# Are any English/American place names funny to foreigners? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195 "2005-08-08T22:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195/21 "2005-08-09T21:20:04Z")
> [@tiltypig](#): > > I still don’t know if the pronunciation “At-lan-tuh” means something dirty in Thai, or what, but the driver seemed to think it was the funniest thing ever. I don’t think it means anything dirty in Thai, but I’ll try to check. (Mrs. Shibb actually doesn’t much know the dirty words) But vowel sounds and aspirations are very precise in Thai. Most transliterated foreign words have a rising tone on the final syllable for some reason I’ve not yet fathomed. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195/22 "2005-08-10T07:24:20Z")
There’s a town in California called Manteca, which in Spanish means “lard.” ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195/23 "2005-08-10T11:35:29Z")
Greeks in Australia think that these locations are funny: Moonee Ponds Mooney Valley Colo Valley They also get a kick out of the name Malacca Straights. ---
**Author:** ![hawkeyejo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@hawkeyejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawkeyejo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195/24 "2005-08-10T12:55:10Z")
I thought English place names were funny to _everyone_ ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195/25 "2005-08-10T18:10:39Z")
> [@Jpeg Jones](#): > > I also have a friend from Argentina who was amazed that there is a city in California called Delano. I guess Del Ano means “From the Anus”. Apparently Argentines have dirty/juvenile minds. I don’t have my big Spanish dictionary with me, but it would more often be seen as “de lano” and “Lano” would sound like it has something to do with wool. Also, the accentuation would be de-LA-no naturally. If it were to be seen as “Del ano” by most Spanish speakers it would need to be spelled “Del Ano” not “Delano” . The name apparently comes from French originally and was either “de la nuit” or “de la noix” if you believe online sources :). ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195/26 "2005-08-10T21:41:25Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > That’s where the slang meaning originated. Due to the constant arctic snowfall in Canada, the visiting team is often unable to make it to the game and **the home team has to play with itself.** Funny, don’t Canadians do that all the time when they’re snowbound? 😃 ::d&r:: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-english-american-place-names-funny-to-foreigners/316195.md?page=1)