# How do you pronounce Monticello? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412 "2012-02-10T14:47:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/21 "2012-02-10T20:59:20Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I say Monti-Chello, and always look around furtively to see if anyone is going to correct me, because I’m certain that whichever way I’m pronouncing it, it’s sure to be wrong. This sounds familiar. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/22 "2012-02-10T23:45:31Z")
I was under the impression that Jefferson’s home was historically pronounced Monte-sello? I mean, I thought that’s how he called it? I could be wrong though. I forget where I heard that. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/23 "2012-02-11T00:07:48Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Since it’s an Italian word, I pronounce it mon-tee-CHEL-oh. That’s where you’re confused. We’re speaking English, not Italian. How Italians pronounce it is interesting, but irrelevant to how you pronounce it in English. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/24 "2012-02-11T00:25:39Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > I was under the impression that Jefferson’s home was historically pronounced Monte-sello? I mean, I thought that’s how he called it? I could be wrong though. I forget where I heard that. Nope. > [@BigT](#): > > The Arkansan city is also pronounced that way. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if all but Jefferson’s birthplace were pronounced with English rules, rather than Italian. Jefferson’s birthplace is pronounced shad-well. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/25 "2012-02-11T01:46:14Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > “sello” is how they pronounce the town name in Georgia. . . . Same with the town in Utah. They’re very picky about it there. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/26 "2012-02-11T01:52:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > That’s where you’re confused. We’re speaking English, not Italian. > > How Italians pronounce it is interesting, but irrelevant to how you pronounce it in English. But I would imagine someone of Jefferson’s erudition would have named it for the Italian place and pronounced it the same. I bet you’re one of those brushetta people too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/27 "2012-02-11T02:11:41Z")
As in the musical instrument, CH; > **[Origin of the Name "Monticello"](https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/origin-name-monticello/)** I have toured Monticello 2 times in my life and the guides refered to it as what is on the link. There is an 1826 copy of the Declaration hanging inside, spectacular to view. It was really a thrill to tour is home. He is buried on the grounds, which makes 18 Presidential gravesites I have visited on my travels. James Monroe’s Ashlawn-Highland is about 2 miles away, toured that too. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/28 "2012-02-11T03:11:00Z")
We have a Monticello in Kentucky and it’s -sello. I pronounce Jefferson’s home -chello. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/29 "2012-02-12T18:31:13Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > I’ve been corrupted a bit, since although I knew it should be pronounced “-chello”, my initial reaction was “-sello”. That’s because Monticello, New York, which isn’t too far from me, is pronounced that way, even though it’s named after the one in Virginia. Same. Jefferson’s home is -chello, the city in New York is -sello. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/30 "2012-02-12T18:55:22Z")
-chello. I probably vacillate between monteh- and montay-, depending on how fast I’m talking. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/31 "2012-02-12T21:19:14Z")
I grew up in Indiana. The town there is pronounced monti-selo. I tend to use local pronounciation for places though. TJ’s home is -chelo. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/32 "2012-02-13T04:25:45Z")
I say Montisello, because there’s a town in my home state called Monticello that’s pronounced Montisello. Even though I think it SHOULD be pronounced Montichello, that’s not how the locals do it. Same with “Kay-ro”, “No-dur Daym”, and “Dess Plains” instead of “Kye-ro”, “No-truh Dahm”, and “De Plain” (or however the French pronounce it). ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/33 "2012-02-13T06:01:43Z")
My father is a retired Jefferson scholar and he says Monti-chello. I also have family near Monti-sello, NY. I win. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/34 "2012-02-13T18:20:13Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I say Montisello, because there’s a town in my home state called Monticello that’s pronounced Montisello. Even though I think it SHOULD be pronounced Montichello, that’s not how the locals do it. Probably thinking of the same town and state. Always sounds to me like the locals are saying Mont-ah-sello. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/35 "2012-02-13T20:57:21Z")
Montichello. I have what, from googling, seems to be a false memory of an alcoholic drink called Monticello. Does anyone know of a drink with a similar name that I’m getting mixed up? > [@RealityChuck](#): > > That’s where you’re confused. We’re speaking English, not Italian. > > How Italians pronounce it is interesting, but irrelevant to how you pronounce it in English. Yes, but we pronounce cello as chello, not sello. Borrowed words often retain some features of their original language’s pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![missinformation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@missinformation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missinformation)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/36 "2012-02-14T00:43:29Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > Same. Jefferson’s home is -chello, the city in New York is -sello. Same here…Monti-sello NY, Monti-chello Jefferson’s home… ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/37 "2012-02-14T02:51:44Z")
I’m staying with family in Monticello, Georgia right now 🙂 I voted “sello”, since I’m obviously more familiar with this town and I wouldn’t have thought to pronounce it any other way. But now I know thats wrong! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/38 "2012-02-14T07:52:51Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Montichello. > > I have what, from googling, seems to be a false memory of an alcoholic drink called Monticello. Does anyone know of a drink with a similar name that I’m getting mixed up? Me too. Limoncello, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/39 "2012-02-14T15:55:42Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Me too. Limoncello, probably. Not to be confused with Oranjello’s brother Lemonjello. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412/40 "2012-02-16T05:37:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Me too. Limoncello, probably. Ah, that must be it - TY. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-monticello/612412.md?page=3)