# Mangled pronunciation of cities and other things near you **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 3, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008 "2002-05-03T04:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/1 "2002-05-03T04:20:24Z")
This comes mainly from the days when my brother worked as a telephone directory assistant and quite a few of the callers couldn’t get the pronunciation right on the names of some California cities. For example: ## They’d ask for “Serritoss”; they meant Cerritos. Van Nooies (Van Nuys) Bree (brie?) (Brea) Granola Hills (Canoga Hills) Slime-are (Sylmar) Placenta (Placentia) Got any manglings you’d like to share? ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/2 "2002-05-03T04:32:24Z")
The two towns I refer to, collectively, as my hometown. Stewey-viSANT. (Stuyvesant, pronounced STY-visant.) Val-a-tie. (Valatie. It’s pronounced Valayshuh. It would be easier to pronounce if it were spelled Valatia, but it comes from the Dutch valletje or something like that, so that’s where the spelling and pronunciation came from, I suppose.) ---
**Author:** ![friggae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/45deac/32.png) [@friggae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friggae)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/3 "2002-05-03T04:37:12Z")
At my alma mater, the University of Maryland at College Park, there is a building called Taliaferro Hall which is oddly pronounced “Tulliver.” You can also tell the frosh from the sophs when they come up to you and ask where Tally-a-fair-o Hall is. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/4 "2002-05-03T04:49:27Z")
You can tell the freshmen from the sophmores around here when they talk about the nearby city of Aptos. For some reason, it is pronounced “Ap-toss” instead of the more common and more intuitive “Ap-tose”. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/5 "2002-05-03T05:09:26Z")
Oh boy, I could fill up the SDMB with my answers. Living in Hawaii can do that. Worst one? “Ahola” instead of Aloha. The city and street names I understand, but _everyone_ knows Aloha! ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/6 "2002-05-03T05:31:41Z")
First, let’s start with the name of the state in which I reside. Oregon. It is surprising how often I hear this name butchered by non-Oregonians, particularly those who live east of the Mississippi. It is pronounced “Orygun”, not “Ory-GONE”. I’ve also heard a less-common butchering of the state name, which I’ve heard only on CNN Headline News. On occasion, some dimbrain will refer to the state as “AR-uh-gun.” AAAGGH! Another mispronounciation I’ve often heard is the name of the river that flows northward through the Portland metro area. It’s the Willamette river, and the proper way to pronounce it is on the second syllable, not the last. It isn’t “Wil-uh-MET”, it is “Wil-LAMM-ette”, dammit! Oh, and this is a special note for **HubZilla**. There is a place in the western suburbs of Portland called Aloha. It isn’t a formal metropolitan area per se. I graduated from the high school there…Aloha High School. In Aloha, Oregon, the name is pronounced “a-LOW-uh”, not “A-LOW-ha”. There’s a reason for it, but it’s getting late and if you’re really interested I’ll dig up the answer for you. ---
**Author:** ![DeepPurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@DeepPurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepPurple)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/7 "2002-05-03T05:33:06Z")
There are a lot of Iowa towns that are spelled the same but pronounced differently, so we can spot the city folk, I assume. I find them very amusing. Nevada is Ne-vay-da Delhi is Del-high Tripoli is Try-po-la Cambridge is Cam-bridge, short ‘a’ sound Madrid is Mad-rid and in Kansas there is an Arkansas river pronounced Are-kansas, I think Arkansas needs a river pronounced Kan-saw, spelled Kansas… ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/8 "2002-05-03T05:35:59Z")
A lot of people think I used to live somewhere called Illi **noize**. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/9 "2002-05-03T05:51:25Z")
Around here visitors often say Boise as “boy-zee.” The correct pronunciation is “Boy-see.” Even worse is when they confuse Idaho with Iowa. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/10 "2002-05-03T06:00:20Z")
There’s a town here in Tn. that makes me cringe when I hear the locals pronounce it. Lafayette - most people would say La-fee-ET, but around here it’s La-FAYet. ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/11 "2002-05-03T06:00:25Z")
In my hometown of Monroe, MI, you can always detect an outsider when they say “Mahn-roe”, instead of “Mun-ROE”. We giggle when people on TV pronounce Marilyn Monroe’s name wrong. Dumbasses! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jenner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jenner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/12 "2002-05-03T07:23:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atreyu \* > \*\*It is pronounced “Orygun”, not “Ory-GONE”. > \*\* I don’t hear it pronounced with a long “e” very often. I pronounce it “OR-uh-gun” (or just plain “OR-gun” if I’m talking fast). > [@](#): > > \*\* > Another mispronounciation I’ve often heard is the name of the river that flows northward through the Portland metro area. It’s the Willamette river, and the proper way to pronounce it is on the second syllable, not the last. It isn’t “Wil-uh-MET”, it is “Wil-LAMM-ette”, dammit! > \*\* Don’t forget Tigard (TIE-gurd), Tualatin (too-ALL-uh-tin), The Dalles (Delz), and Lake Oswego (ah-SWEE-go). -DP ---
**Author:** ![Ooner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/13 "2002-05-03T07:36:24Z")
I’m seriously considering murdering the next person that calls my state “Nuh-vodd-uh”. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/14 "2002-05-03T07:41:02Z")
Edinburgh. It’s not **Edinborough**. It’s either **Edinbrurr** (for non-Scots) or **Embra** (for Scots). And in London Tottenham is pronounced **Totnm**. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/15 "2002-05-03T07:53:21Z")
When I lived in California there were a couple. My hometown Redlands, was sometimes pronounced Retlinds. San Bernardino- San Berdino or Berdoo. Here in Minnesota- Sauk Rapids becomes Sograbids, and Santiago is pronounced San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/16 "2002-05-03T08:24:45Z")
There is no **z** in **Oslo**. There is no reason on gawd’s green earth for putting a **z** in **Oslo**. Thank you for your attention. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2002, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/17 "2002-05-03T09:20:54Z")
Another one from Hawaii. Nearly everyone, even long time residents, pronounce it Hanalulu. When the O in the Hawaiian alphabet is always pronounced oh. So it’s Ho-no-lou-lou. From Arizona, this one the locals are real picky about. It may be spelled saguaro but it’s pronounced sahuaro. And it’s also not Tuck-son either. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/18 "2002-05-03T09:56:31Z")
Let’s say it together now: Kalanianaole Highway-- ka-la-ni-ah-na-oh-lay Ka’a’awa-- ka-ah-ah-vah Likelike Highway-- lee-kay-lee-kay Wahiawa-- wa-hi-a-wa or wa-hih-wa Aipaako Street-- aye-pah-ah-ko Ukee Street-- ooh-kay-ay I am loathe to describe the pronunciation for my street name. See, it’s a great test for mainland telemarketers-- they can never say the name correctly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/19 "2002-05-03T10:08:26Z")
There’s a very popular street here called “Manchaca,” yet everyone pronounces it “Manchac.” Somehow, no one notices the extra A at the end. I live off of Burnet. I prounouce it “Burn-et,” along with a third of the people in town. Another third pronounce it “Burnit,” while the final third simply call it “Burnt.” I’m not even going to get into all the German or Hispanic named streets and their mispronunciations. I don’t get people in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008/20 "2002-05-03T10:17:24Z")
Loughborough - pronounced luv-bruh. Once heard a tourist call it loo-buh-roo. Nottingham is pronounced by the locals as nott-in-um. Leicester - lest-uh. My in-laws think it’s lie-cess-terr. Southall is pronounced Suvv-ull. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangled-pronunciation-of-cities-and-other-things-near-you/107008.md?page=2)