# How does one pronounce "Methuen", as in the publishing house in the UK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513 "2005-06-30T14:27:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/21 "2005-07-01T02:06:24Z")
> [@uglybeech](#): > > Since we’re all here - can someone do \*\*Gloucester \*\* for me? I’m embarrassed to say after all these decades in MA I’m still not clear if it’s gluhster (as in duh) or glahster (as in gloss or slaw) Here in Massachusetts, it is Gloss-ster if you pronounce your 'r’s, and Gloss-stuh if you pronounce your 'ah’s. Try watching _“The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming”_ for a unique pronunciation of **Gloucester** 🙂 > [@Axel](#): > > METH-you-en is the way I, with a Standard English accent, would say it. Slight hijack: Was I incorrect to say “British” instead of “English”? I have absolutely no idea which is correct, or in what context. Thanks, plynck ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/22 "2005-07-01T04:28:26Z")
It’s Meth-YOO-en here, as in one of our local streets. But METH-yoo-en gets you by. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/23 "2005-07-01T13:09:27Z")
Here’s one for you (from the English county of Norfolk)\*\* Happisburgh\*\*. Apart from **GorillaMan** ( who lives in the next county) I don’t think many people would guess the correct pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/24 "2005-07-01T13:53:59Z")
> [@Plynck](#): > > … > Slight hijack: Was I incorrect to say “British” instead of “English”? I have absolutely no idea which is correct, or in what context. > > Thanks, > plynck I would attempt an answer if I was sure I knew what you were getting at. Are you having trouble with the difference between British and English? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/25 "2005-07-01T14:26:30Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > Here’s one for you (from the English county of Norfolk)\*\* Happisburgh\*\*. > > Apart from **GorillaMan** ( who lives in the next county) I don’t think many people would guess the correct pronunciation. Heh heh…to complement it, how about the Suffolk village of **Monewden**? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/26 "2005-07-01T14:52:07Z")
This link [Pronunciation of some English place names](http://freespace.virgin.net/john.cletheroe/uk/places.htm) useful. Although I don’t think it has Warwick quite right. I am a native of that county and I reckon that it is more like **waa-ick**. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/27 "2005-07-01T16:02:02Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > This link [Pronunciation of some English place names](http://freespace.virgin.net/john.cletheroe/uk/places.htm) useful. Although I don’t think it has Warwick quite right. I am a native of that county and I reckon that it is more like **waa-ick**. There’s several on that site that I disagree with, including Middlesbrough and Salisbury…and Norwich should be _narrr-ich_, with a harsh nasal whine 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Axel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@Axel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Axel)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/28 "2005-07-01T20:17:58Z")
> [@Plynck](#): > > Slight hijack: Was I incorrect to say “British” instead of “English”? I have absolutely no idea which is correct, or in what context. Not incorrect, no. ‘British English’ is used to refer to the various dialects of these isles in the same way as American English is used for all the dialects in the states; as such, it’s more useful when referring to grammar (with some exceptions) general vocabulary, and spelling. It’s not really accuratewhen referring to accents, but most people do know that when non-Brits say things like, 'they say ‘tomAhto’ in British English, what they really mean is Standard English or Standard British English. That’s the accent you’d hear from actors in general, and newsreaders. Standard English is not the same as received pronunciation (RP). That used to be the standard for newsreaders and actors and the like, but these days it sounds terribly posh. As a guide, Orlando Bloom is Standard English (I think - I was struggling for examples that Americans would know), Prince Charles is RP, and Hugh Grant’s accent is Standard English veering towards RP. **RayneGorillaMan** , I disagree with several of the pronunciations on that site too - I’d always say ‘bru’ (replace the ‘u’ with a schwa) for ‘borough,’ and '‘shu’ (again, schwa) for ‘shire.’ Plus, he didn’t tackle the 'wich’s. ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/29 "2005-07-02T04:31:29Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > This link [Pronunciation of some English place names](http://freespace.virgin.net/john.cletheroe/uk/places.htm) useful. Although I don’t think it has Warwick quite right. I am a native of that county and I reckon that it is more like **waa-ick**. What I’d like to see is a similar guide for New Zealand place names - especially Dunedin (said the Essie Summers fan). ---
**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:** [July 2, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/30 "2005-07-02T18:04:00Z")
In Rhode Island, Warwick (where the airport is) is pronounced: WAR-ick. Not too different than in England. The key to sounding at leat half-way local is to be sure not to pronounce that second “w”. Although it’s unclear why anyone would want to sound like a local there… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/31 "2005-07-02T21:42:48Z")
> [@Axel](#): > > Not incorrect, no… Thank you, **Axel**. > [@Vetch](#): > > I would attempt an answer if I was sure I knew what you were getting at. Are you having trouble with the difference between British and English? Absolutely, **Vetch** , if that wouldn’t be too much of a hijack. I don’t mind admitting my ignorance on this subject. I had someone tell me once that “English” referred to the language, and that “British” referred to the people, possessions, culture, etc., but I’ve read enough exceptions to this to be confused. Thanks, plynck ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513/32 "2005-07-02T21:50:15Z")
> [@Plynck](#): > > I had someone tell me once that “English” referred to the language, and that “British” referred to the people, possessions, culture, etc., but I’ve read enough exceptions to this to be confused. Understandable! There’s hardly anything that could be described as a uniform characteristic of all British people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-pronounce-methuen-as-in-the-publishing-house-in-the-uk/310513.md?page=1)