PRONUNCIATION OF |
Spelling | Pronunciation | |
La Jolla, Southern California | La Hoy-er John La Jolla, CA is pronounced more like M. C. Potter | |
Lachlan (Tasmania) | Lack-lan Rozzie Chapman or Lock-lan – certainly the river in New South Eric | |
Lafayette, Georgia: USA | luh-FAY-et M. Johansson | |
Launceston | Lawnston Lanson or Lawnson Andrew Nott | |
Launceston (Tasmania) | Lon-ces-ton Mark | |
Leadenham, Lincolnshire. | Led’nam Phil | |
Leicester | Lester | |
Leigh (Kent) | Lie Faye Davies | |
Leigh (Surrey) | Lie Stuart | |
Leigh (Lancs) | Lee John Brookes | |
Leominster | Lemster | |
Lewes, East Sussex | Loowis Jon Bold | |
Lincoln | Lincon Anna Bland | |
Linthwaite (near Huddersfield) | Linfit Francis Taylor | |
Little Weighton | Little Weeton Philip | |
Lobethal, South Australia
| low-be-thool, lobeth-all. NOT Lobeth-al or Lobe-taal. This really bothers us locals. Rachel | |
Lodi, Wisconsin | LOW-dye Karen | |
Loose | Looz Cathi | |
Loughborough | Luff-br Sally | |
Louisiana
| loo-EEZ-ee-AN-a (like “easy”), but most locals say loozy-anna. Mel Johansson | |
Lower Peover (Cheshire) | Lower Peever Philip | |
Lowestoft | Lowstuff Robert I think | |
Mallala, South Australia
| MAL-uh-lar Rachel | |
Malmesbury | Marmsberry Thanks | |
Malvern (suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) | in Adelaide it’s pronounced Mulven but in Melbourne it’s pronounced Mallven Peter G | |
Malvern, Worcestershire | Mulven Contributed | |
Manangatang, Victoria, Australia
| ma-NANG-ga-tang
manang-atang Rachel and | |
Manea (Cambridgeshire) | May-nee Sheila | |
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 | |
Marske by the Sea, N.Yorkshire | Mask (with a short ‘a’ as in apple) Stuart | |
Mazomanie, Wisconsin | MAZE-oh-MAY-knee Karen | |
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Mel-bn Peter G | |
Meols, Wirral (Cheshire) | Mels Chris Lynch | |
Meols Cop, Southport | Meels Cop Chris Lynch | |
Meopham | Mepam Sent Mepp-em Andrew Moore | |
Midhurst | Middust Paul Haden I | |
Mildenhall (Wilthsire) | Minal (to rhyme with spinal) David | |
Milngavie | Milgi (as in guy) Sent by | |
Milton Keynes | Milton Keens | |
Mobile, Alabama, USA | MO-beel M. Johansson | |
Moe, Victoria, Australia
| mow-ee Rachel | |
Moggil Moggil (New South Wales) | MOE-gill ma-GILL Rozzie Chapman | |
Moggil, Queensland, Australia | Mog-il (short o). Eric | |
Montgomery, Alabama USA | locally pronounced mun-GUM-ry M. Johansson | |
Mousehole | Mowzel Ben Vizard Massal Philip | |
Munno Para, South Australia | MUNna parra Rachel | |
Minot, North Dakota USA | MY-not (rhymes with “why not”) M. Johansson | |
Nailstone, Leicestershire
| Nelsun (may just be locals) Sian Mitchell | |
Nechells, Birmingham | Nee-chells Janet Horton | |
Newcastle | New-carsel or New-cassel Peter | |
New Norfolk (Tasmania) | New Nor-foke or Norfick Rozzie Chapman | |
New Orleans | New OR-lee-unz but most locals say nawlins Mel Johansson | |
Noarlunga, South Australia
| NOR-lung-ga NOT Rachel | |
Norwich | NORRich Maggie | |
Nottingham (Notts)
| Nott’num John Brookes (I think | |
Old Marston (Oxford) | Old Marsden Jimbo | |
Olney, Bucks. | OHnee Mark | |
Oswaldtwistle | Ozzul-twizzle Anthony Draper | |
Owston, Leicestershire | Ooston Phil | |
Paignton | Painton | |
Paoli, Wisconsin | 2 real live residents: one says pay-OH-lee, the other PEE-oh-lye. Karen | |
Penicuik near Edinburgh, Scotland | PennyCook It comes from the Welsh Pen-y-cok, meaning Kate | |
Penistone | Penny -stun Peter | |
Plaistow (village in West Sussex)
Plaistow, Derbyshire Plaistow, London Plaistow, Kent | Plass-toe Andrew Brooke PLAY-stow PLAA-stow or PLASS-tow PLAA-stow or PLAY-stow, | |
Pooraka, South Australia
| p’RAK-uh Rachel | |
Potter Heigham (Norfolk) | Potter Ham Derek Appleyard | |
Poughkeepsie (NY) | PerKIPPsy Michael Poo-kipp-see Thanks to Ian for Nobody says poo-kip-see. I get that Mel Johansson | |
Pumpkin Center | Punkin Center Tyler | |
Rainworth (Nottinghamshire) | Rennuth John Stolarski Rainworth, is Phil | |
Ratlinghope, Shropshire
| Ratchup C. Smith | |
Rawtenstall | Rottenstorl Peter Draggett | |
Redcar, N. Yorkshire | Red Car & Red C’ (as in the child pronunciation of C for Cat) depending on where exactly in the local area you are from. Stuart | |
Reading | Redding Jan Müller | |
Reigate | Ryegate | |
Reynella, South Australia
| ruh-NELL-uh Rachel | |
Robeson County, NC | Robbeson There’s no “robe” in it. M. Johansson | |
Rolleston, Nottinghamshire. Rolleston, Canterbury, | Rollston Phil We also have a Rolleston in Canterbury, New Zealand which I believe should Colin Dunn | |
Rothwell (Northamptonshire) Sometimes written Rowell | Roll John | |
Rotherham, South Yorkshire | Rotherum | |
Ruislip
| Ryeslip Sent | |
Rushden (Northamptonshire) | Ruzh-dun John | |
Rushton (Northamptonshire) | Rush-Tonn (emphasis on 2nd syllable) John | |
Ruthvoes (Cornwall) | Ruthers Andrew Nott | |
Salford (Gtr Mcr)
| SOLLf’d John Brookes (I think | |
Salisbury, England Salisbury, South | Sawlsbry Rachel | |
Sandwith, Cumbria | sannuth Foggy | |
Scalford, Leicestershire | Skawlford Phil | |
Schenectady, New York | SkinEKTerdy Michael | |
Scone, Perth, Scotland | Skoon | |
Sedlescombe, East Sussex | Sellzkm
| |
Shrewsbury | Shrowsberry From OR Shroosbury Mike | |
Sioux, in any place name (e.g., Sioux City, Iowa) | sue M. Johansson | |
Skaneateles, New York | Skinny-ATTerlees Michael Murphy OR Skinny-AT-less Robin Smith | |
Slaithwaite (near Huddersfield) | “Slawit” Philip There are three “Slay-thwait”, “Slath-wait” and “Slawit” as in “Slough-it”!! (Slough David Union | |
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 | |
Somerby | Summerby Phil | |
South Croxton, Leicestershire
| South Crow Sun (Crow like the bird not a group of people) Sian Mitchell | |
Southwark | Suthuk | |
Southwell | Suthall Ellena Lyons although there is much local debate with some The pronunciation of Southwell Phil | |
South Witham | South With-ham Phil | |
St. Leonards, Sussex | Snt Lenards | |
St. Neots | Saint Near-ts Andrew Moore | |
St. Osyth | Toosee (This could be a | |
Staithes, Yorkshire | Stayths Mandy Steers (by locals) Stuart | |
Stawell (Somerset) | Stall Derek Appleyard | |
Steyning | Stening | |
Stiffkey (Norfolk)
| Stewkey Philip | |
Stoughton, Leicestershire | Stoeton Jed Bland | |
Strathaven | Straven Contributed | |
Sydenham, South London | Sidnum or Sidnaam Will | |
Tchesinkut Lake, NW British Columbia | Te-sink-ut N.B. A native Indian Bev | |
Teigh (Rutland) | Tee Sian Mitchell | |
Teston (Kent ) | Tees’n Andrew | |
Tettenhall (near Wolverhampton | Teknor Mike I disagree with the Keith I grew up there and Dave | |
Thebarton, South Australia | Thebarton (NOT The Barton) Belinda | |
Tobaccoville, USA | tuh-BAK-uh-vl The M. Johansson | |
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Twoom-bah Peter G Gleeson, BA (Macq) | |
Tottenham, London | Tottnam | |
Tucson, Arizona | TOO-sahn M. Johansson | |
Towcester | Toaster Sometimes pronounced with the first syllable Martin | |
Tow Law, County Durham | Tow Lah Peter | |
Traquair House, Scotland | Trah-kerr | |
Trottiscliffe (Kent) | Trosley Andrew Your site states Trottiscliffe in Aaron After https://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A19773499 Further I think the problem here is a As I said it is just a technical
| |
Truro | Tru-row Peter | |
Tucson, Arizona | TOO-sahn M. Johansson | |
Tupelo,
| TOOple-oh Mel Johansson | |
Ulgham (Northumberland) … | uffam Peter | |
Upper Peover (Cheshire) | Upper Peever Philip | |
Urchfont (Nr. Devizes, Wilts) | Ushant Keith | |
Uttoxeter, Staffordshire | Uttoxeter in Staffordshire is pronounced Oot-oxeter where the first syllable rhymes with “foot”, not Yew-toxeter. In fact it’s traditionally pronounced “oot-cheter”. This is how my dad says it and the following website says Geoffrey Manners Cavendish, former owner of Crakemarsh Hall, says a posher version “Axeter”
Nathaniel | |
Wagga Wagga (New South Wales) | Wogga (second Wagga is normally omitted) Rozzie Chapman If the second Wagga is not omitted, Eric | |
Walcha (New South Wales) | Wol-ka Rozzie Champan | |
Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia | War-na-bool Peter G Gleeson, BA (Macq) | |
Warwick | Warrick Anna Bland | |
Wednesbury, West Midlands | Wensbury Robert J. | |
Welwyn | Wellin Andrew Moore | |
Weymouth, Dorset | Waymuth | |
Whitwick | Wittik Sent in by Sheila Fox | |
Wickhambreaux | Wickem-brew Ken Dryden | |
Wigan, Lancs. | Wiggin John Brookes (I think | |
Wildboarclough, Cheshire | Wilbercluff (local pronunciation) | |
Woolfardisworthy (Devon) | Woolsery Philip | |
Worcester
| Wooster (as in Wood and Good) | |
Worle | Wurl James | |
Wrotham | Rootam Sent Rootm Derek | |
Wudinna, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
| wood-na NOT “woo-dinner” or variations Rachel and | |
Wybunbury (Cheshire) | wimberry RS | |
Wymondham, Norwich | Windam Philip | |
Wymondham, Leicestershire | Why-mund-ham Phil | |
Yachats, Oregon, USA. | Ya-hots Paul Marshall | |
Yatala, South Australia
| YAT-la Rachel |
A
BIT OF FUN AND OTHER INTERESTING SNIPPETS
How ’bout Truth or
Consequences, New Mexico. It’s named after a 1950s TV game show. Its
former name was Hot Springs*
Curtis
Croulet
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
“Menzies” (a Scottish clan and castle) – pronounced “MING-iss”
“Pitjantjatjara“,
which is actually a tribe – pronounced “pigeon-jar-uh”
Rachel and Mum