Weird Pronounciations

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 28th, 2002 | 06:24 AM

#21

Suzy

Guest

Posts: n/a

Actually, in recognition of its impressive per-capita income, Duxbury MA is now pronounced "Deluxe-bury."

May 28th, 2002 | 06:51 AM

#22

Muumi

Guest

Posts: n/a

When I lived in Toronto, a visitor from Quebec became hysterical with laughter on learning that Roncesvalles Ave. is pronounced Ron-sis-veils. I pointed out that this was a Polish neighbourhood and mangled English too. Geoffrey St. was pronounced Joff-ree. You could tell a new streetcar driver by the "Jeff-ree" pronunciation. But my favourite is Avoch, Scotland, which I was surprised to learn is pronounced "och" to rhyme with loch. What happened to the Av?

May 28th, 2002 | 07:41 AM

#23

Sean

Guest

Posts: n/a

to the top

May 28th, 2002 | 07:46 AM

#24

elaine

Guest

Posts: n/a

and in New Orleans, isn't it Bur GUN dy Street, and Chartres St is "Chart-ers"? Then of course, here in NYC we have Houston St pronounced How-stun, not to be confused with the city in Texas that is spelled the same but pronounced Hew-stun.

May 28th, 2002 | 08:18 AM

#25

CARMENR

Guest

Posts: n/a

In Maine, we have almost every European country name used as names of towns. However, Moscow is pronounced Moscoe.

May 28th, 2002 | 09:36 AM

#26

Paul

Guest

Posts: n/a

Nebraska: Plattsmouth="Platts-mith" Louisville="Louisville" (not like the one in Kentucky) Norfolk= "Nor-fork" Kearney= "Car-nee" Beatrice- "Bee-at-truss" with the accent on "Bee" Iowa: Des Moines="Duh-moin" not "Dez-moinz" Maine: Bangor="Bang-gore" not "Bang-or" or "Bang-er" Oregon: The Dalles="The Dals" South Dakota: The capitol, Pierre="Pier" Lead="Leed" Virginia: N orfolk="Naw-fick" Washington: Puyallup="Poo-yall-up" Wyoming: Dubois="Doo-boyz" Louisiana: Houma=Darned if I know... Michigan: Sault Ste Marie="Sue Saint Marie"

May 28th, 2002 | 09:37 AM

#27

Sue

Guest

Posts: n/a

In Texas Madrid is MAD-rid, but then Texas is replete with strange pronunciations: Refugio = Ree-FYOOR-ee-oh Mexia = Muh-HAY-uh Bexar = Bare Lamesa = Luh-MEE-suh DeLeon = DEE-lee-on Palestine = PAL-us-tee Elgin = EL-gun Lake Buchanan = Buck-AN-un And here in Las Vegas, it's Nuh-vad-uh, not Nuh-vah-dah (also easy to spot new newscasters from out-of-state).

May 28th, 2002 | 09:53 AM

#28

elvira

Guest

Posts: n/a

A few more from Massachusetts: Holyoke (hoy yolk); Indian Orchard (inneeyunor cherd); Amherst (am urst - in New York, it's pronounced am herst); South Hadley (sow thaddlee). And you can always tell a new guy 'cause he says "north hampton" not "nor thampton". Then you get into the Indian names, and all is lost...

May 28th, 2002 | 10:00 AM

#29

Suzy

Guest

Posts: n/a

And the true tests for newbie Boston TV and radio announcers: Woburn (Woo-burn) and Haverhill (Hayv-rill).

May 28th, 2002 | 10:07 AM

#30

Suzy

Guest

Posts: n/a

On second thought, Woburn is actually Woo-b'n.

May 28th, 2002 | 11:03 AM

#31

lisa

Guest

Posts: n/a

Iraan, Texas is pronounced "Ira - An"

May 28th, 2002 | 11:15 AM

#32

Wayne

Guest

Posts: n/a

Guess I'll throw in the one in Louisiana that I think just about tops the list, but first, for the earlier poster, Houma in Louisiana is "Home-ah." Now, for the one that takes the cake, try your pronunciation of Natchitoches, oldest settled city in the entire Louisiana Purchase. Give up? It's pronounced "NAK-a-tosh."

May 28th, 2002 | 11:50 AM

#33

xxx

Guest

Posts: n/a

Hawick in Scotland- Hoik Jedburgh in Scotland- Jedhart st. boswells in Scotland- boasals

May 28th, 2002 | 12:12 PM

#34

Barb

Guest

Posts: n/a

Georgia: LaFayette--luh FAY' et Houston County--same as NY--house-ton Albany--all BIN' ee Florida: Matlacha--matt luh SHAY'

May 28th, 2002 | 12:14 PM

#35

Guest

Posts: n/a

In Mass: Billerica = "Bill Ricker" Lima, Ohio = "Lie-ma" Chili, NY = "Chigh-ligh" Chicago re

treet names: "Goethe" = "Go-thee" "Mozart" = "Moe-zart" WHole state of Wisconsin is "Wi-Scons'n" But for those in UK: how do you pronounce "Slough"?

May 28th, 2002 | 12:37 PM

#36

Sheila

Guest

Posts: n/a

Slough is to rhyme with plough; where as a snakes sloughs (sluffs) off its skin. There are people up there confusing pronunication with local names (which is OK- it's fun) like Anstruther and Ainster. But two good Scots ones are Milngavie- Millguy Garioch-Geeree On the local/pronunciation split, there's a village near here called Auchleven. Pronounced Premnay (it's the parish name, but it doesn't half confuse the incomers)

May 28th, 2002 | 12:40 PM

#37

Paul

Guest

Posts: n/a

May 28th, 2002 | 01:28 PM

#38

Clueless

Guest

Posts: n/a

Okay, if it's not Sue Saint Marie and Duh Moin, someone please tell me the right way to say it! Also, is Mos-coe wrong? That's how the Beatles said it "the Mos-coe girls really knock me out, they leave the west behind..." Thanks : )