# Pronunciation of "Gotham" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231 "2015-01-07T16:25:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/1 "2015-01-07T16:25:28Z")
A trivia matter of the most trivial triviality – but: how is this name generally pronounced, or are there more than one rival renderings? In my understanding, the original Gotham was – and is – a village in England, some 8 / 9 miles south-west of Nottingham. Renowned in whimsical English folklore for being allegedly inhabited by utterly stupid people, called “the wise men of Gotham” because wise is what they most emphatically were not. Centuries onward, New York City was for a while humorously called “Gotham City”, because of its denizens’ reputation as “wise guys” (quick / sharp / adroit / witty). Gotham City later became the Batman universe’s version of the real-world New York. The few times I have ever heard the word Gotham said (I basically don’t “do” films / television), it was “Goe-tham” (first syllable, as in to go somewhere; second syllable, soft “th” as in “thank”, and syllable rhyming with “slam”). In recent conversations with friends here in the UK, they ridiculed my pronunciation of the name, and said that it had to be “Goth-am” (first syllable like the ancient tribe, or the teenage fad for dressing in black and looking gloomy; second, as above, to rhyme with “slam”). My asking why, was met only with – "well, it’s obvious: it’s got to be ‘Goth-am’ ". Friends concerned, turned out to be oblivious to “things Batman”, when I tried to introduce that aspect. People in America – please, how do you pronounce “Gotham” – whether in the Batman context, or re New York City’s one-time nickname? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/2 "2015-01-07T16:32:39Z")
Gotham. Like your second example. First syllable rhymes with moth. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/3 "2015-01-07T16:51:46Z")
Like your second example. Never heard it differently. Cite: the batman TV shows and movies. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/4 "2015-01-07T16:52:45Z")
GAH-thum. Or GAH-th’m. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/5 "2015-01-07T16:54:23Z")
Wait – so it’s not “Got Ham”? :smack: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/6 "2015-01-07T16:54:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Gotham. Like your second example. First syllable rhymes with moth. To me it doesn’t quite rhyme with “moth”: it’s more of an “ah” sound where “moth” has more of an “aw” sound. I’ve never heard it said with the first syllable pronounced as “go” (and that’s certainly not the Batman pronunciation). I definitely only remember hearing it pronounced as first syllable “Goth” (with the soft “th”), second syllable “am,” but I would have pronounced that second vowel sound as a schwa. ETA: I’m not sure whether the “th” sound belongs with the first syllable or the second. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/7 "2015-01-07T17:15:54Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > To me it doesn’t quite rhyme with “moth”: it’s more of an “ah” sound where “moth” has more of an “aw” sound. … In my Canuck accent they’re identical (aw). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/8 "2015-01-07T17:45:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > GAH-thum. Or GAH-th’m. This. Really the second more than the first. Which would also mesh well with what I expect the British pronunciation of their village is. e.g. As I understand it, Brits pronounce Nottingham as roughly NOT-Ing-'m. If so, then they’d probably pronounce Gotham as GOTH-'m. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/9 "2015-01-07T17:53:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > GAH-thum. Or GAH-th’m. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > This. Really the second more than the first. > > Which would also mesh well with what I expect the British pronunciation of their village is. > > e.g. As I understand it, Brits pronounce Nottingham as roughly NOT-Ing-'m. If so, then they’d probably pronounce Gotham as GOTH-'m. These are the ways I’ve heard it pronounced, and I prefer the less stressed second syllable way. [Tangent] Have any of you seen [Gotham (1988)?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095246/?ref_=nv_sr_4) I keep hoping to see it again. Fun noir sort of thing. Carry on. [/Tangent] ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/10 "2015-01-07T18:18:33Z")
> [@Thanks for wasting my entire day, Ford! (long car rant)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-wasting-my-entire-day-ford-long-car-rant/92289/7): > > e.g. As I understand it, Brits pronounce Nottingham as roughly NOT-Ing-'m. If so, then they’d probably pronounce Gotham as GOTH-'m. Sorry if I’m being dense: but (my main cause of perplexity), do you mean “Goath [rhyming with ‘both’]”, or “Goth [rhyming with ‘froth’]”, -'m ? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/11 "2015-01-07T18:21:41Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > To me it doesn’t quite rhyme with “moth”: it’s more of an “ah” sound where “moth” has more of an “aw” sound. Same here, but this varies by dialect. In dialects with the cot/caught merger, there is no distinction between what you are calling the “ah” and “aw” sounds (and, hence, “cot” and “caught” are pronounced the same way. My dialect maintains a distinction between these two sounds.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/12 "2015-01-07T18:28:35Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > Sorry if I’m being dense: but (my main cause of perplexity), do you mean “Goath [rhyming with ‘both’]”, or “Goth [rhyming with ‘froth’]”, -'m ? My only personal experience is with US pronunciation. Which, \*pace \ ***pullykamell** , is itself not universally consistent. With that caveat, the only way I’ve every heard any American pronounce it in person or via the public media is “goth” with a short “ah” sound. It definitely is NOT “goath” like both or oath. To me it also doesn’t rhyme with froth (or moth). Froth is more of a “frawth” sound whereas goth is more of a “gahth” sound. Similar to the first part of bother or father. I’m not claiming any linguistic expertise here, just relaying my personal experience FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/13 "2015-01-07T18:32:34Z")
It’s pronounced the way William Dozier said it on “Batman”, and that’s all there is to it. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/14 "2015-01-07T18:46:47Z")
The village in the UK (which I live about 5 miles from) is pronounced GOAT-um, no “h”. The Batman city is pronounced GOTH-um, even by people from round here. The name of the village did originally refer to goats being kept there. Seeing buses that go to Gotham is still slightly amusing, even though I’ve lived here for 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/15 "2015-01-07T18:54:15Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > The village in the UK (which I live about 5 miles from) is pronounced GOAT-um, no “h”. The Batman city is pronounced GOTH-um, even by people from round here. The name of the village did originally refer to goats being kept there. > > Seeing buses that go to Gotham is still slightly amusing, even though I’ve lived here for 20 years. Thanks – so it seems I’ve been all-round wrong. Ignorance fought ! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/16 "2015-01-07T19:05:30Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > … > To me it also doesn’t rhyme with froth (or moth). Froth is more of a “frawth” sound whereas goth is more of a “gahth” sound. Similar to the first part of bother or father. > … Brother and father rhyme now? These things in writing crack me the hell up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/17 "2015-01-07T19:42:14Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Brother and father rhyme now? If you’d bother to read that quoted bit again… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/18 "2015-01-07T19:50:37Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Wait – so it’s not “Got Ham”? :smack: > > 😉 Those Hormel commercials with the bacon fat on the lips did not go over well. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/19 "2015-01-07T19:55:47Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > If you’d bother to read that quoted bit again… 😉 :smack: Got it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231/20 "2015-01-07T20:34:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > GAH-thum. Or GAH-th’m. This. Having lived in NYC for 25 years, I heard it more times than most people. I NEVER heard any other pronunciation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-gotham/709231.md?page=2)