|
PRONUNCIATION OF
PLACE NAMES In the U.K. there are
many towns and villages with strange sounding names and, in some cases,
these names are not said as they are spelled, which causes a great deal of
confusion for visitors. Now I am sure this is not only a British
phenomenon, there must be similar examples around the world, so if you
know of any please send them to me (click here)
so they can be added to this page.
There will obviously also be differences with
pronunciation from area to area, as there are always many different
dialects within any country.
In the U.K. one of the most common
differences is in words like "castle" and
"grass". Some areas say a short "a" sound (as in
the word "as") whereas others say a long "aaarrr"
sound (as in the word "chart"). This means that places
like "Bath" can be said as spelled or "Barth".
An example of this can be found with "Chippenham",
which one of my newsletter subscribers kindly sent to me as being
pronounced as "Chipnam". This, I feel, is the way it is
said in the West of Britain whereas, in the South I think we are more
likely to say it as it is spelled i.e., "Chip-en-ham".
The actual pronunciation is not going to be
easy to explain but I will try to do it phonetically, it will, however,
rely on visitors knowing a little about the English language.
As an added dimension to this page I have
decided to include some links to other sites giving specific information
on the places mentioned.
|
Spelling |
|
Pronunciation |
|
|
|
|
|
Albany, Western Australia
|
|
Al-bany NOT All-bany.
Eric
|
|
Aldinga, South Australia
|
|
Al-dinga (not All-dinga)
Belinda
Whoops,
another difference of opinion! Aldinga
in South Australia is DEFINITELY pronounced ALL-dinga not AL-dinga (as
in pronunciation of Alan). In fact it was a running joke in south aust
because an interstate company were advertising land for sale there and
pronounced it as 'AL-dinga' - people couldn't believe an interstate
company that wanted to sell something to locals hadn't bothered to
check the pronunciation of the place name.. Holly
|
| Alfreton |
|
Olfreton
(although some disagree)
Ellena
Lyons |
| Allerton,
Bradford, West Yorkshire |
|
Ollerton
Jeremy
Double |
| Alnmouth |
|
Allenmouth
Martin
Capps |
| Alnwick
(Northumberland) |
|
Anic
Martin
Capps |
| Alresford |
|
Alls-fid
Peter |
| Althorp
(where Princess Diana is buried) |
|
The
village is pronounced Olthorpe but the House is pronounced Orltrop (notice the
reversal of the O and the R!)
Martin
Underwood |
| Amlwch
- Anglesey |
|
Am-look
Andrew
Moore |
| Ardingly
(Sussex) |
|
Ardingl-eye
Joan
Hall |
| Arlesey |
|
Arll-Zee
Andrew
Moore |
| Aspatria |
|
Spi'atry (by some)
Richard
Tosswill |
| Averham,
Nottinghamshire |
|
Air-rum
Phil |
| Bamburgh
(Northumberland) |
|
Bambruff
Ben
Vizard
Bambro
Martin
Underwood |
|
Barnoldswick (Lancashire) |
|
Barlick
Mark Iliff
Barnoldswick (as spelled)
Martin Underwood
Barnoldswick is not pronounced Barlick. Barlick
is just a contraction of Barnoldswick.
Ken Ranson
|
|
Basket Range, South Australia |
|
Basket
Range
(Bas - as in Cash not Barsket)
Belinda
|
|
Beaconsfield
(information) |
|
Bekonsfield
|
|
Beaulieu |
|
Bewley
Philip
|
| Bedworth |
|
Bedduth
Anna
Bland |
| Belvoir |
|
Beever
Sent in by Sheila Fox |
| Berwick
on Tweed
(information) |
|
Berik
on Tweed |
| Bicester
(information) |
|
Bister
Sent
in By Brenda Young |
| Billesdon,
Leicestershire |
|
Billsdon
Phil |
| Blackley,
Greater Manchester |
|
Blakely
Peter
Draggett |
|
Blidworth
(Nottinghamshire) |
|
Blidduth
John
Stolarski
Blidworth, is
NORMALLY pronounced (by the vast majority of locals) as Blid-worth. Phil |
| Bolsover
(Derbyshire) |
|
Baa-zer
John
Stolarski |
| Bradwell
|
|
Bradl
Liza
Hicks |
| Braughing
(Hertfordshire) |
|
Braff-ing
Janet Horton |
| |
|
|
| Brewood,
South Staffs near Wolverhampton |
|
Brood
Keith
Sedgley |
| Cairns
(Queensland) |
|
Cans
Rozzie Chapman |
| Canowindra
(New South Wales) |
|
Ca-NOWN-dra
Rozzie Chapman |
|
Chedzoy in
Somerset |
|
Chedzee
Derek Appleyard |
|
Chili, N.Y. |
|
Cheye-lye (both
syllables rhyme.)
Karen
Zethmayr |
|
Chippenham (see
comments at top of page)
(information) |
|
Chipnam (locally)
Sent by Ann Cook
Chipenum
James Bruton |
| Cholmondeston,
Cheshire |
|
Chumston |
| Cholmondley |
|
Chumly
Bob Moon |
| Chop Gate
(North Yorkshire) |
|
Chopyat
Steve Watson |
| Cirencester |
|
As
far as I know, this is the only "-cester" name to be pronounced as
spelled: bearing in mind Gloucester, Leicester and Towcester), though I
believe an obsolete pronunciation is Siss(i)ter (with or without the I in the
centre)
Martin
Underwood |
| Cley
(Norfolk) |
|
Cly (as
in fly)
Philip |
| Cogenhoe |
|
Cook-no
Jacqueline
Olford & Tony White |
| Congresbury
(information) |
|
Congsbree
Simon
Coonsberry
|
| Cowbit,
Cambridgeshire. |
|
Cubbit
Phil
|
| Croughton,
S. Northants. |
|
Crowton (rhyming with cow) OR
Crowton (rhyming with crow)
Robert J.
Croton
|
| |
|
|
| Daresbury (Cheshire)
|
|
Darsberry
RS
|
| Darwen,
Lancs
|
|
Darren
Peter Draggett
|
| Derby |
|
Darbie
Jörg Müller |
| Dunwich (Suffolk) |
|
Dunij
Jimbo |
| Eaglesfield |
|
Egglesfield
Richard Tosswill |
| Earley,
Berkshire. |
|
Erlee
Hamnet
Quinn |
| Esher |
|
Eesher
Philip |
| Etchilhampton
(near Devizes Wilts) |
|
Eyeshalton
Keith
Lewis |
| Ewell |
|
Yoo-all
Peter |
| Eyam
(Peak District) |
|
Eem
Martin
Capps |
| Flitwick |
|
Flitick
Gary Ware |
| Forster,
New South Wales |
|
Foster
Belinda |
| Fowey
(Cornwall) |
|
Foy
Andrew
Nott
Fwoy (Cornish pronunciation)
Keith
Lewis |
| Fremantle,
Western Australia |
|
Fre-MANTel, NOT FREE-mantel
Eric |
| Frome
(information) |
|
Froom |
| Furneux
Pelham (Hertfordshire) |
|
Fir-nooks pellum
Janet Horton |
|
|
|
| Gallipolis,
Ohio |
|
GAL-uh-puh-LEECE
Sounds like "Gal a police."
Gary
Rector |
| Gamaliel,
Missouri |
|
Ga-mail-ya
Tyler
Pruett |
| Gillingham,
Kent
|
|
Jillingham
|
| Gillingham, Norfolk & Dorset |
|
Gillingham (hard sounding "g" as in
girl)
Rebecca
MacMillan
|
| Gloucester
(information) |
|
Gloster |
| Goatacre
near Lyneham, Wilts |
|
Goadoccur
Keith
Lewis |
|
Godmanchester
(Cambs.) |
|
Gumster
(old pronunciation)
Philip
Robinson |
|
Goonoo Goonoo (New South Wales) |
|
Gunna Ga-NOO
Rozzie Chapman |
|
Gorinchem (Netherlands)
|
|
Horkem
Andrew Nott |
|
Gotham, Nottinghamshire
|
|
Goat'am
Phil |
|
Greenwich
(information)
|
|
Grenich
Grinnitch
JD
|
|
Greenwith, South Australia |
|
Grenith
Belinda
|
|
Greysouthen |
|
Graysoon
Richard Tosswill
|
| Groby |
|
Grooby
Sent in by Sheila Fox
|
| Grosmont,
North Yorkshire |
|
Grow-mont
Peter
Draggett |
|
Guisborough |
|
Gizbrur or geezbrur
|
|
Happisburgh
(Norfolk) |
|
Hazeborough
Moray
Smith
|
|
Harewood (between Leeds and Harrogate) |
|
Harewood
- locals
Har-wood (upper class/gentry)
Martin
Underwood
|
| Harrogate |
|
Ha-rughget
- locals
Rod Bell
|
| Hawick (Scottish
Borders) |
|
Hoyk
Peter
Neale
|
| |
|
|
| Hertford
(Hertfordshire) |
|
Har-fud (by
some)
Janet Horton
|
| Heather |
|
Heether
Sent in by Sheila Fox
|
| Hellingly |
|
Hellingl-eye
Joan Hall
|
| Hessle |
|
Hezzle
Philip
|
| Heysham,
Nr. Morecambe |
|
Hee-Shum
or Hee-Sham
Andrew
Moore
|
| Hoddesdon
(Hertfordshire) |
|
Hods-dun
Janet Horton
|
| Holme,
Nottinghamshire |
|
Home
Phil
|
| Horsted
Keynes |
|
Horsted
Canes
Faye
Davies
|
| Hunstanton
(Norfolk) |
|
Hunston
Keith
Lewis
|
| Keadby
|
|
Kidbee
Contributed by Eric Bishop
|
| Keighley
(Yorkshire) |
|
Keethley
Jimbo
|
| Keswick
(information) |
|
Kezik |
|
Kettering
(Northamptonshire) |
|
Ke'-rin
Apostrophe indicated glottal stop*
John
Stolarski |
| Keynsham
(information) |
|
Kaneshum |
|
La Jolla, Southern California |
|
La Hoy-er
John
Harris
|
|
Lachlan (Tasmania) |
|
Lack-lan
Rozzie Chapman
or Lock-lan - certainly the river in New South
Wales is the latter.
Eric
|
|
Launceston
(UK)
(information) |
|
Lawnston
Lanson or Lawnson
Andrew Nott
|
|
Launceston (Tasmania) |
|
Lon-ces-ton
Mark
Addison
|
|
Leadenham, Lincolnshire. |
|
Led'nam
Phil
|
|
Leicester
(information) |
|
Lester
|
|
Leigh (Kent) |
|
Lie
Faye Davies |
| Leominster
(information) |
|
Lemster |
| Lewes,
East Sussex |
|
Loowis
Jon Bold
|
| Lincoln |
|
Lincon
Anna Bland |
| Little Weighton |
|
Little Weeton
Philip |
| Lodi,
Wisconsin |
|
LOW-dye
Karen
Zethmayr |
| Loose
|
|
Looz
Cathi |
| Loughborough
|
|
Luff-br
Sally
Pomfrey |
|
Lower Peover (Cheshire) |
|
Lower Peever
Philip |
|
Lowestoft |
|
Lowstuff
Robert
Johnson
I think
this could be an example of local dialect as here in the South of England it
is usually pronounced as written i.e. Lo-es-toft |
| Malvern
(information) |
|
Mulven
Contributed
by Gary Lewis. |
| Malmesbury
(information) |
|
Marmsberry
Thanks
to Ann Cook |
| Manea (Cambridgeshire) |
|
May-nee
Sheila
Jones |
| Market
Weighton |
|
Market
Weeton
Philip |
| Marlborough |
|
Town
is pronounced as spelled (first syllable to rhyme with market) but public
school is pronounced Morlbro or Mawlbro
Martin
Underwood |
| Mazomanie,
Wisconsin |
|
MAZE-oh-MAY-knee
Karen
Zethmayr |
| |
|
|
| Meols,
Wirral (Cheshire) |
|
Mels
Chris Lynch |
| Meols
Cop, Southport |
|
Meels
Cop
Chris Lynch |
| Meopham
|
|
Mepam
Sent
in by Peter Holman
Mepp-em
Andrew Moore |
|
Mildenhall
(Wilthsire) |
|
Minal
(to rhyme with spinal)
David
James Jones sent in this one |
| Milngavie
(information) |
|
Milgi
(as in guy)
Sent by
Bernard Friar & Sandy Henry |
| Milton Keynes
(information) |
|
Milton Keens |
| Moggil
Moggil (New South Wales) |
|
MOE-gill
ma-GILL
Rozzie Chapman |
| Moggil,
Queensland, Australia |
|
Mog-il (short
o).
Eric |
| Mousehole |
|
Mowzel
Ben Vizard
Massal
Philip |
| Nechells, Birmingham |
|
Nee-chells
Janet Horton |
| Newcastle
|
|
New-carsel or New-cassel
Peter
Draggett |
| New Norfolk
(Tasmania)
|
|
New Nor-foke or Norfick
Rozzie Chapman |
| Old
Marston (Oxford) |
|
Old Marsden
Jimbo |
| Owston,
Leicestershire |
|
Ooston
Phil |
| Paignton
|
|
Painton |
| Paoli, Wisconsin |
|
2 real live residents:
one says pay-OH-lee, the other PEE-oh-lye.
Karen
Zethmayr |
| Penistone |
|
Penny
-stun
Peter |
| Potter
Heigham (Norfolk) |
|
Potter Ham
Derek Appleyard |
| Poughkeepsie
(NY)
(information) |
|
Poo-kipp-see
Thanks to Ian for
this gem |
| Pumpkin
Center |
|
Punkin Center
Tyler
Pruett |
| Rainworth
(Nottinghamshire) |
|
Rennuth
John Stolarski
Rainworth, is
NORMALLY pronounced (by the vast majority of locals) as Rain-worth. Phil |
| Rawtenstall |
|
Rottenstorl
Peter Draggett |
| Reading |
|
Redding
Jan Müller |
| Reigate
(information) |
|
Ryegate |
| Rolleston,
Nottinghamshire. |
|
Rollston
Phil |
| Rothwell
(Northamptonshire)
Sometimes written Rowell |
|
Roll
John
Stolarski |
| Ruislip
(information) |
|
Ryeslip
Sent
in by David laver |
| Rushden
(Northamptonshire) |
|
Ruzh-dun
John
Stolarski |
| Rushton
(Northamptonshire) |
|
Rush-Tonn
(emphasis on 2nd syllable)
John
Stolarski |
| Ruthvoes
(Cornwall) |
|
Ruthers
Andrew Nott |
| Salisbury
(information) |
|
Sawlsbry |
|
|
|
| Sandwith,
Cumbria
|
|
sannuth
Foggy |
| Scalford,
Leicestershire |
|
Skawlford
Phil |
| Shrewsbury
|
|
Shrowsberry
From
Ann Cook
OR Shroosbury Mike
Lea-Wilson Although
as Mike Lea-Wilson has kindly pointed out even the locals cannot agree on
how it should be pronounced - more
information. |
| Slaithwaite
(near Huddersfield)
|
|
"Slawit"
(short 'a' of course)
Philip
Robinson |
| Slaugham
|
|
Slofam |
| Slough
|
|
Slow (to rhyme with how/now)
Janet Horton |
| Smethwick
(West Midlands) |
|
Smeth-ick
(most commonly)
Sme-rick amongst older Black Country speakers.
Janet Horton |
| Southwark
(information) |
|
Suthuk |
| Southwell |
|
Suthall
Ellena Lyons
although there is much local debate with some
people still saying Southwell.
The pronunciation of Southwell
has been bastardised over the past 30 years. My wife was born there; her
family go back donkeys years in Southwell [In fact the original "Bramley"
apple tree still stands in the garden of what was originally one or her
relatives] and until I was about 25, neither her nor I had ever heard it
called "Suthell". Whilst this IS now a common used
pronunciation of Southwell, (mainly due to radio & TV media), a lot of old
South-wellians will spit in your face if you say "Suthell" to them!
I fear that thanks to the media, this is one town that will lose its original
pronunciation. Phil |
| South
Witham |
|
South
With-ham
Phil |
| St Neots |
|
Saint Near-ts
Andrew Moore |
| St. Osyth
(information) |
|
Toosee
(This could be a
nickname rather than actual pronunciation and was sent in by Liza Hicks.) |
| Staithes,
Yorkshire |
|
Stayths
Mandy
Gsell |
| Stawell
(Somerset)
|
|
Stall
Derek Appleyard |
| Steyning
|
|
Stening |
| Stiffkey
(Norfolk)
|
|
Stewkey
Philip |
| Strathaven
|
|
Straven
Contributed
by Sandy Henry |
| Somerby
|
|
Summerby
Phil |
| Sydenham,
South London
|
|
Sidnum
or Sidnaam
Will
Millinship |
|
Teston
(Kent )
|
|
Tees'n
Andrew
Smith |
|
Tettenhall
(near Wolverhampton
|
|
Teknor
Mike
I disagree with the
above: Tettenhall is correctly pronounced as written.
Keith
Sedgley |
| Thebarton,
South Australia |
|
Thebarton (NOT The Barton)
Belinda |
| Towcester
(information) |
|
Toaster
Sometimes pronounced with the first syllable
rhyming with "now", probably in an attempt to make the place sound
less like a kitchen appliance!
Martin
Underwood
|
| Tow Law,
County Durham |
|
Tow Lah
Peter
Draggett
|
| Traquair
House, Scotland |
|
Trah-kerr
|
| Trottiscliffe
(Kent) |
|
Trosley
Andrew
Smith
|
| Truro |
|
Tru-row
Peter
Draggett
|
| Ulgham (Northumberland)
... |
|
uffam
Peter
Neale
|
| Upper Peover (Cheshire) |
|
Upper Peever
Philip
|
| Urchfont
(Nr. Devizes, Wilts) |
|
Ushant
Keith
Lewis |
Wagga
Wagga
(New South Wales) |
|
Wogga
(second Wagga is normally omitted)
Rozzie Chapman
If the second Wagga is not omitted,
it is pronounced the same as the first.
Eric |
| Walcha (New South
Wales) |
|
Wol-ka
Rozzie Champan |
| Warwick |
|
Warrick
Anna Bland |
|
|
|
| Wednesbury,
West Midlands |
|
Wensbury
Robert J.
Croton |
| Welwyn |
|
Wellin
Andrew Moore |
| Whitwick |
|
Wittik
Sent in by Sheila Fox |
|
|
|
| Wildboarclough,
Cheshire |
|
Wilbercluff
(local pronunciation) |
| Woolfardisworthy
(Devon)
(information) |
|
Woolsery
Philip
Robinson |
| Worcester
(information) |
|
Wooster
(as in Wood and Good) |
| Worle |
|
Wurl
James
Bruton |
| Wrotham
(information) |
|
Rootam
Sent
in by Cathi |
| Wybunbury
(Cheshire) |
|
wimberry
RS |
| Wymondham,
Norwich |
|
Windam
Philip |
| Wymondham,
Leicestershire |
|
Why-mund-ham
Phil |
|
Other
web sites covering British villages. |
* A
glottal stop is a speech sound articulated by a momentary, complete closing
of the glottis in the back of the throat. Glottal stops occur in many
languages and usually pattern as consonants. A
BIT OF FUN
How 'bout Truth or
Consequences, New Mexico. It's named after a 1950s TV game show. Its
former name was Hot Springs* Curtis
Croulet Why
did Hot Springs change it's name to Truth and Consequences?
Another US place name that's
pronounced as spelled, but it's the why that's colorful: Plum Nelly Georgia,
near the Tennessee border is so named because it's Plum out of Tennessee and
"nelly" out of Georgia. Karen
Zethmayr
|
