themselves "Montisello".
Including a small town in TX, and the fictional setting in the long-running daytime drama The Edge of Night.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Big John on May 28, 2022, 01:34:31 PM
Post by: Big John on May 28, 2022, 01:34:31 PM
Matteson IL is not matte-son, but mat-tes-on. Easily confused with Madison.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: jeffandnicole on May 28, 2022, 01:40:48 PM
Post by: jeffandnicole on May 28, 2022, 01:40:48 PM
Quote from: Rick Powell on May 28, 2022, 12:15:10 PM
By no means complete list of IL mispronunciations of place names.
Cairo = KAY-ro
Vienna = VY-enna
Teheran = Tuh-HERR-an
Eldorado = El-du-RAY-doe
San Jose = San JOE
Des Plaines = Dess Plains
Bourbonnais = Burr-bo-NAISE or Burr-BONE-iss
Marseilles = Marr-SALES
Joliet = JOE-lee-et or JOLLY-et
La Salle = LAY Sall
Hills = Flat
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 01:53:04 PM
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 01:53:04 PM
One of the most prominent examples in the US: Los Angeles.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 28, 2022, 01:58:15 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 28, 2022, 01:58:15 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 28, 2022, 01:53:04 PM
One of the most prominent examples in the US: Los Angeles.
I don't know about this (and some of the other ones). It seems pretty straightforward as an English pronunciation. "Los" as is "lost" and so forth.
This thread is starting to turn into a discussion of which place names are not pronounced in the same way as their original language counterparts, which I don't think is the same thing.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 02:06:45 PM
Post by: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 02:06:45 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 04:24:54 AM
San Rafael is San Ra-fai-el (not San Rafall or something like that). E's not silent.
Vallejo is Val-ay-ho. Not sure what you meant by the j being silent, but it isn't. Just has the h sound.
I lived in Clayton and heard Ygnacio both ways, but sho was more common.
Concord is pronounced conquered in the East more frequently than Con-cord (e.g., better known cities like in MA and NH). Concord, PA is a tiny backwater. If they say Con-cord, so be it.
<- *Does not speak Spanish at all*
For San Rafael, that is the correct pronunciation outside of the Bay Area. Besides Googling local news sources about this, I know at least one instance of Caltrans pronouncing San Rafael as "rah-fell" instead of the Spanish "raf-AYE-el", check 0:58 here:
I'm not sure what I mean by j being silent for Vallejo lol. But that is correct and again differs from the Spanish pronunciation (I edited my post now.)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Brandon on May 28, 2022, 03:44:43 PM
Post by: Brandon on May 28, 2022, 03:44:43 PM
Quote from: Rick Powell on May 28, 2022, 12:15:10 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 09:04:39 PM
To say nothing of the decidedly un-French pronunciation of Illinois. There are even people out there, literate and grown up and everything, that take it to the next level and pronounce the s.
By no means complete list of IL mispronunciations of place names.
Cairo = KAY-ro
Vienna = VY-enna
Teheran = Tuh-HERR-an
Eldorado = El-du-RAY-doe
San Jose = San JOE
Des Plaines = Dess Plains
Bourbonnais = Burr-bo-NAISE or Burr-BONE-iss
Marseilles = Marr-SALES
Joliet = JOE-lee-et or JOLLY-et
La Salle = LAY Sall
Joliet is actually pronounced how it would have been in 17th century French. The family name was modernized to Joliette.
Bourbonnais is pronounced bour-bon-ay not as you have above. All the Kankakee area folks I've spoken with pronounce it that way.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 04:12:39 PM
Post by: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 04:12:39 PM
Quote from: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 02:06:45 PMBoth my wife and I lived in the area (my wife right in Marin County). I think I heard the vowels getting mushed together before, but it's still closer to the Spanish pronunciation than not.Quote from: Rothman on May 28, 2022, 04:24:54 AM
San Rafael is San Ra-fai-el (not San Rafall or something like that). E's not silent.
Vallejo is Val-ay-ho. Not sure what you meant by the j being silent, but it isn't. Just has the h sound.
I lived in Clayton and heard Ygnacio both ways, but sho was more common.
Concord is pronounced conquered in the East more frequently than Con-cord (e.g., better known cities like in MA and NH). Concord, PA is a tiny backwater. If they say Con-cord, so be it.
<- *Does not speak Spanish at all*
For San Rafael, that is the correct pronunciation outside of the Bay Area. Besides Googling local news sources about this, I know at least one instance of Caltrans pronouncing San Rafael as "rah-fell" instead of the Spanish "raf-AYE-el", check 0:58 here:
I'm not sure what I mean by j being silent for Vallejo lol. But that is correct and again differs from the Spanish pronunciation (I edited my post now.)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: ilpt4u on May 28, 2022, 06:33:28 PM
Post by: ilpt4u on May 28, 2022, 06:33:28 PM
Quote from: Rick Powell on May 28, 2022, 12:15:10 PMYou forgot:Quote from: CtrlAltDel on May 27, 2022, 09:04:39 PM
To say nothing of the decidedly un-French pronunciation of Illinois. There are even people out there, literate and grown up and everything, that take it to the next level and pronounce the s.
By no means complete list of IL mispronunciations of place names.
Cairo = KAY-ro
Vienna = VY-enna
Teheran = Tuh-HERR-an
Eldorado = El-du-RAY-doe
San Jose = San JOE
Des Plaines = Dess Plains
Bourbonnais = Burr-bo-NAISE or Burr-BONE-iss
Marseilles = Marr-SALES
Joliet = JOE-lee-et or JOLLY-et
La Salle = LAY Sall
New Athens: New A-thins (long A, as opposed to the Greek Ath-ins)
Steeleville: Still-ville
I have heard Borbonnais pronounced either way. Story I heard is some natives wanted to make it more "American" and less "French" hence the Burr-BONE-iss pronounciation
I find San Jose=San Joe hilarious (town is south of Peoria in west-central IL), because further east along I-74, just east of Champaign-Urbana in east-central IL, one runs into Saint Joseph, which is commonly called Saint Joe. San Joe and Saint Joe in the same state. That is Illinois for you!
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: tigerwings on May 28, 2022, 06:56:00 PM
Post by: tigerwings on May 28, 2022, 06:56:00 PM
A whole lot about Gratiot in this thread
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=30682.0
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=30682.0
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 29, 2022, 12:36:22 AM
Post by: roadman65 on May 29, 2022, 12:36:22 AM
I heard on Bay Area Radio that Marin County north of SF is pronounced Mah Rin.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: mgk920 on May 29, 2022, 12:42:12 AM
Post by: mgk920 on May 29, 2022, 12:42:12 AM
I've always heard it as and used 'ILL-i-NOY'.
Mike
Mike
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:13:07 AM
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:13:07 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 11:20:26 PM
Louisville, OH and Louisville, KY are not pronounced the same. Ohio says it likes it's written. The city in Kentucky doesn't.
And Louisville, CO
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:17:03 AM
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:17:03 AM
Saguache, CO I believe is pronounced "sa-watch".
Anton, CO is pronounced "ant-un"
Some older residents of Pueblo, I've heard say "pee-eblo".
Anton, CO is pronounced "ant-un"
Some older residents of Pueblo, I've heard say "pee-eblo".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: hotdogPi on May 29, 2022, 07:09:26 AM
Post by: hotdogPi on May 29, 2022, 07:09:26 AM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:17:03 AM
Anton, CO is pronounced "ant-un"
That's exactly how I would pronounce it, except I would put the t on the second syllable (which is an extremely minor difference). What's unusual about it?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 29, 2022, 07:16:40 AM
Post by: roadman65 on May 29, 2022, 07:16:40 AM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:13:07 AMQuote from: roadman65 on May 27, 2022, 11:20:26 PM
Louisville, OH and Louisville, KY are not pronounced the same. Ohio says it likes it's written. The city in Kentucky doesn't.
And Louisville, CO
Do wonder if Louisville in GA is pronounced with Louis or Louie?
Then I like the way people from Mobile, AL say their city name extending the O and not saying the name too fast.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 1995hoo on May 29, 2022, 08:08:51 AM
Post by: 1995hoo on May 29, 2022, 08:08:51 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on May 29, 2022, 12:42:12 AM
I've always heard it as and used 'ILL-i-NOY'.
Mike
I thought it was pronounced as "FLAT."
:bigass:
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: mgk920 on May 29, 2022, 09:11:08 AM
Post by: mgk920 on May 29, 2022, 09:11:08 AM
Quote from: 1 on May 29, 2022, 07:09:26 AMA local 'blip' on the map (actually just a controlled passing siding on a major railroad near Appleton), Anton, WI is pronounced 'AN-tone'. It's on the CN (ex WC, nee SOO) mainline just northwest of its crossing of WI 96 (formerly US 10 until December 2003) in Dale, WI.Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:17:03 AM
Anton, CO is pronounced "ant-un"
That's exactly how I would pronounce it, except I would put the t on the second syllable (which is an extremely minor difference). What's unusual about it?
Mike
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 10:24:02 AM
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 10:24:02 AM
Quote from: 1 on May 29, 2022, 07:09:26 AMQuote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:17:03 AM
Anton, CO is pronounced "ant-un"
That's exactly how I would pronounce it, except I would put the t on the second syllable (which is an extremely minor difference). What's unusual about it?
Maybe a personal bias? It sounds weird to me. It just seems to me like it should be 'ant-onn' (instead of ant-off)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: hotdogPi on May 29, 2022, 10:27:18 AM
Post by: hotdogPi on May 29, 2022, 10:27:18 AM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 10:24:02 AMQuote from: 1 on May 29, 2022, 07:09:26 AMQuote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 29, 2022, 02:17:03 AM
Anton, CO is pronounced "ant-un"
That's exactly how I would pronounce it, except I would put the t on the second syllable (which is an extremely minor difference). What's unusual about it?
Maybe a personal bias? It sounds weird to me. It just seems to me like it should be 'ant-onn' (instead of ant-off)
There are a whole bunch ending in -ton in Massachusetts: Acton, Stoughton, Grafton, Weston, Canton (also Ohio), Littleton, Sutton, Milton, Hamilton (as in the name), Washington (also the name), and of course, Boston.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: DandyDan on May 30, 2022, 06:30:40 AM
Post by: DandyDan on May 30, 2022, 06:30:40 AM
Nevada, Iowa is not pronounced like the state, but with a long first A.
Someone discussed Norfolk, Nebraska. I have read they originally wanted to be Norfork, Nebraska, but the post office rejected it.
Someone discussed Norfolk, Nebraska. I have read they originally wanted to be Norfork, Nebraska, but the post office rejected it.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: english si on May 30, 2022, 07:32:55 AM
Post by: english si on May 30, 2022, 07:32:55 AM
Quote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 04:26:58 PMI guess I shouldn't have made such a blanket statement because I was thinking of Harrogate specifically; I'm not as sure about other "-gates". From my own experience (I have family/friends that live not too far away), it's definitely not "gate" as Americans would pronounce it with the hard "a"... it sounds more like "git", or perhaps "gut" would be more precise.Harrogate was the place I thought of - mostly as it is the exception. You're right it isn't a long -a and is something like ha-ra-gat (gut is more accurate than git. It's gat though, with the vowel being a schwa which is more common for a than other vowels), but that strikes me to have quite a lot to do that the local accent doesn't really have the long-a that others would put in gate.
I guess it could be driven by the classic English shortening of the last vowel of place names, rather than the local accent.
Quote from: Rothman on May 27, 2022, 03:53:30 PMPfft. In American, it's not a harsh STAAH, but it definitely not "ster." The ending is swallowed.No, the ending just doesn't have the harsh STARR that rhotic accents would want to pronounce ster as. The end of -cester places in the UK and Massachusetts are pronounced literally how I would pronounce stir - with a schwa-r combo at the end (which is very subtly different to just a schwa). I'd write stir phonetically as ster - as the vowel is more an a or e than an i, and star is already taken.
It's not the southern English long-a with a rural bumpkinness that the Massachusetts accents has ('AAH' as you put it) - in part because the letter is an e, not an a. But likewise it doesn't need to be the Celtic Pirate hard-r 'ARR' that the rest of the US has to be a word with an r at the end.
The ending is not so much swallowed as not rolled around in the mouth for too long :P.
The big issue with British place names and those, like in MA, which continue the traditions is when they break the common rules of how we pronounce stuff non-phonetically.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYNzqgU7na4
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 1995hoo on May 30, 2022, 07:39:19 AM
Post by: 1995hoo on May 30, 2022, 07:39:19 AM
^^^^^
In terms of British place names, my favorite may be Penistone, which is pronounced like PENN-is-tun.
In terms of British place names, my favorite may be Penistone, which is pronounced like PENN-is-tun.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: english si on May 30, 2022, 07:47:19 AM
Post by: english si on May 30, 2022, 07:47:19 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 30, 2022, 07:39:19 AMIn terms of British place names, my favorite may be Penistone, which is pronounced like PENN-is-tun.Obviously the word-within-the-work that would be kept whole if English was logical would be stone ie Penny-stone.
And if it was said the way everyone but the locals would want to say it it would be Penis-toon.
But no, it's Pen-is-ton.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 30, 2022, 10:26:06 AM
Post by: Rothman on May 30, 2022, 10:26:06 AM
Quote from: english si on May 30, 2022, 07:32:55 AMQuote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 04:26:58 PMI guess I shouldn't have made such a blanket statement because I was thinking of Harrogate specifically; I'm not as sure about other "-gates". From my own experience (I have family/friends that live not too far away), it's definitely not "gate" as Americans would pronounce it with the hard "a"... it sounds more like "git", or perhaps "gut" would be more precise.Harrogate was the place I thought of - mostly as it is the exception. You're right it isn't a long -a and is something like ha-ra-gat (gut is more accurate than git. It's gat though, with the vowel being a schwa which is more common for a than other vowels), but that strikes me to have quite a lot to do that the local accent doesn't really have the long-a that others would put in gate.
I guess it could be driven by the classic English shortening of the last vowel of place names, rather than the local accent.Quote from: Rothman on May 27, 2022, 03:53:30 PMPfft. In American, it's not a harsh STAAH, but it definitely not "ster." The ending is swallowed.No, the ending just doesn't have the harsh STARR that rhotic accents would want to pronounce ster as. The end of -cester places in the UK and Massachusetts are pronounced literally how I would pronounce stir - with a schwa-r combo at the end (which is very subtly different to just a schwa). I'd write stir phonetically as ster - as the vowel is more an a or e than an i, and star is already taken.
It's not the southern English long-a with a rural bumpkinness that the Massachusetts accents has ('AAH' as you put it) - in part because the letter is an e, not an a. But likewise it doesn't need to be the Celtic Pirate hard-r 'ARR' that the rest of the US has to be a word with an r at the end.
The ending is not so much swallowed as not rolled around in the mouth for too long :P.
The big issue with British place names and those, like in MA, which continue the traditions is when they break the common rules of how we pronounce stuff non-phonetically.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYNzqgU7na4
Heh. Just accept Northeasterners don't pronounce names the same way the Brits do. You're talking to someone that grew up quite close to Worcester.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 30, 2022, 12:12:43 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on May 30, 2022, 12:12:43 PM
Quote from: english si on May 30, 2022, 07:32:55 AMQuote from: webny99 on May 27, 2022, 04:26:58 PMI guess I shouldn't have made such a blanket statement because I was thinking of Harrogate specifically; I'm not as sure about other "-gates". From my own experience (I have family/friends that live not too far away), it's definitely not "gate" as Americans would pronounce it with the hard "a"... it sounds more like "git", or perhaps "gut" would be more precise.Harrogate was the place I thought of - mostly as it is the exception. You're right it isn't a long -a and is something like ha-ra-gat (gut is more accurate than git. It's gat though, with the vowel being a schwa which is more common for a than other vowels), but that strikes me to have quite a lot to do that the local accent doesn't really have the long-a that others would put in gate.
Isn't there also a town where the name is two words, XXXX ZZZZ, but it's pronounced ZZZZ XXXX? I thought I read something about that somewhere.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Henry on May 30, 2022, 12:31:26 PM
Post by: Henry on May 30, 2022, 12:31:26 PM
Charlotte, MI is pronounced differently from the NC city. Instead of the traditional "ar" sound, it uses the "ur".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Dirt Roads on May 30, 2022, 02:02:35 PM
Post by: Dirt Roads on May 30, 2022, 02:02:35 PM
The general area where I grew up is called Teays Valley. Like "don't taze me bro'!". Now that location is more specific, meaning the area along WV-34 between Hurricane and Scott Depot (including the area around Exit 39 on I-64). Teays River was an ancient riverbed that ran along what's now the New River and Kanawha River and turned west at Scary, West Virginia; then ran up thorough Central Ohio and across northern Indiana and northern Illinois. That said, there is another general area called Teays Valley in Pickaway County, Ohio (and I believe that they pronounce it the same way).
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Brandon on May 30, 2022, 06:41:50 PM
Post by: Brandon on May 30, 2022, 06:41:50 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 30, 2022, 12:31:26 PM
Charlotte, MI is pronounced differently from the NC city. Instead of the traditional "ar" sound, it uses the "ur".
Yes, sure-LOTT.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: amroad17 on May 31, 2022, 12:32:18 AM
Post by: amroad17 on May 31, 2022, 12:32:18 AM
Kecoughtan (an area in Hampton, VA); pronounced KIK-ka-tan.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: english si on May 31, 2022, 03:42:53 AM
Post by: english si on May 31, 2022, 03:42:53 AM
Quote from: Rothman on May 30, 2022, 10:26:06 AMwho said anything about Northeasterners? Not me. Massachusetts accents pronounce almost all place names exactly the same way as Brits. The IPA is the same, the Wikipedia prounciation guides are the same, the locals explaining how to say it say it the same.
Heh. Just accept Northeasterners don't pronounce names the same way the Brits do.
QuoteYou're talking to someone that grew up quite close to Worcester.but with a different accent? And, while in the know, seeking to write the pronunciation guide with how you would say syllables, not how locals would.
There's an r in Worcester (both of them) in the local accent(s). But it's done by the local accent's underpronunciation of r, not a rhotic overprounced r. To approximate the correct prounciation you wouldn't have an r in how you'd write how to say it, because if you put an r in you'd be rolling that ending around in your mouth. But it's in the IPA, etc - they aren't swallowing that r.
Just accept that, despite growing up nearby and getting it nearly right, the locals don't prounounce it the same way you do.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on May 31, 2022, 09:34:06 AM
Post by: Rothman on May 31, 2022, 09:34:06 AM
Quote from: english si on May 31, 2022, 03:42:53 AMQuote from: Rothman on May 30, 2022, 10:26:06 AMwho said anything about Northeasterners? Not me. Massachusetts accents pronounce almost all place names exactly the same way as Brits. The IPA is the same, the Wikipedia prounciation guides are the same, the locals explaining how to say it say it the same.
Heh. Just accept Northeasterners don't pronounce names the same way the Brits do.QuoteYou're talking to someone that grew up quite close to Worcester.but with a different accent? And, while in the know, seeking to write the pronunciation guide with how you would say syllables, not how locals would.
There's an r in Worcester (both of them) in the local accent(s). But it's done by the local accent's underpronunciation of r, not a rhotic overprounced r. To approximate the correct prounciation you wouldn't have an r in how you'd write how to say it, because if you put an r in you'd be rolling that ending around in your mouth. But it's in the IPA, etc - they aren't swallowing that r.
Just accept that, despite growing up nearby and getting it nearly right, the locals don't prounounce it the same way you do.
Dear heavens...this is as tone deaf as me telling someone from Luton that they're wrong about London because of what they read on Wikipedia...
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: skluth on May 31, 2022, 10:34:44 AM
Post by: skluth on May 31, 2022, 10:34:44 AM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on May 30, 2022, 12:12:43 PM
Isn't there also a town where the name is two words, XXXX ZZZZ, but it's pronounced ZZZZ XXXX? I thought I read something about that somewhere.
I think you're thinking of Zzyzx, CA (https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/21414). It's pronounced Zy-Zix.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 02:01:07 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 02:01:07 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 27, 2022, 09:52:48 PM
Any town with a Spanish origin, I'll pronounce according to Spanish pronunciation rules, and the residents can be mad about it.
Do you really?
Los Angeles, CA?
Mexico, MO?
Plano, TX?
Panama, OK?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on May 31, 2022, 03:01:51 PM
Post by: webny99 on May 31, 2022, 03:01:51 PM
I've gotten in the bad habit of pronouncing Los Angeles as it's pronounced in "International Love" by Pitbull - Laws An'jellies
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 31, 2022, 03:03:31 PM
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on May 31, 2022, 03:03:31 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 02:01:07 PMQuote from: Scott5114 on May 27, 2022, 09:52:48 PM
Any town with a Spanish origin, I'll pronounce according to Spanish pronunciation rules, and the residents can be mad about it.
Do you really?
Los Angeles, CA?
The Los Angeles Angels translated to English is The The Angels Angels.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 31, 2022, 03:54:36 PM
Post by: roadman65 on May 31, 2022, 03:54:36 PM
Pounce de Leon if pronounced in Spanish to anyone in Atlanta, GA will get you told a few things by Georgia residents.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on May 31, 2022, 04:58:24 PM
Post by: roadman65 on May 31, 2022, 04:58:24 PM
How is the US 68 control city here pronounced?
https://goo.gl/maps/eU4msgk6dxBqSvvd6
That always interested me seeing it on I-71 guides at US 68.
https://goo.gl/maps/eU4msgk6dxBqSvvd6
That always interested me seeing it on I-71 guides at US 68.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 05:03:51 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 05:03:51 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 31, 2022, 04:58:24 PM
How is the US 68 control city here pronounced?
https://goo.gl/maps/eU4msgk6dxBqSvvd6
ˈziːniə
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 1995hoo on May 31, 2022, 05:28:20 PM
Post by: 1995hoo on May 31, 2022, 05:28:20 PM
Quote from: skluth on May 31, 2022, 10:34:44 AMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on May 30, 2022, 12:12:43 PM
Isn't there also a town where the name is two words, XXXX ZZZZ, but it's pronounced ZZZZ XXXX? I thought I read something about that somewhere.
I think you're thinking of Zzyzx, CA (https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/21414). It's pronounced Zy-Zix.
Does that phonetic spelling denote the "y" as a long "i" sound, a short "i" sound, or a long "e" sound? I assume not the latter and I'm guessing it's a long "i" due to the juxtaposition with an "i" that is clearly short in context.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: JayhawkCO on May 31, 2022, 05:38:02 PM
Post by: JayhawkCO on May 31, 2022, 05:38:02 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 31, 2022, 05:28:20 PMQuote from: skluth on May 31, 2022, 10:34:44 AMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on May 30, 2022, 12:12:43 PM
Isn't there also a town where the name is two words, XXXX ZZZZ, but it's pronounced ZZZZ XXXX? I thought I read something about that somewhere.
I think you're thinking of Zzyzx, CA (https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/21414). It's pronounced Zy-Zix.
Does that phonetic spelling denote the "y" as a long "i" sound, a short "i" sound, or a long "e" sound? I assume not the latter and I'm guessing it's a long "i" due to the juxtaposition with an "i" that is clearly short in context.
From Wikipedia - Zzyzx (/ˈzaɪzɪks/ ZY-ziks)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: SSOWorld on May 31, 2022, 07:18:16 PM
Post by: SSOWorld on May 31, 2022, 07:18:16 PM
Lancaster: Lan-cast-er or Lank-ister.
Cairo - or Cay-ro (covered above)
San Pedro - how do you pronounce it in spanish, not San Pee-dro. Same is true for Los Angeles itself.
Waukesha - It's WAUK-eh-sha, not Wau-KEE-Sha.
Vilas County - not Vee-laas.
Cairo - or Cay-ro (covered above)
San Pedro - how do you pronounce it in spanish, not San Pee-dro. Same is true for Los Angeles itself.
Waukesha - It's WAUK-eh-sha, not Wau-KEE-Sha.
Vilas County - not Vee-laas.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 07:33:09 PM
Post by: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 07:33:09 PM
Quote from: SSOWorld on May 31, 2022, 07:18:16 PM
Waukesha - It's WAUK-eh-sha, not Wau-KEE-Sha.
I don't think you can say either one is the more "natural" pronunciation. In fact, I assumed it was pronounced WAUK-eh-sha without even knowing.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on June 01, 2022, 12:31:05 AM
Post by: roadman65 on June 01, 2022, 12:31:05 AM
Ponte Vedra Beach is pronounced the Spanish way, but Floridians pronounce the e in Vedra as ee not ayh. E in Spanish is pronounced as ay not as ee.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 01, 2022, 09:30:03 AM
Post by: kphoger on June 01, 2022, 09:30:03 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on June 01, 2022, 12:31:05 AM
Ponte Vedra Beach is pronounced the Spanish way, but Floridians pronounce the e in Vedra as ee not ayh. E in Spanish is pronounced as ay not as ee.
The letter e in Spanish is pronounced as eh–neither as ay nor as ee. It's generally a little more closed than the English short-e sound in Ben, but it's quite a bit more open than the English long-a sound in bane. Therefore, the pronunciation of the Spanish word ven (come here) is somewhere in between the two, but it's a lot closer to Ben than it is to bane.
In English, the ay sound (as in stay) is actually a borderline diphthong–two vowel sounds smooshed together: eh→y. (You may have noticed that the English long-a sound is often rendered as /eɪ/ in IPA representation, and this is why.) This does not happen with the Spanish letter e, which is a true monophthong.
For example, if you say rr-ay-no, then you did not pronounce the word reno (reindeer). Rather, you pronounced the word reino (kingdom).
Likewise, if you say the English word lay, it does not sound like the Spanish word le (indirect object pronoun). Rather, it sounds more similar to the Spanish word ley (law).
The Spanish pronunciation of Vedra, then, would be similar to Beh-thdd-ah (with the dd as in the English word ladder).
Examples of the Spanish vowel e:
https://soundcloud.com/mimic-method/e-word-list-sp?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fmimic-method%252Fe-word-list-sp
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on June 01, 2022, 09:45:50 AM
Post by: roadman65 on June 01, 2022, 09:45:50 AM
Spanish is tricky because you have Spanglish that Puerto Ricans often use. They say mommy over Madre to address their mother. Madre is Spanish for Mother. Yet in the US most boys use mommy only to address their mother up until junior high, where mom or mother is the norm in Jr. and Sr. High. You would be picked on in High School if you said mommy still, but in the Hispanic community mommy is the norm forever..
Then it took two times to convince spell check that Madre is a word as once it changed it to Marge and another to made, to write this post.
Then it took two times to convince spell check that Madre is a word as once it changed it to Marge and another to made, to write this post.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 01, 2022, 10:28:44 AM
Post by: kphoger on June 01, 2022, 10:28:44 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on June 01, 2022, 09:45:50 AM
Spanish is tricky because you have Spanglish that Puerto Ricans often use. They say mommy over Madre to address their mother.
Unlike English, where people in every country use the same word for mother.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: JayhawkCO on June 01, 2022, 10:53:13 AM
Post by: JayhawkCO on June 01, 2022, 10:53:13 AM
Quote from: kphoger on June 01, 2022, 10:28:44 AMQuote from: roadman65 on June 01, 2022, 09:45:50 AM
Spanish is tricky because you have Spanglish that Puerto Ricans often use. They say mommy over Madre to address their mother.
Unlike English, where people in every country use the same word for mother.
Not sure if you're being sarcastic. Knowing you, probably so. :) But just in case not, English mum vs. American mom vs. Scottish ma.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 01, 2022, 10:56:41 AM
Post by: kphoger on June 01, 2022, 10:56:41 AM
Yes, that was sarcasm.
I was surprised once, on a Greyhound bus in Wisconsin. The man next to me was from El Salvador, on his way to Green Bay to visit family. He didn't speak any English. But he referred to his children as "mis babies". Then I learned later it was actually the colloquial Spanish word bebis.
I was surprised once, on a Greyhound bus in Wisconsin. The man next to me was from El Salvador, on his way to Green Bay to visit family. He didn't speak any English. But he referred to his children as "mis babies". Then I learned later it was actually the colloquial Spanish word bebis.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on June 01, 2022, 02:33:18 PM
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on June 01, 2022, 02:33:18 PM
And continuing with Spanish, good luck finding one single town in Spain with a counter-intuitive pronounciation :sombrero:. Spanish is so regular, you are guaranteed to nail the pronounciation by just reading the name (dialectal sound shifts aside). Well, there's really one such town, but is more of a spelling irregularity: Aýna, in the province of Albacete (Southeastern Spain). Due to it retaining an archaical spelling, it is actually pronounced as it is were written "AÃna", and with three syllabes instead of two (ah-ee-nah instead of eye-nah). Due to this, it became famous when a minor spelling reform added an acute to the Y, becoming the only instance of the character à in Spanish.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Scott5114 on June 01, 2022, 05:54:02 PM
Post by: Scott5114 on June 01, 2022, 05:54:02 PM
I think that putting diacritics on Y is pretty rare in any Latin-alphabet language.
Since English doesn't have any, I have a bit of a fascination with weird diacritics, like Norwegian Ã... and French Ã". I get the circumflex, but I've had a hard time finding a good explanation for what the difference between A and Ã... is.
Since English doesn't have any, I have a bit of a fascination with weird diacritics, like Norwegian Ã... and French Ã". I get the circumflex, but I've had a hard time finding a good explanation for what the difference between A and Ã... is.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 01, 2022, 06:40:57 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 01, 2022, 06:40:57 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 01, 2022, 05:54:02 PM
I think that putting diacritics on Y is pretty rare in any Latin-alphabet language.
Since English doesn't have any, I have a bit of a fascination with weird diacritics, like Norwegian Ã... and French Ã". I get the circumflex, but I've had a hard time finding a good explanation for what the difference between A and Ã... is.
The ¨ also appears on y in French, albeit only in proper nouns, such as the following, all of which are municipalities.
Aÿ-Champagne
Moÿ-de-l'Aisne
Faÿ-lès-Nemours
L'Haÿ-les-Roses
It is arguably not the least commonly used letter-diacritic combo in French, which could be ù, which is only used in the very common où, which means "where."
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: lepidopteran on June 01, 2022, 11:51:28 PM
Post by: lepidopteran on June 01, 2022, 11:51:28 PM
Did anyone mention Bowie, MD? Pronounced BOO-ee, unlike pop singer David Bowie.
Monsey, NY is pronounced the same as Muncie, IN and Muncy, PA (some think it's pronounced like MON-ster)
I've occasionally heard the city of Piqua, OH pronounced PIK-way rather than PIK-wah, though I'm not sure which is correct. There did use to be a shoe store called Pic-way.
Chillicothe, OH is CHIL-i-KOTH-ee. At least once I've heard it as chil-i-KOATH
Gallipolis, OH is pronounced GAL-ə-pə-LEES; I used to think it was GAL-ə-POLL-is.
In PA, Wilkes-Barre is generally pronounced wilks-BERRY, though wilks-BEAR might be acceptable as we. Not sure if Wilkes can be 2 syllables.
The hamlet of Paxinos is pronounced pax-I-nəs, at least according to a radio commercial for a business located there.
How about Kissimmee, FL? I used to think it was the jovial "KISS-a-me". But it's apparently pronounced kə-SIM-ee.
As for pronunciation of non-town names, New York has a couple that no one seems to know for sure
Monsey, NY is pronounced the same as Muncie, IN and Muncy, PA (some think it's pronounced like MON-ster)
I've occasionally heard the city of Piqua, OH pronounced PIK-way rather than PIK-wah, though I'm not sure which is correct. There did use to be a shoe store called Pic-way.
Chillicothe, OH is CHIL-i-KOTH-ee. At least once I've heard it as chil-i-KOATH
Gallipolis, OH is pronounced GAL-ə-pə-LEES; I used to think it was GAL-ə-POLL-is.
In PA, Wilkes-Barre is generally pronounced wilks-BERRY, though wilks-BEAR might be acceptable as we. Not sure if Wilkes can be 2 syllables.
The hamlet of Paxinos is pronounced pax-I-nəs, at least according to a radio commercial for a business located there.
How about Kissimmee, FL? I used to think it was the jovial "KISS-a-me". But it's apparently pronounced kə-SIM-ee.
As for pronunciation of non-town names, New York has a couple that no one seems to know for sure
- The Van Wyck Expressway. Technically it should be a long-i (rhymes with bike) based on the original Dutch, but I've heard it as "wick" as well.
- The Goethals Bridge. Not sure if it's GO-th, GOTH, GETH, or even GERTH
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Road Hog on June 02, 2022, 12:14:04 AM
Post by: Road Hog on June 02, 2022, 12:14:04 AM
German is a fairly straightforward phonetic language as well. All "g's" are the hard G; all "h's" between vowels are silent and broaden the vowel ("i.e. "gehen"); and there are only three umlauted vowels that change pronunciation. "Zahlen" (to pay) and "zählen" (to count) are two different words.
There are some pitfalls, of course. The diphthong "äu" is equivalent to "eu" which in German is pronounced "oy." Except with the word "Jubiläum" (celebration), which is pronounced "you-be-LAY-um."
There are some pitfalls, of course. The diphthong "äu" is equivalent to "eu" which in German is pronounced "oy." Except with the word "Jubiläum" (celebration), which is pronounced "you-be-LAY-um."
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on June 02, 2022, 07:04:15 AM
Post by: Rothman on June 02, 2022, 07:04:15 AM
My family goes back to the 1600s in PA and we are staunch Wilkes-Bear or Wilkes-Bar but never Wilkes-Berry team supporters.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 1995hoo on June 02, 2022, 07:36:57 AM
Post by: 1995hoo on June 02, 2022, 07:36:57 AM
My father's mother grew up in said Pennsylvania city and always said it more like "Wilks-Bar."
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on June 02, 2022, 08:09:47 AM
Post by: roadman65 on June 02, 2022, 08:09:47 AM
How is Reheresburg, PA pronounced? It's a community on I-78 & US 22 in Berks County.
https://goo.gl/maps/HuyaJSANkt2PKHMK7
https://goo.gl/maps/HuyaJSANkt2PKHMK7
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on June 02, 2022, 08:35:18 AM
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on June 02, 2022, 08:35:18 AM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on June 01, 2022, 06:40:57 PM
The ¨ also appears on y in French, albeit only in proper nouns, such as the following, all of which are municipalities.
Aÿ-Champagne
Moÿ-de-l'Aisne
Faÿ-lès-Nemours
L'Haÿ-les-Roses
It is arguably not the least commonly used letter-diacritic combo in French, which could be ù, which is only used in the very common où, which means "where."
I can't write the names of these municipalities properly in all-caps, since my keyboard doesn't allow to put a diaeresis on an uppercase Y (it should, since it lets me to input ÿ), resulting in something like "A¨Y CHAMPAGNE" (n.b.: I drop dashes from French placenames), which looks weird.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 02, 2022, 10:03:01 AM
Post by: kphoger on June 02, 2022, 10:03:01 AM
Quote from: lepidopteran on June 01, 2022, 11:51:28 PM
How about Kissimmee, FL? I used to think it was the jovial "KISS-a-me". But it's apparently pronounced kə-SIM-ee.
Nothing about Kissimmee demands that its first syllable be stressed. So, no, I figure that one is pronounced exactly as it's spelled.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on June 02, 2022, 08:35:18 AM
I can't write the names of these municipalities properly in all-caps, since my keyboard doesn't allow to put a diaeresis on an uppercase Y
Does your keyboard not allow you to type Alt+0159?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: SD Mapman on June 02, 2022, 10:21:30 AM
Post by: SD Mapman on June 02, 2022, 10:21:30 AM
Just to get slightly back on topic, Pierre, SD is not pronounced like it is in French, but like the word pier.
Quote from: kphoger on May 27, 2022, 10:32:16 AMApparently, this is because the town started out as "North Fork" and the postal service made a clerical error at one point and the name stuck.
But, having said that, my submission is Norfolk, Nebraska. Pronounced nor-fork.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on June 02, 2022, 06:02:11 PM
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on June 02, 2022, 06:02:11 PM
Bala Cynwyd, Pa = Bala kin-wid
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 02, 2022, 06:43:12 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 02, 2022, 06:43:12 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on June 02, 2022, 06:02:11 PM
Bala Cynwyd, Pa = Bala kin-wid
That's very close to how it's spelled. Both halves are named after Welsh locales, and that pronunciation matches Welsh decently well.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: LilianaUwU on June 02, 2022, 06:48:45 PM
Post by: LilianaUwU on June 02, 2022, 06:48:45 PM
Sayabec, QC is actually pronounced say-beck, with a mute second "a".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on June 02, 2022, 07:33:23 PM
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on June 02, 2022, 07:33:23 PM
Lino Lakes, MN (LIE-no, as opposed to LEE-no)
Sartell (sar-TELL, not sartil)
Montevideo (mont-uh-video, not like the Uruguayan city)
Sartell (sar-TELL, not sartil)
Montevideo (mont-uh-video, not like the Uruguayan city)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 02, 2022, 09:59:17 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 02, 2022, 09:59:17 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 02, 2022, 07:33:23 PM
Lino Lakes, MN (LIE-no, as opposed to LEE-no)
Exactly how I assumed it would be pronounced.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 02, 2022, 07:33:23 PM
Sartell (sar-TELL, not sartil)
Exactly how I assumed it would be pronounced.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 02, 2022, 07:33:23 PM
Montevideo (mont-uh-video, not like the Uruguayan city)
Well, actually, I've heard this one said before, so no assumption necessary.
Here's one that I bet would throw you guys off: Neodesha, KS, pronounced nee-OH-duh-shay.
This is similar to Chickasha, OK, pronounced CHICK-uh-shay. In contrast, the tribe after which the town was named is Chickasaw, pronounced CHICK-uh-saw (a more expected pronunciation). The reason for the difference in spelling is that the former is actually the Choctaw name for the latter.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on June 03, 2022, 06:51:38 AM
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on June 03, 2022, 06:51:38 AM
Quote from: kphoger on June 02, 2022, 06:43:12 PMQuote from: Ted$8roadFan on June 02, 2022, 06:02:11 PM
Bala Cynwyd, Pa = Bala kin-wid
That's very close to how it's spelled. Both halves are named after Welsh locales, and that pronunciation matches Welsh decently well.
True, but I think most Americans would initially pronounce it as Bala Sin-wyd.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kernals12 on June 04, 2022, 06:59:14 PM
Post by: kernals12 on June 04, 2022, 06:59:14 PM
Quote from: LilianaUwU on June 02, 2022, 06:48:45 PMWhat a waste of a perfectly good vowel. Don't they know there are children in Poland who can't pronounce their own names?
Sayabec, QC is actually pronounced say-beck, with a mute second "a".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: on_wisconsin on June 06, 2022, 01:00:15 PM
Post by: on_wisconsin on June 06, 2022, 01:00:15 PM
Quote from: on_wisconsin on July 08, 2011, 05:10:53 AM
More Wisco.....
Mondovi: (mon-doh-vee)
Eau Claire: (oh-claire)(like the Irish sirname O'Claire)
Waunakee: (wan-uh-key)(like 'want a key' with out the 't' in want)
Menomonie: (men-nom-nee) or (mon-nom-nee)(the last 'o' is mostly silent)
Prescott: (press-cot)
Alma: (el-ma)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 06, 2022, 02:02:51 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 06, 2022, 02:02:51 PM
Quote from: on_wisconsin on June 06, 2022, 01:00:15 PMQuote from: on_wisconsin on July 08, 2011, 05:10:53 AM
More Wisco.....
Mondovi: (mon-doh-vee)
Eau Claire: (oh-claire)(like the Irish sirname O'Claire)
Waunakee: (wan-uh-key)(like 'want a key' with out the 't' in want)
Menomonie: (men-nom-nee) or (mon-nom-nee)(the last 'o' is mostly silent)
Prescott: (press-cot)
Alma: (el-ma)
Except for Eau Claire, these all seem pretty straightforward.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on June 06, 2022, 02:34:04 PM
Post by: Rothman on June 06, 2022, 02:34:04 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on June 06, 2022, 02:02:51 PMYeah. Prescott, AZ strikes me as more odd: PRESS-kit.Quote from: on_wisconsin on June 06, 2022, 01:00:15 PMQuote from: on_wisconsin on July 08, 2011, 05:10:53 AM
More Wisco.....
Mondovi: (mon-doh-vee)
Eau Claire: (oh-claire)(like the Irish sirname O'Claire)
Waunakee: (wan-uh-key)(like 'want a key' with out the 't' in want)
Menomonie: (men-nom-nee) or (mon-nom-nee)(the last 'o' is mostly silent)
Prescott: (press-cot)
Alma: (el-ma)
Except for Eau Claire, these all seem pretty straightforward.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on June 07, 2022, 04:51:27 PM
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on June 07, 2022, 04:51:27 PM
Our local media has a funny take on this topic......the Golden State Warriors, in town to play the Celtics, released a video in which their players tried to pronounce the names of Massachusetts municipalities - and were mostly. hilariously unsuccessful.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/skitoots-watch-warriors-players-struggle-pronounce-massachusetts-town-names/2ST3RSGK7FCJRBWHYJNVFY52OU/
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/skitoots-watch-warriors-players-struggle-pronounce-massachusetts-town-names/2ST3RSGK7FCJRBWHYJNVFY52OU/
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 07, 2022, 04:53:59 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 07, 2022, 04:53:59 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on June 07, 2022, 04:51:27 PM
Celtics
Let's talk about spelling and pronunciation...
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: MATraveler128 on June 07, 2022, 04:59:15 PM
Post by: MATraveler128 on June 07, 2022, 04:59:15 PM
Thought this video about Massachusetts town pronunciations would fit perfectly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AckzNzbF5E4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AckzNzbF5E4
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: bwana39 on June 10, 2022, 09:40:58 PM
Post by: bwana39 on June 10, 2022, 09:40:58 PM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Buena Vista CO is pronounced BOONA Vista
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: iowahighways on June 12, 2022, 06:09:37 PM
Post by: iowahighways on June 12, 2022, 06:09:37 PM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Buena Vista County and University in Iowa is pronounced the same way.
Tripoli isn't pronounced like the city in Libya -- it's pronounced trip-OLE-uh.
Madrid is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable (MAD-rid). Waukee has its accent on the second syllable (wau-KEE) despite being named for the Milwaukee Railroad.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: bwana39 on June 13, 2022, 01:29:16 PM
Post by: bwana39 on June 13, 2022, 01:29:16 PM
Quote from: iowahighways on June 12, 2022, 06:09:37 PMQuote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Buena Vista County and University in Iowa is pronounced the same way.
Tripoli isn't pronounced like the city in Libya -- it's pronounced trip-OLE-uh.
Madrid is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable (MAD-rid). Waukee has its accent on the second syllable (wau-KEE) despite being named for the Milwaukee Railroad.
Ok on the Waukee; Isn't how you say Milwaukee? Mil wau Kee?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on June 13, 2022, 01:36:33 PM
Post by: Rothman on June 13, 2022, 01:36:33 PM
Quote from: bwana39 on June 13, 2022, 01:29:16 PMIt's Algonquin for "the good land."Quote from: iowahighways on June 12, 2022, 06:09:37 PMQuote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Buena Vista County and University in Iowa is pronounced the same way.
Tripoli isn't pronounced like the city in Libya -- it's pronounced trip-OLE-uh.
Madrid is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable (MAD-rid). Waukee has its accent on the second syllable (wau-KEE) despite being named for the Milwaukee Railroad.
Ok on the Waukee Isn't haw you say Milwaukee? Mil wau Kee?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: bm7 on June 13, 2022, 02:10:31 PM
Post by: bm7 on June 13, 2022, 02:10:31 PM
Quote from: bwana39 on June 13, 2022, 01:29:16 PMThe "kee" in Waukee is emphasized and a bit longer than in Milwaukee.Quote from: iowahighways on June 12, 2022, 06:09:37 PMQuote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Buena Vista County and University in Iowa is pronounced the same way.
Tripoli isn't pronounced like the city in Libya -- it's pronounced trip-OLE-uh.
Madrid is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable (MAD-rid). Waukee has its accent on the second syllable (wau-KEE) despite being named for the Milwaukee Railroad.
Ok on the Waukee; Isn't how you say Milwaukee? Mil wau Kee?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: frankenroad on June 13, 2022, 04:19:53 PM
Post by: frankenroad on June 13, 2022, 04:19:53 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 31, 2022, 05:03:51 PMQuote from: roadman65 on May 31, 2022, 04:58:24 PM
How is the US 68 control city here pronounced?
https://goo.gl/maps/eU4msgk6dxBqSvvd6
ur-BANN-a
Oh, the other one? ZEE-nya
A side note, Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, and it was settlers from there who settled the sister cities in Illinois.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: index on June 13, 2022, 04:40:14 PM
Post by: index on June 13, 2022, 04:40:14 PM
Rutherfordton, NC is a good one. You would think it's pronounced just that, Ruther-ford-ton. But no, the locals pronounce it as Ruffin. Or Ruffton, or something else, I've heard many variations of that but it's not Rutherfordton.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: rlb2024 on June 19, 2022, 10:36:35 AM
Post by: rlb2024 on June 19, 2022, 10:36:35 AM
Quote from: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AMIt is either New Or-lunz or (for the truly locals) Nawlins. It is never EVER New OrLEENZ if you live here. (Although city is in OrLEENZ Parish -- go figure.)
New Orleans, LA - the locals pronounce "Orleans" with the e silent. I have verified this myself with a coworker who traveled there couple weeks ago.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: SP Cook on June 19, 2022, 12:22:33 PM
Post by: SP Cook on June 19, 2022, 12:22:33 PM
West Virginia:
As noted up thread Teays Valley the e is silent, not the a. Taze or Tays Valley, not Tees Valley. And, despite the actual town of Teays having been removed for I-64 more than 60 years ago, there still is a Teays Post Office (25569) which is a just a bank of PO Boxes in a strip mall, with window service a couple of hours per day, for the businesses in the mall. It has no geographic territory.
Also the largest town in Teays Valley is Hurricane. Which is not pronounced like the storm or the University of Miami mascot. The last syllable rhymes with "done" or "gun" not with "cane". Hur-uh-cun.
Phillipi is not pronounced like the town in the Bible where the last syllable rhymes with "pie" "Phil-i-pie" but rather it rhymes with "pee", "Phil-uh-pee".
If anybody pronounces all the syllables in Huntington, like the beach in California or the bank based out of Columbus or the robber baron himself, they are probably not local. It is not Hunt(full stop)ing(full stop)ton nor Hun(full stop)ting(full stop) ton, but most locals would say something like Huning-ton. More like two syllables than three.
Across the river in Ohio is Rio Grande, and the University of Rio Grande, where the first word rhymes with the grain with an added "O". RHY-O Grand.
As noted up thread Teays Valley the e is silent, not the a. Taze or Tays Valley, not Tees Valley. And, despite the actual town of Teays having been removed for I-64 more than 60 years ago, there still is a Teays Post Office (25569) which is a just a bank of PO Boxes in a strip mall, with window service a couple of hours per day, for the businesses in the mall. It has no geographic territory.
Also the largest town in Teays Valley is Hurricane. Which is not pronounced like the storm or the University of Miami mascot. The last syllable rhymes with "done" or "gun" not with "cane". Hur-uh-cun.
Phillipi is not pronounced like the town in the Bible where the last syllable rhymes with "pie" "Phil-i-pie" but rather it rhymes with "pee", "Phil-uh-pee".
If anybody pronounces all the syllables in Huntington, like the beach in California or the bank based out of Columbus or the robber baron himself, they are probably not local. It is not Hunt(full stop)ing(full stop)ton nor Hun(full stop)ting(full stop) ton, but most locals would say something like Huning-ton. More like two syllables than three.
Across the river in Ohio is Rio Grande, and the University of Rio Grande, where the first word rhymes with the grain with an added "O". RHY-O Grand.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: OracleUsr on June 19, 2022, 08:22:39 PM
Post by: OracleUsr on June 19, 2022, 08:22:39 PM
I was up in Michigan about 10 years ago looking for the Seul Choix Point Lighthouse, and I swear someone pronounced it as SISH-wa.
And, Calais, ME, didn't retain its French pronunciation as I would have expected. I heard it pronounced Cal-lis.
And, Calais, ME, didn't retain its French pronunciation as I would have expected. I heard it pronounced Cal-lis.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: epzik8 on June 19, 2022, 10:03:01 PM
Post by: epzik8 on June 19, 2022, 10:03:01 PM
Bowie (booey), Maryland
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 20, 2022, 10:12:33 AM
Post by: kphoger on June 20, 2022, 10:12:33 AM
Quote from: epzik8 on June 19, 2022, 10:03:01 PM
Bowie (booey), Maryland
That's how I would assume it's pronounced. Just like Jim Bowie.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: JayhawkCO on June 20, 2022, 10:15:59 AM
Post by: JayhawkCO on June 20, 2022, 10:15:59 AM
Quote from: bwana39 on June 10, 2022, 09:40:58 PMQuote from: WillWeaverRVA on May 27, 2022, 10:22:13 AM
Buena Vista, VA is probably the most obvious example in Virginia - it's pronounced "byoona vista".
Buena Vista CO is pronounced BOONA Vista
Just saw this. No it's not. It's pronounced BYOO-nuh Vista.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on June 20, 2022, 05:57:57 PM
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on June 20, 2022, 05:57:57 PM
That pronounciation for Buena Vista completely throws me off, since it's not what I, a native Spanish speaker, would say.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 21, 2022, 09:16:27 AM
Post by: kphoger on June 21, 2022, 09:16:27 AM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on June 20, 2022, 05:57:57 PM
That pronounciation for Buena Vista completely throws me off, since it's not what I, a native Spanish speaker, would say.
It can get weird, too. As an example of an English place name in a Spanish-speaking country:
Back in 2001, I was at the bus station in Cd. Chihuahua, buying tickets to the town of Creel (https://goo.gl/maps/QeD2BdLXP6woGAnA8). I told the ticket agent: Dos boletos a /CREH-EL/, por favor. She asked me to repeat myself, and then she caught on that I meant /CREE-L/. I knew the name didn't look Spanish, but I assumed its pronunciation had been Spanish-ified. Nope.
It turns out the town was named after then-governor Enrique Creel, who was the son of a man from Kentucky who served under Lincoln as US Consul in Chihuahua, and that the name of the town has retained its gringo pronunciation.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: bwana39 on June 26, 2022, 11:09:29 PM
Post by: bwana39 on June 26, 2022, 11:09:29 PM
Bogata TX https://goo.gl/maps/y72ooqwqqkaW88M1A
Said Baa GO ta
Said Baa GO ta
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rick Powell on June 26, 2022, 11:44:03 PM
Post by: Rick Powell on June 26, 2022, 11:44:03 PM
Quote from: Brandon on May 28, 2022, 03:44:43 PMTrue, the S is is silent, except for the people who pronounce it Bur-BONE-iss. Which I have heard.
Bourbonnais is pronounced bour-bon-ay not as you have above. All the Kankakee area folks I've spoken with pronounce it that way.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: nexus73 on June 27, 2022, 11:28:13 AM
Post by: nexus73 on June 27, 2022, 11:28:13 AM
Coquille OR is pronounced koh-keel. It is the county seat of Coos County OR.
Rick
Rick
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
Post by: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Takumi on June 27, 2022, 12:16:37 PM
Post by: Takumi on June 27, 2022, 12:16:37 PM
That's the proper Spanish pronunciation.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 1995hoo on June 27, 2022, 12:20:43 PM
Post by: 1995hoo on June 27, 2022, 12:20:43 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
A young boy is on a plane home from California after visiting his grandparents for the summer and he's telling the lady next to him how much he enjoyed his summer in "San Joe's." She finally says, "Young man, in California the 'J's are pronounced like 'H's. How long were you in San 'Ho-zay'?"
He thinks for a minute and responds, "During Hune and Huly."
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:12:51 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:12:51 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
So it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:24:58 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:24:58 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:12:51 PMQuote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
So it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled?
Not as far as English pronunciation rules go, no. This thread has gone back and forth on spelling in English versus other languages.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on June 27, 2022, 03:38:10 PM
Post by: webny99 on June 27, 2022, 03:38:10 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on June 27, 2022, 12:20:43 PMQuote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
A young boy is on a plane home from California after visiting his grandparents for the summer and he's telling the lady next to him how much he enjoyed his summer in "San Joe's." She finally says, "Young man, in California the 'J's are pronounced like 'H's. How long were you in San 'Ho-zay'?"
He thinks for a minute and responds, "During Hune and Huly."
That reminds me of this joke (https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/8vrizz/a_young_mexican_man_named_jose_was_curious_about/), which I first heard from my dad probably 15 years ago or more.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:39:32 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:39:32 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:24:58 PMQuote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:12:51 PMQuote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
So it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled?
Not as far as English pronunciation rules go, no.
Neither is San Diego, CA.
Neither is San Juan, TX.
Neither is La Puente, CA.
Neither is Nogales, AZ.
Neither is Gonzales County, TX.
Neither is La Junta, CO.
Neither is San Joaquin, CA.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on June 27, 2022, 03:46:46 PM
Post by: webny99 on June 27, 2022, 03:46:46 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 27, 2022, 03:38:10 PMQuote from: 1995hoo on June 27, 2022, 12:20:43 PMQuote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
A young boy is on a plane home from California after visiting his grandparents for the summer and he's telling the lady next to him how much he enjoyed his summer in "San Joe's." She finally says, "Young man, in California the 'J's are pronounced like 'H's. How long were you in San 'Ho-zay'?"
He thinks for a minute and responds, "During Hune and Huly."
That reminds me of this joke (https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/8vrizz/a_young_mexican_man_named_jose_was_curious_about/), which I first heard from my dad probably 15 years ago or more.
And read the comments at your own risk. The amount of people saying they don't get it is astounding... as is the fact that anyone might be hearing this joke for the first time. It's got to be one of the oldest joke out there; as one commenter said, it's old enough to file for social security. :-D
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:48:59 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:48:59 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:39:32 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:24:58 PMQuote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:12:51 PMQuote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
So it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled?
Not as far as English pronunciation rules go, no.
Neither is San Diego, CA.
Neither is San Juan, TX.
Neither is La Puente, CA.
Neither is Nogales, AZ.
Neither is Gonzales County, TX.
Neither is La Junta, CO.
Neither is San Joaquin, CA.
I don't get the point you're trying to make here.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:56:50 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:56:50 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:48:59 PMQuote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:39:32 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 03:24:58 PMQuote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:12:51 PMQuote from: roadman65 on June 27, 2022, 11:57:13 AM
La Jolla, CA is the famous La Hoya you often hear about.
So it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled?
Not as far as English pronunciation rules go, no.
Neither is San Diego, CA.
Neither is San Juan, TX.
Neither is La Puente, CA.
Neither is Nogales, AZ.
Neither is Gonzales County, TX.
Neither is La Junta, CO.
Neither is San Joaquin, CA.
I don't get the point you're trying to make here.
All those towns are pronounced pretty much exactly as they're spelled–just with some slight Americanization of the vowels. My point is that it isn't noteworthy.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 04:10:37 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 04:10:37 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 03:56:50 PM
All those towns are pronounced pretty much exactly as they're spelled
Only in Spanish, though, which is one heck of an asterisk.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 04:27:59 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 04:27:59 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 04:10:37 PM
Only in Spanish, though, which is one heck of an asterisk.
My point is that "in Spanish" is a gigantic, neon-flashing asterisk when it comes to place names in this country.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on June 27, 2022, 04:39:01 PM
Post by: Rothman on June 27, 2022, 04:39:01 PM
Thread's gone to the perros.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 04:52:25 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 04:52:25 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 04:27:59 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 04:10:37 PM
Only in Spanish, though, which is one heck of an asterisk.
My point is that "in Spanish" is a gigantic, neon-flashing asterisk when it comes to place names in this country.
As long as we agree that it's a big asterisk.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Brandon on June 27, 2022, 05:28:15 PM
Post by: Brandon on June 27, 2022, 05:28:15 PM
Quote from: Rothman on June 27, 2022, 04:39:01 PM
Thread's gone to the perros.
Pronunciation can be a perra, eh?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: JayhawkCO on June 27, 2022, 05:42:05 PM
Post by: JayhawkCO on June 27, 2022, 05:42:05 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 04:27:59 PMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on June 27, 2022, 04:10:37 PM
Only in Spanish, though, which is one heck of an asterisk.
My point is that "in Spanish" is a gigantic, neon-flashing asterisk when it comes to place names in this country.
Agreed. If you look at San Jose and really, truly think it should be "San Joe's" then you have a problem.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 06:13:39 PM
Post by: kphoger on June 27, 2022, 06:13:39 PM
I once knew a family from the small town of Ludell, KS (current population 73). He was an old farmer named Fran, and his wife was–well, an old farmer's wife. In his retirement, Fran had a part-time desk job at some store in Atwood–maybe a feed and seed store or something, I don't remember. Anyway, through that job he became acquainted and eventually pretty good friends with a Mexican migrant from Uriangato (Guanajuato) named José. He would work here in Kansas for a while, then he'd drive down to Guanajuato for a while, then return to Kansas and repeat.
One day, José called Fran's house, but he wasn't home so his wife took a message. "Hosa called 2:50 pm" or something like that. When Fran got home and read the message, he about laughed the hair right off the top of his head. When José later read the note, he exclaimed, "MY NAME IS NOT OSA!"
One day, José called Fran's house, but he wasn't home so his wife took a message. "Hosa called 2:50 pm" or something like that. When Fran got home and read the message, he about laughed the hair right off the top of his head. When José later read the note, he exclaimed, "MY NAME IS NOT OSA!"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rick Powell on June 27, 2022, 07:00:01 PM
Post by: Rick Powell on June 27, 2022, 07:00:01 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on June 27, 2022, 05:42:05 PMUnless you're in Illinois. I have heard it pronounced "San Joe's" but a native of the town I went to college with pronounced it "San Joe".
Agreed. If you look at San Jose and really, truly think it should be "San Joe's" then you have a problem.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on July 20, 2022, 04:27:52 PM
Post by: kirbykart on July 20, 2022, 04:27:52 PM
Skaneateles, NY. Pronounced "Skinny atlas".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on July 20, 2022, 05:07:22 PM
Post by: webny99 on July 20, 2022, 05:07:22 PM
Quote from: kirbykart on July 20, 2022, 04:27:52 PM
Skaneateles, NY. Pronounced "Skinny atlas".
I've never liked that one. I feel like if you're trying to say it as fast as possible, it should be "skan-adles" (rhyming with ladles) and if you're trying to say it as it looks on paper, it should be "skan-ee-ah-tell-ees"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on July 21, 2022, 07:08:00 AM
Post by: kirbykart on July 21, 2022, 07:08:00 AM
Quote from: webny99 on July 20, 2022, 05:07:22 PMYeah, I never understood the logic behind that one either.Quote from: kirbykart on July 20, 2022, 04:27:52 PM
Skaneateles, NY. Pronounced "Skinny atlas".
I've never liked that one. I feel like if you're trying to say it as fast as possible, it should be "skan-adles" (rhyming with ladles) and if you're trying to say it as it looks on paper, it should be "skan-ee-ah-tell-ees"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:44:57 AM
Post by: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:44:57 AM
Staying in New York, I don't think anyone mentioned Poughkeepsie yet. I'm not sure how to write down the pronunciation, maybe someone can help me out.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 08:42:13 AM
Post by: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 08:42:13 AM
Quote from: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:44:57 AM
Staying in New York, I don't think anyone mentioned Poughkeepsie yet. I'm not sure how to write down the pronunciation, maybe someone can help me out.
I'd say Poughkeepsie is pronounced as it's written..
"Pough-" rhymes with dough, and "-keepsie" is pretty accurate too (it maybe sounds a bit more like "-kipsy", but it's close).
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on July 22, 2022, 11:46:51 AM
Post by: Rothman on July 22, 2022, 11:46:51 AM
Quote from: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 08:42:13 AMQuote from: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:44:57 AM
Staying in New York, I don't think anyone mentioned Poughkeepsie yet. I'm not sure how to write down the pronunciation, maybe someone can help me out.
I'd say Poughkeepsie is pronounced as it's written..
"Pough-" rhymes with dough, and "-keepsie" is pretty accurate too (it maybe sounds a bit more like "-kipsy", but it's close).
Pfft. Nah. Kipsy =/= keepsie.
Pough is more of a quick "puh."
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 03:13:41 PM
Post by: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 03:13:41 PM
Quote from: Rothman on July 22, 2022, 11:46:51 AMQuote from: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 08:42:13 AMQuote from: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:44:57 AM
Staying in New York, I don't think anyone mentioned Poughkeepsie yet. I'm not sure how to write down the pronunciation, maybe someone can help me out.
I'd say Poughkeepsie is pronounced as it's written..
"Pough-" rhymes with dough, and "-keepsie" is pretty accurate too (it maybe sounds a bit more like "-kipsy", but it's close).
Pfft. Nah. Kipsy =/= keepsie.
Pough is more of a quick "puh."
One of my school teachers had family there and she pronounced "keepsie" with a distinct e sound if you listened closely, but it would be easy to hear "kipsy" if she was talking fast or if you heard it in passing.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: jdbx on July 22, 2022, 05:45:59 PM
Post by: jdbx on July 22, 2022, 05:45:59 PM
Lots of interesting examples here. I have lived in Northern California my entire life, so the way people pronounce certain place names kind of serves as a shibboleth to see who the visitors and newcomers are. People already mentioned San Rafael (always San Raf-ell), Vallejo (Vel-AY-oh), one that I caught a few coworkers on was Alameda (Al-uh-mee-duh). Lafayette (Law-fayette) I have heard people mispronounce it like "Laff-ayette". Manteca (Man-teek-uh) is also one that gets mangled.
A favorite though, is the debate over how to pronounce San Francisco's Gough Street. Not even multi-generation natives can all agree on that. I'm 3rd gen, and my family always pronounced it "Goff".
A favorite though, is the debate over how to pronounce San Francisco's Gough Street. Not even multi-generation natives can all agree on that. I'm 3rd gen, and my family always pronounced it "Goff".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Takumi on July 22, 2022, 06:07:18 PM
Post by: Takumi on July 22, 2022, 06:07:18 PM
Quote from: jdbx on July 22, 2022, 05:45:59 PMWhile my first guess would have been "go" .
A favorite though, is the debate over how to pronounce San Francisco's Gough Street. Not even multi-generation natives can all agree on that. I'm 3rd gen, and my family always pronounced it "Goff".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 06:50:25 PM
Post by: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 06:50:25 PM
Quote from: Rothman on July 22, 2022, 11:46:51 AMThat's how I've always known it too, Rothman. :biggrin:Quote from: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 08:42:13 AMQuote from: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:44:57 AM
Staying in New York, I don't think anyone mentioned Poughkeepsie yet. I'm not sure how to write down the pronunciation, maybe someone can help me out.
I'd say Poughkeepsie is pronounced as it's written..
"Pough-" rhymes with dough, and "-keepsie" is pretty accurate too (it maybe sounds a bit more like "-kipsy", but it's close).
Pfft. Nah. Kipsy =/= keepsie.
Pough is more of a quick "puh."
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on July 22, 2022, 06:54:41 PM
Post by: Rothman on July 22, 2022, 06:54:41 PM
Quote from: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 03:13:41 PMUnless you've picked your feet in Poughkeepsie, it doesn't matter.Quote from: Rothman on July 22, 2022, 11:46:51 AMQuote from: webny99 on July 22, 2022, 08:42:13 AMQuote from: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:44:57 AM
Staying in New York, I don't think anyone mentioned Poughkeepsie yet. I'm not sure how to write down the pronunciation, maybe someone can help me out.
I'd say Poughkeepsie is pronounced as it's written..
"Pough-" rhymes with dough, and "-keepsie" is pretty accurate too (it maybe sounds a bit more like "-kipsy", but it's close).
Pfft. Nah. Kipsy =/= keepsie.
Pough is more of a quick "puh."
One of my school teachers had family there and she pronounced "keepsie" with a distinct e sound if you listened closely, but it would be easy to hear "kipsy" if she was talking fast or if you heard it in passing.
I've spent quite a bit of time around NYSDOT Region 8 people...
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:30:22 PM
Post by: kirbykart on July 22, 2022, 07:30:22 PM
Quote from: jdbx on July 22, 2022, 05:45:59 PMInteresting examples, I wouldn't have gotten any of those right had you not provided proper pronunciations!
Lots of interesting examples here. I have lived in Northern California my entire life, so the way people pronounce certain place names kind of serves as a shibboleth to see who the visitors and newcomers are. People already mentioned San Rafael (always San Raf-ell), Vallejo (Vel-AY-oh), one that I caught a few coworkers on was Alameda (Al-uh-mee-duh). Lafayette (Law-fayette) I have heard people mispronounce it like "Laff-ayette". Manteca (Man-teek-uh) is also one that gets mangled.
A favorite though, is the debate over how to pronounce San Francisco's Gough Street. Not even multi-generation natives can all agree on that. I'm 3rd gen, and my family always pronounced it "Goff".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: vdeane on July 22, 2022, 08:31:59 PM
Post by: vdeane on July 22, 2022, 08:31:59 PM
Quote from: jdbx on July 22, 2022, 05:45:59 PMPronunciation is very important when looking for the nuclear wessels (1:14).
one that I caught a few coworkers on was Alameda (Al-uh-mee-duh).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf8rDpu1vCk
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Road Hog on July 22, 2022, 10:18:48 PM
Post by: Road Hog on July 22, 2022, 10:18:48 PM
Texas and California share a common trait in which placenames with Spanish origins are often anglicized while keeping some Spanish elements. In Texas the farther inland you go, the more anglicized. Examples: Rio Vista (pronounced "RYE-o Vista" as in rye) and DeLeon (pronounced "DEE Leon" with emphasis on the first syllable). And don't get me started on Refugio.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: lepidopteran on July 23, 2022, 11:49:42 PM
Post by: lepidopteran on July 23, 2022, 11:49:42 PM
Two others beginning with K
- Kearny, NJ -- I thought this was pronounced KEER-nee, but it's actually KAR-nee
- Kerens, WV -- most of us know of this place as a locale on Corridor H. You would think it's pronounced KAIR-ens, like the girl's name, but someone reporting on the highway's progress recently said it was KERNs.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Road Hog on July 27, 2022, 09:18:46 PM
Post by: Road Hog on July 27, 2022, 09:18:46 PM
Quote from: lepidopteran on July 23, 2022, 11:49:42 PMKerens, TX is pronounced the same exact way.
Two others beginning with K
- Kearny, NJ -- I thought this was pronounced KEER-nee, but it's actually KAR-nee
- Kerens, WV -- most of us know of this place as a locale on Corridor H. You would think it's pronounced KAIR-ens, like the girl's name, but someone reporting on the highway's progress recently said it was KERNs.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: jdbx on July 28, 2022, 02:11:32 PM
Post by: jdbx on July 28, 2022, 02:11:32 PM
Quote from: lepidopteran on July 23, 2022, 11:49:42 PM
Two others beginning with K
- Kearny, NJ -- I thought this was pronounced KEER-nee, but it's actually KAR-nee
- Kerens, WV -- most of us know of this place as a locale on Corridor H. You would think it's pronounced KAIR-ens, like the girl's name, but someone reporting on the highway's progress recently said it was KERNs.
I used to work on Kearny Street in San Francisco, and out here we say it "KERR-nee"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on July 28, 2022, 04:56:26 PM
Post by: Rothman on July 28, 2022, 04:56:26 PM
Quote from: jdbx on July 28, 2022, 02:11:32 PMYep. I lived in SF and said it the same way.Quote from: lepidopteran on July 23, 2022, 11:49:42 PM
Two others beginning with K
- Kearny, NJ -- I thought this was pronounced KEER-nee, but it's actually KAR-nee
- Kerens, WV -- most of us know of this place as a locale on Corridor H. You would think it's pronounced KAIR-ens, like the girl's name, but someone reporting on the highway's progress recently said it was KERNs.
I used to work on Kearny Street in San Francisco, and out here we say it "KERR-nee"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: bwana39 on July 28, 2022, 05:53:54 PM
Post by: bwana39 on July 28, 2022, 05:53:54 PM
Quote from: Road Hog on July 22, 2022, 10:18:48 PM
Texas and California share a common trait in which placenames with Spanish origins are often anglicized while keeping some Spanish elements. In Texas the farther inland you go, the more anglicized. Examples: Rio Vista (pronounced "RYE-o Vista" as in rye) and DeLeon (pronounced "DEE Leon" with emphasis on the first syllable). And don't get me started on Refugio.
But is is Dee Lee own not Dee Leon (Lee ahn.)
Ree Fur EO
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: sandwalk on August 03, 2022, 03:44:25 PM
Post by: sandwalk on August 03, 2022, 03:44:25 PM
How Ohio honors the Old World....usually with a different vowel pronunciation and/or an emphasis on a different syllable.
Berlin > "BUR-lin"
East Palestine > "PAL-uh-steen"
Genoa > "jeh-NO-uh"
Leipsic > "LIP-sick"
Mantua > "MAN-a-way"
Milan > "MY-lin"
Medina > "meh-DY-nuh"
New Bremen > "BREE-min"
Russia > "ROO-shee"
Toledo > "tuh-LEE-doh"
Versailles > "ver-SALES"
Vienna > "vy-EH-nuh"
Other Ohio places names that are a bit off:
Chauncey > "CHANCE-ee" (interesting history behind this)
Gnadenhutten > "juh-NAY-den-HUT-en" (first syllable similar to Zsa Zsa Gabor)
Lima >"LY-muh" (like the bean, not its namesake in Peru)
Berlin > "BUR-lin"
East Palestine > "PAL-uh-steen"
Genoa > "jeh-NO-uh"
Leipsic > "LIP-sick"
Mantua > "MAN-a-way"
Milan > "MY-lin"
Medina > "meh-DY-nuh"
New Bremen > "BREE-min"
Russia > "ROO-shee"
Toledo > "tuh-LEE-doh"
Versailles > "ver-SALES"
Vienna > "vy-EH-nuh"
Other Ohio places names that are a bit off:
Chauncey > "CHANCE-ee" (interesting history behind this)
Gnadenhutten > "juh-NAY-den-HUT-en" (first syllable similar to Zsa Zsa Gabor)
Lima >"LY-muh" (like the bean, not its namesake in Peru)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on August 03, 2022, 10:47:44 PM
Post by: webny99 on August 03, 2022, 10:47:44 PM
Quote from: sandwalk on August 03, 2022, 03:44:25 PM
Lima >"LY-muh" (like the bean, not its namesake in Peru)
That's how Lima, NY is pronounced as well. Meanwhile I had a teacher with that surname and that was pronounced "lee-muh", like Lima, Peru.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PM
Post by: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PM
Heading east from po-KIPSY to CT:
Thames: As it's spelled, not tems
Groton: GRAH-tin (as in potatoes au)
Greenwich: GREN-itch
Canton: Cantin
Southington: SUTH-ing-ton
Ansonia: an-SO-nee-yuh
Norfolk: Nor-fork
Barkhamsted: bark-HAM-stead
Higganum: HIG-uh-num
Wolcott: WOOL-kit
Hebron: HEE-brin
Coventry: CAH-ven-tree
Berlin: BUR-lin
Oneco: oh-KNEE-co
Haddam: HAD-um
A few I've learned in my travels (apologies for duplicates)
Brooklyn, MD: Brook-line
Lampeter, PA: lam-PETER
Schuykill: SKOO-kul
Carmel, NY: CAR-mul
Mahopac, NY: MAY-uh-pack
Katonah:kah-TONE-uh
Thames: As it's spelled, not tems
Groton: GRAH-tin (as in potatoes au)
Greenwich: GREN-itch
Canton: Cantin
Southington: SUTH-ing-ton
Ansonia: an-SO-nee-yuh
Norfolk: Nor-fork
Barkhamsted: bark-HAM-stead
Higganum: HIG-uh-num
Wolcott: WOOL-kit
Hebron: HEE-brin
Coventry: CAH-ven-tree
Berlin: BUR-lin
Oneco: oh-KNEE-co
Haddam: HAD-um
A few I've learned in my travels (apologies for duplicates)
Brooklyn, MD: Brook-line
Lampeter, PA: lam-PETER
Schuykill: SKOO-kul
Carmel, NY: CAR-mul
Mahopac, NY: MAY-uh-pack
Katonah:kah-TONE-uh
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Scott5114 on August 04, 2022, 12:48:35 AM
Post by: Scott5114 on August 04, 2022, 12:48:35 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PM
Canton: Cantin
That would be considered pronounced as it's written in Oklahoma. The U.S. capital is pronounced "Washingtin", or "Washin't'n" if you've got a thicker accent. Canton, OK would be "Cantin" too, of course. I don't think I've ever heard anyone pronounce a -ton town the same way they'd say the word ton.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: roadman65 on August 04, 2022, 01:01:44 AM
Post by: roadman65 on August 04, 2022, 01:01:44 AM
Not a town but a county. How do you pronounce Houston, AL? Is it like the city, or like the street in New York?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on August 04, 2022, 01:06:09 AM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on August 04, 2022, 01:06:09 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PM
Thames: As it's spelled, not tems
So it is pronounced like it's written.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on August 04, 2022, 08:37:48 AM
Post by: kirbykart on August 04, 2022, 08:37:48 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PMUhh... how else would you pronounce those ones?
Carmel, NY: CAR-mul
Katonah: kah-TONE-uh
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: webny99 on August 04, 2022, 09:11:58 AM
Post by: webny99 on August 04, 2022, 09:11:58 AM
Quote from: kirbykart on August 04, 2022, 08:37:48 AMQuote from: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PMUhh... how else would you pronounce those ones?
Carmel, NY: CAR-mul
Katonah: kah-TONE-uh
Presumably car-MEL* and kah-TUN-ah, both of which seem odd to me, but I guess that's why they're pronounced the way they are...
*I think Carmel, IN may be pronounced this way, but not 100% sure (?)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: hotdogPi on August 04, 2022, 09:19:48 AM
Post by: hotdogPi on August 04, 2022, 09:19:48 AM
Carmel, IN is pronounced the two-syllable pronunciation of "caramel", which is used there for the food, too.
For those who only pronounce "caramel" with three syllables, what I'm referring to matches the location in NY above.
For those who only pronounce "caramel" with three syllables, what I'm referring to matches the location in NY above.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on August 04, 2022, 09:25:16 AM
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on August 04, 2022, 09:25:16 AM
Quote from: webny99 on August 04, 2022, 09:11:58 AMQuote from: kirbykart on August 04, 2022, 08:37:48 AMQuote from: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PMUhh... how else would you pronounce those ones?
Carmel, NY: CAR-mul
Katonah: kah-TONE-uh
Presumably car-MEL* and kah-TUN-ah, both of which seem odd to me, but I guess that's why they're pronounced the way they are...
*I think Carmel, IN may be pronounced this way, but not 100% sure (?)
Carmel, IN, is pronounced exactly like Carmel, NY, above.
I've learned from watching golf at Pebble Beach that the Carmel in Carmel-by-the-Sea is pronounced car-MEL.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on August 13, 2022, 10:31:01 AM
Post by: kirbykart on August 13, 2022, 10:31:01 AM
Java, NY. Pronounced "JAY-vuh". Not "JAH-vuh".
Ischua, NY. Pronounced "ISH-way". Not "ISH-oo-uh".
Cuylerville, NY. Pronounced "KYE-ler-vil", not "KOO-eh-ler-vil".
Of course "new-ARK", Delaware was already mentioned.
Ischua, NY. Pronounced "ISH-way". Not "ISH-oo-uh".
Cuylerville, NY. Pronounced "KYE-ler-vil", not "KOO-eh-ler-vil".
Of course "new-ARK", Delaware was already mentioned.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Urban Prairie Schooner on August 13, 2022, 07:58:53 PM
Post by: Urban Prairie Schooner on August 13, 2022, 07:58:53 PM
Quote from: rlb2024 on June 19, 2022, 10:36:35 AMQuote from: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AMIt is either New Or-lunz or (for the truly locals) Nawlins. It is never EVER New OrLEENZ if you live here. (Although city is in OrLEENZ Parish -- go figure.)
New Orleans, LA - the locals pronounce "Orleans" with the e silent. I have verified this myself with a coworker who traveled there couple weeks ago.
Nawlins/N'awlins is a tourism/marketing term. Never heard it pronounced that way locally. Most common is New OR-lunz or sometimes New OR-lee-uns, which seems to be more common among radio announcers. A real Yat might pronounce it New OR-lyuns.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on August 15, 2022, 10:54:35 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on August 15, 2022, 10:54:35 PM
Quote from: Urban Prairie Schooner on August 13, 2022, 07:58:53 PMQuote from: rlb2024 on June 19, 2022, 10:36:35 AMQuote from: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AMIt is either New Or-lunz or (for the truly locals) Nawlins. It is never EVER New OrLEENZ if you live here. (Although city is in OrLEENZ Parish -- go figure.)
New Orleans, LA - the locals pronounce "Orleans" with the e silent. I have verified this myself with a coworker who traveled there couple weeks ago.
Nawlins/N'awlins is a tourism/marketing term. Never heard it pronounced that way locally. Most common is New OR-lunz or sometimes New OR-lee-uns, which seems to be more common among radio announcers. A real Yat might pronounce it New OR-lyuns.
I call it La Nouvelle-Orléans because I can and for no other reason. :spin:
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Road Hog on August 17, 2022, 02:28:35 AM
Post by: Road Hog on August 17, 2022, 02:28:35 AM
Found a good one while watching tornado videos: Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: LilianaUwU on August 17, 2022, 02:33:50 AM
Post by: LilianaUwU on August 17, 2022, 02:33:50 AM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on August 15, 2022, 10:54:35 PMQuote from: Urban Prairie Schooner on August 13, 2022, 07:58:53 PMQuote from: rlb2024 on June 19, 2022, 10:36:35 AMQuote from: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AMIt is either New Or-lunz or (for the truly locals) Nawlins. It is never EVER New OrLEENZ if you live here. (Although city is in OrLEENZ Parish -- go figure.)
New Orleans, LA - the locals pronounce "Orleans" with the e silent. I have verified this myself with a coworker who traveled there couple weeks ago.
Nawlins/N'awlins is a tourism/marketing term. Never heard it pronounced that way locally. Most common is New OR-lunz or sometimes New OR-lee-uns, which seems to be more common among radio announcers. A real Yat might pronounce it New OR-lyuns.
I call it La Nouvelle-Orléans because I can and for no other reason. :spin:
I call it that way because that's how it's called in my native language. :bigass:
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Scott5114 on August 17, 2022, 05:32:15 AM
Post by: Scott5114 on August 17, 2022, 05:32:15 AM
Quote from: Road Hog on August 17, 2022, 02:28:35 AM
Found a good one while watching tornado videos: Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
I'd say it's pronounced just like it's spelled–Win-nee-wood.
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania is the one that doesn't pronounce it like it's spelled–Wynne has two silent letters when you pronounce it win.
The rail workers that built that rail line were from Pennsylvania, so many of the sidings, which later grew into towns along US-77, were named after places in Pennsylvania. Ardmore and Paoli are two others.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: hotdogPi on August 17, 2022, 06:32:46 AM
Post by: hotdogPi on August 17, 2022, 06:32:46 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 17, 2022, 05:32:15 AMQuote from: Road Hog on August 17, 2022, 02:28:35 AM
Found a good one while watching tornado videos: Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
I'd say it's pronounced just like it's spelled–Win-nee-wood.
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania is the one that doesn't pronounce it like it's spelled–Wynne has two silent letters when you pronounce it win.
It's a compound word, compound words are typically the sum of their components, and the letter E at the end of a word is typically silent. Compare "pinewood".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: US 89 on August 17, 2022, 08:43:25 AM
Post by: US 89 on August 17, 2022, 08:43:25 AM
Quote from: 1 on August 17, 2022, 06:32:46 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on August 17, 2022, 05:32:15 AMQuote from: Road Hog on August 17, 2022, 02:28:35 AM
Found a good one while watching tornado videos: Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
I'd say it's pronounced just like it's spelled–Win-nee-wood.
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania is the one that doesn't pronounce it like it's spelled–Wynne has two silent letters when you pronounce it win.
It's a compound word, compound words are typically the sum of their components, and the letter E at the end of a word is typically silent. Compare "pinewood".
I would have guessed anything named Wynnewood would be pronounced "win-wood".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: CtrlAltDel on August 17, 2022, 12:37:38 PM
Post by: CtrlAltDel on August 17, 2022, 12:37:38 PM
Quote from: LilianaUwU on August 17, 2022, 02:33:50 AMQuote from: CtrlAltDel on August 15, 2022, 10:54:35 PMQuote from: Urban Prairie Schooner on August 13, 2022, 07:58:53 PMQuote from: rlb2024 on June 19, 2022, 10:36:35 AMQuote from: Techknow on May 28, 2022, 04:13:28 AMIt is either New Or-lunz or (for the truly locals) Nawlins. It is never EVER New OrLEENZ if you live here. (Although city is in OrLEENZ Parish -- go figure.)
New Orleans, LA - the locals pronounce "Orleans" with the e silent. I have verified this myself with a coworker who traveled there couple weeks ago.
Nawlins/N'awlins is a tourism/marketing term. Never heard it pronounced that way locally. Most common is New OR-lunz or sometimes New OR-lee-uns, which seems to be more common among radio announcers. A real Yat might pronounce it New OR-lyuns.
I call it La Nouvelle-Orléans because I can and for no other reason. :spin:
I call it that way because that's how it's called in my native language. :bigass:
Show off! :-D
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: sbeaver44 on August 21, 2022, 06:53:59 PM
Post by: sbeaver44 on August 21, 2022, 06:53:59 PM
How is Towaoc, Colorado pronounced?
Forgive the probable butchering – Toh-WAY-ik?
Forgive the probable butchering – Toh-WAY-ik?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: JayhawkCO on August 21, 2022, 08:45:11 PM
Post by: JayhawkCO on August 21, 2022, 08:45:11 PM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on August 21, 2022, 06:53:59 PM
How is Towaoc, Colorado pronounced?
Forgive the probable butchering – Toh-WAY-ik?
TOE-yock
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: formulanone on August 21, 2022, 09:15:25 PM
Post by: formulanone on August 21, 2022, 09:15:25 PM
Quote from: US 89 on August 17, 2022, 08:43:25 AMQuote from: 1 on August 17, 2022, 06:32:46 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on August 17, 2022, 05:32:15 AMQuote from: Road Hog on August 17, 2022, 02:28:35 AM
Found a good one while watching tornado videos: Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
I'd say it's pronounced just like it's spelled—Win-nee-wood.
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania is the one that doesn't pronounce it like it's spelled—Wynne has two silent letters when you pronounce it win.
It's a compound word, compound words are typically the sum of their components, and the letter E at the end of a word is typically silent. Compare "pinewood".
I would have guessed anything named Wynnewood would be pronounced "win-wood".
Could have sworn the Tiger King pronounced it "win-wood", but he was originally from Miami (the one in Florida), so there may be some inaccuracy there.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kphoger on August 24, 2022, 08:55:08 AM
Post by: kphoger on August 24, 2022, 08:55:08 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 03, 2022, 11:52:42 PM
Canton: Cantin
Ansonia: an-SO-nee-yuh
Haddam: HAD-um
Carmel, NY: CAR-mul
Katonah:kah-TONE-uh
How are these confusing?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: formulanone on August 24, 2022, 09:15:20 AM
Post by: formulanone on August 24, 2022, 09:15:20 AM
1. Founders came from different ethnic backgrounds
2. Founders may have also been illiterate
3. There were only around 26 letters available
4. Mistakes and/or annoying things happen
5. English has been overdue for orthographic reforms for a few centuries
2. Founders may have also been illiterate
3. There were only around 26 letters available
4. Mistakes and/or annoying things happen
5. English has been overdue for orthographic reforms for a few centuries
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 7/8 on August 24, 2022, 10:04:46 AM
Post by: 7/8 on August 24, 2022, 10:04:46 AM
A couple for Ontario:
Ajax (EH-jax)
Delhi (DELL-high) - different from India's "DELL-ee"
Etobicoke (uh-TOE-buh-koe)
Gananoque (GAN-uh-KNOCK-way) - I thought this would be pronounced more like French with silent "ue"
Tecumseh (Tuh-CUM-see)
Vaughan (Vawn)
Ajax (EH-jax)
Delhi (DELL-high) - different from India's "DELL-ee"
Etobicoke (uh-TOE-buh-koe)
Gananoque (GAN-uh-KNOCK-way) - I thought this would be pronounced more like French with silent "ue"
Tecumseh (Tuh-CUM-see)
Vaughan (Vawn)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: hotdogPi on August 24, 2022, 10:10:38 AM
Post by: hotdogPi on August 24, 2022, 10:10:38 AM
Quote from: 7/8 on August 24, 2022, 10:04:46 AM
Vaughan (Vawn)
This one is at least consistent with people who have that as a name.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: frankenroad on August 24, 2022, 04:13:01 PM
Post by: frankenroad on August 24, 2022, 04:13:01 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on August 24, 2022, 10:04:46 AM
Delhi (DELL-high) - different from India's "DELL-ee"
It's pronounced DELL-high in Ohio as well.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 09:41:00 AM
Post by: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 09:41:00 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on August 04, 2022, 01:01:44 AM
Not a town but a county. How do you pronounce Houston, AL? Is it like the city, or like the street in New York?
I don't know, but Houston, DE is like the street in New York.
Newark, DE is "NEW-ark" and Newark, NJ is "NEW-erk". It bugs me when Philadelphia TV newscasters pronounce them the same way.
My wife grinces when I apparently mispronounce Yakima (WA). But her mother (who has lived almost her whole life in Yakima Valley) pronounces Washington "WURSH-ing-ton".
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: JayhawkCO on August 25, 2022, 12:14:20 PM
Post by: JayhawkCO on August 25, 2022, 12:14:20 PM
Quote from: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 09:41:00 AM
My wife grinces when I apparently mispronounce Yakima (WA).
How are you pronouncing it. Ya-KEE-muh?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 01:00:47 PM
Post by: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 01:00:47 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on August 25, 2022, 12:14:20 PMQuote from: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 09:41:00 AM
My wife grinces when I apparently mispronounce Yakima (WA).
How are you pronouncing it. Ya-KEE-muh?
More like YA-kim-ah. Of course, with her having been raised in rural Washington, and my having been raised mainly in Nashville, TN and Newark, DE, we don't pronounce any vowels the same way.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: JayhawkCO on August 25, 2022, 01:02:24 PM
Post by: JayhawkCO on August 25, 2022, 01:02:24 PM
Quote from: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 01:00:47 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on August 25, 2022, 12:14:20 PMQuote from: elsmere241 on August 25, 2022, 09:41:00 AM
My wife grinces when I apparently mispronounce Yakima (WA).
How are you pronouncing it. Ya-KEE-muh?
More like YA-kim-ah. Of course, with her having been raised in rural Washington, and my having been raised mainly in Nashville, TN and Newark, DE, we don't pronounce any vowels the same way.
I definitely say (and hear) YEAH-ki-muh. Doesn't look that different from what you're saying.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: wanderer2575 on August 25, 2022, 01:23:11 PM
Post by: wanderer2575 on August 25, 2022, 01:23:11 PM
How about Belpre, Ohio? Is it pronounced BELL-pray?
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: frankenroad on August 25, 2022, 01:40:43 PM
Post by: frankenroad on August 25, 2022, 01:40:43 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on August 25, 2022, 01:23:11 PM
How about Belpre, Ohio? Is it pronounced BELL-pray?
I've always heard BELL-pree, but I have no idea if that's how the locals say it.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Dirt Roads on August 25, 2022, 03:21:24 PM
Post by: Dirt Roads on August 25, 2022, 03:21:24 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on August 25, 2022, 01:23:11 PM
How about Belpre, Ohio? Is it pronounced BELL-pray?
Quote from: frankenroad on August 25, 2022, 01:40:43 PM
I've always heard BELL-pree, but I have no idea if that's how the locals say it.
Almost correct, it is bell-pree (equal emphasis, although sometimes I've heard more emphasis on the last syllable as bel-PREE). I've got a bunch of relatives there, plus the side of the family that has the "Scooby Doo" connection, as they live in nearby Coolville.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: KCRoadFan on August 25, 2022, 04:09:30 PM
Post by: KCRoadFan on August 25, 2022, 04:09:30 PM
Having read some of the replies about place names in New York State, that makes me think of some other town names in that state that I've sometimes wondered how they're pronounced - namely, Saugerties, Valatie, Skaneateles, Honeoye Falls, Patchogue, Cutchogue, Hauppauge, Center Moriches, Bouckville, and Wappingers Falls. Anyone have any idea regarding how those names are said? Thanks!
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 6a on August 25, 2022, 07:30:41 PM
Post by: 6a on August 25, 2022, 07:30:41 PM
Quote from: OracleUsr on June 19, 2022, 08:22:39 PMI visited Seul Choix quite randomly a couple years ago, you are correct. Also, ran into this guy at the lighthouse
I was up in Michigan about 10 years ago looking for the Seul Choix Point Lighthouse, and I swear someone pronounced it as SISH-wa.
And, Calais, ME, didn't retain its French pronunciation as I would have expected. I heard it pronounced Cal-lis.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220825/a54b56079a8b62d41a58bab07d1dddd4.jpg)
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: 6a on August 25, 2022, 07:36:35 PM
Post by: 6a on August 25, 2022, 07:36:35 PM
Bellefontaine, Ohio. "Bell Fountain"
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: kirbykart on August 26, 2022, 10:38:24 AM
Post by: kirbykart on August 26, 2022, 10:38:24 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on August 25, 2022, 04:09:30 PMI know some of these. Take them with a grain of salt because I could be wrong on a couple. Maybe webny99, vdeane, and/or Rothman could help out, in addition to other NY roadgeeks on this forum.
Having read some of the replies about place names in New York State, that makes me think of some other town names in that state that I've sometimes wondered how they're pronounced - namely, Saugerties, Valatie, Skaneateles, Honeoye Falls, Patchogue, Cutchogue, Hauppauge, Center Moriches, Bouckville, and Wappingers Falls. Anyone have any idea regarding how those names are said? Thanks!
Saugerties- "SAW-gur-tees"
Skaneateles I mentioned on Page 7. It's pronounced the sane way as "Skinny Atlas", with emphasis on the first syllable of atlas.
Honeoye- The same as "Honey eye"
Wappingers Falls- First syllable rhymes with "top". Soft g sound, the rest is self-explanatory.
Title: Re: Towns that are not pronounced as they’re written
Post by: Rothman on August 26, 2022, 12:12:08 PM
Post by: Rothman on August 26, 2022, 12:12:08 PM
Quote from: kirbykart on August 26, 2022, 10:38:24 AMThe pronunciations are available earlier in this thread and elsewhere on the forum. We cover them at least once a year in some form or fashion, it seems.Quote from: KCRoadFan on August 25, 2022, 04:09:30 PMI know some of these. Take them with a grain of salt because I could be wrong on a couple. Maybe webny99, vdeane, and/or Rothman could help out, in addition to other NY roadgeeks on this forum.
Having read some of the replies about place names in New York State, that makes me think of some other town names in that state that I've sometimes wondered how they're pronounced - namely, Saugerties, Valatie, Skaneateles, Honeoye Falls, Patchogue, Cutchogue, Hauppauge, Center Moriches, Bouckville, and Wappingers Falls. Anyone have any idea regarding how those names are said? Thanks!
Saugerties- "SAW-gur-tees"
Skaneateles I mentioned on Page 7. It's pronounced the sane way as "Skinny Atlas", with emphasis on the first syllable of atlas.
Honeoye- The same as "Honey eye"
Wappingers Falls- First syllable rhymes with "top". Soft g sound, the rest is self-explanatory.