# How do you pronounce the names of cities? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726 "2003-09-20T01:45:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/41 "2003-09-21T06:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sinshine \* > \*\*Van-COO-ver. Pretty straight-forward. > > I actually live in the bedroom community of Coquitlam. Go ahead. Try it. > > I’ll be back to giggle. \*\* How about Caw-QUIT-lim? ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/42 "2003-09-21T06:03:01Z")
**CanvasShoes** , that’s not limited to NYC. It’s also pronounced that way in New England. In fact, I’ve _never_ heard anybody pronounce the W in Greenwich. I have no idea why that is. Ask Gallagher? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spurious\_George](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Spurious\_George](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spurious_George)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/43 "2003-09-21T06:42:19Z")
**Chefguy** said: > [@](#): > > Honest to god, I had a college American history prof who pronounced it “Salt Saint Marie”. When I pointed out to him his error, he actually said “Whatever”. I immediately lost interest in anything he would say in the future. That’s good, because he was probably a know-nothing incompetent due to his not correctly pronouncing the name of a single place he’d never been. Man, I thought I was a pretty intelligent, successful and happy guy, but could someone tell me how Sault St. Marie should accurately be pronounced? I have some ignorance that needs fighting, but I hope no one has been completely discounting everything I say because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/44 "2003-09-21T10:56:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > \*\*I’ve occasionally heard Tel Aviv pronounced with the accent on the first word, which I find bizarre. It’s not TELaviv, it’s Tel AvIV. In Hebrew, the accent is almost always on the last syllable. \*\* Also - Ye-ru-sha-LAYIM; HEI-fa; ACCO; Be’-er SHE-va… So getting the acCENT on the wrong syLLAble in Tel-Aviv is the very LEAST of mis-pronounciation of place names here… ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/45 "2003-09-21T10:58:18Z")
And in case anyone goes to the Kentucky Derby, it’s pronounced **LOOuhvul** , never LOOeeville. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/46 "2003-09-21T11:00:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Noone Special \* > \*\*Also - Ye-ru-sha-LAYIM; HEI-fa; ACCO; Be’-er SHE-va… > So getting the acCENT on the wrong syLLAble in Tel-Aviv is the very LEAST of mis-pronounciation of place names here… \*\* Hei-FA, of course. Were was my mind? ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/47 "2003-09-21T11:23:58Z")
There are two pronunciations of Honolulu. The correct way with each ‘o’ sounding like ‘oh’ which pretty much no one says. And the wrong way with each ‘o’ sounding like ‘ah’ which most people use because saying it right is too hard on the mouth. Especially when you speak at any pace faster then slow. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/48 "2003-09-21T11:29:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Noone Special \* > \*\*Hei-FA, of course. Were was my mind? \*\* Unless you’re a taxi driver. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/49 "2003-09-21T11:54:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by Noone Special_ > > Hei-FA, of course. Were was my mind? > > \*\*Unless you’re a taxi driver. \*\* Or a football fan… (_Ma-Ca-BEE hei-FA_ sounds **stupid!** ) Which, of course, is probably why I slipped to begin with (I probably say HAI-fa half the time in everyday speech, myself) Dan Abarbanel ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/50 "2003-09-21T12:57:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Noone Special \* > \*\*\*\*Unless you’re a taxi driver. \*\* (I probably say HAI-fa half the time in everyday speech, myself) \*\* [/QUOTE] Me too… and I grew up on the Carmel. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/51 "2003-09-21T13:12:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > **Two Rivers (pronounced by locals as “Trivers”)** He he, I spent 4 years stationed in Trivers, 'Sconin. Not easy being a Bears fan up there. It took me about 6 months to get MAN-i-to-woc, not man-i-TOW-oc. What was the name of that river you’d cross on I-43 just outside of Milwaukee, that would almost cause me to wreck every time trying to read it? It was about 22 letters long, with many “s”'s. Now I’m in Maine, and spent time in Bangor. The locals get pretty pissed if you don’t pronounce it right: BANG-ore not Banger ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/52 "2003-09-22T06:34:02Z")
I live in the city of Melbourne, Australia or as we call it mel-bin Tourists insist on calling it Mel-BORN damn their stinky hides. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/53 "2003-09-22T07:50:15Z")
When we lived in Pittsburgh, we were confounded by the fact that Duquesne was correctly pronounced (Due-kane) by the locals whether they were speaking of the university, the incline or the suburban town, but the suburban town North Versailles? Not “North Ver-SI” as would be proper in French. Oh no, they were proud of the town of North “Ver-sales.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/54 "2003-09-22T12:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > And in case anyone goes to the Kentucky Derby, it’s pronounced **LOOuhvul** , never LOOeeville. Q: How do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky; “LOO-uh-vil”, or “LOOEY-vil”? A: Frankfort. > [@](#): > > There are two pronunciations of Honolulu. Tourist: How is “Hawaii” pronounced; “ha-why-ee”, or “ha-vah-ee”? Hawaiian: “He-vah-ee”. Tourist: Thank you. Hawaiian: You’re _vel_come! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/55 "2003-09-22T12:47:02Z")
Bala Cynwyd? HUH? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/56 "2003-09-22T12:47:03Z")
Worcester Massachusetts is 'WIS-ta." And New York really does have “Lawn Guy Land.” NYC’s Houston is prounced “HOW-sten.” Since SoHo is the area SOUTH of HOW-sten, shouldn’t it be prounounced “SOW-HOW?” ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/57 "2003-09-22T12:58:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*True for new york. But the Schuylkill River that flows through eastern Pennsylvania and empties into the Delaware in Philadelphia, and the county named after it, are, I’m told, SKEE[sup]L[/sup]-kill, as in a homicidal biathlete. 😉 \*\* I’m from the Philadelphia area originally, and I’ve always heard it pronounced SKOO-kill. (Er, make that SKOO-kl.) Bala Cynwyd is pronounced BAA-la (short a in first syllable) Kinwid. Uwchlan is pronounced YOO-klun. Tredyffrin is tre-DIFF-rin. (All these Welsh names in Southeastern Pennsylvania come from the Welsh Quakers who arrived in the area in the 1700s.) Lancaster is LANKuster, not LAN-CAST-er. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/58 "2003-09-22T13:08:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Lancaster is LANKuster, not LAN-CAST-er. Lancaster, CA is pronounced “LAN-cast-er”. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/59 "2003-09-22T14:12:23Z")
Some Idaho towns and cities: [ul] [li] **Boise** - “boy-see”, NOT “boy-zee”[/li][li] **Couer d’ Alene** - “cord-a-lane”[/li][li] **Picabo** - “peek-a-boo” (as in Picabo Street, the skier)[/li][li] **Weippe** - “wee-ipe”, NOT “wipe”[/li][li] **Weiser** - “Weezer”, like the band. It’s not pronounced “wiser”, even though this is how it is pronounced when referring to the company that manufactures doorknobs.[/li][li] **Kuna** - “kyooona”, NOT “koona”.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726/60 "2003-09-22T14:24:28Z")
And as we are being somewhat Lancastrian here, you may like to know that Lancaster in Lancashire is pronounced LAN-KA-stuh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-the-names-of-cities/202726.md?page=4)