# Town names that only locals get the pronunciation correct **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 17, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832 "2022-08-17T14:57:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/102 "2022-08-18T16:31:03Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ppKzNTP2vQ) ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/103 "2022-08-18T16:35:50Z")
Worcester is pronounced Wooster in the UK too, so this feels entirely correct to me. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/104 "2022-08-18T17:05:21Z")
There’s a town in NJ near to NYC named “Bogota”, but it’s pronounced “bow-go-tah” instead of “bow-go-TAH”, as is the capital of Columbia. Since I took Spanish long before I moved to Jersey, I was continually stumbling over that one. (No, didn’t live there, and I have left NJ and am now in PA, where I get to deal with Oz and Mastriano.) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/105 "2022-08-18T17:15:25Z")
I know the guys that wrote that ad! It’s still one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/106 "2022-08-18T17:49:35Z")
There is a town in New Jersey called Moorestown named after a guy named Moore. There is a town in New Jersey named Morristown named after a guy named Morris. Both are pronounced the same. (Both like you think the second one would be pronounced) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/107 "2022-08-18T19:01:21Z")
Leicester Square in London is pronounced “lester” square. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/108 "2022-08-18T19:13:49Z")
Quite a few around here: - Boise, ID - Moscow, ID - Weippe, ID - Kooskia, ID - Kamiah, ID - Weiser, ID - Coeur d’Alene, ID - Pend Oreille, ID - Athol, ID Wait, I’m the one that mispronounces the last one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/109 "2022-08-18T19:34:41Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Weippe [cue Beavis and Butthead laughing] Heh-heh… ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/110 "2022-08-18T19:39:32Z")
Interesting! The original Suffolk and Norfolk in England are pronounced SUH-fook and NOR-fook (like book) ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/111 "2022-08-18T21:26:03Z")
I live near **Mickler’s Landing Beach**. It’s pronounced “mike-lers.” The family (who still live here) corrects anyone who pronounces it “mick-lers.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PFrVZio5d8k/maxresdefault.jpg "Namesakes: Mickler's Landing Beach - First Coast News") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFrVZio5d8k) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/112 "2022-08-18T21:33:01Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Athol, ID And here I thought that Kansas was the only state with an Athol. Turns out there are at least five states with one: Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, South Dakota. New York originally had an Athol, but it was renamed to Thurman. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/113 "2022-08-18T21:35:48Z")
Dante, VA (rhymes with “can’t”). ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/114 "2022-08-18T22:14:10Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Turns out there are at least five states with one: Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, South Dakota. I guarantee you, the one in ID is the biggest Athol! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/115 "2022-08-18T22:41:34Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > What, no “Worcestershire”? > > Not a town, but NYC has Houston (“how-sten”) Street. And London has “Euston Road”, which _is_ pronounced like the city Houston (or exactly enough that I couldn’t tell the difference when taking the Tube announcement’s accent into account.) I wonder if there is a city somewhere with a Houston street that _is_ pronounced and spelled like the city. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/116 "2022-08-18T23:23:59Z")
Some of the variations slip into shades of local **accent** , it seems to me, as much as sharp distinctions of pronunciation. No doubt I’m not stating this in the correct academic terms, but consider Nashville: locals often say “NASH-vul,” with a strong stress on the first syllable and a schwa in the second. But “Nash-ville” is perhaps more commonly heard both there and elsewhere, with approximately equal stress on both syllables (a spondee) and a short “i” in the second. I’m not certain, but I think people with a certain type of rural-inflected southern accent are more likely to say it the first way, and everybody else, the second way, whether they’re locals or not. Then there’s Louisville, KY: “LOU-a-vul” to most locals, no? “Louey-ville” to others. Is this a difference in pronunciation, or merely accent? I lived in the Midwest long enough that I use a noticably flat short “a” sound. The way I say the second syllable of “Atlanta” is very different than the way locals say it. But I don’t think I’m using a variant pronunciation; it’s just the funny way I talk. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/117 "2022-08-18T23:54:33Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > And here I thought that Kansas was the only state with an Athol. > > Turns out there are at least five states with one: Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, South Dakota. The original Atholl is in Scotland. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/118 "2022-08-19T00:03:18Z")
The Atholl Highlanders is the only private regiment in Europe. It is commanded by the Duke of Atholl and is not part of the British Army. > **[Atholl Highlanders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atholl_Highlanders)** > > The Atholl Highlanders is a Scottish ceremonial infantry regiment. They act as the personal bodyguard to the Duke of Atholl, chieftain of the Clan Murray, a family that has thrived in Perthshire for some 750 years. Although it has no official military role, this hand-picked body of local men are armed with Lee–Metford rifles, and the regiment includes a pipe band. Joining the Highlanders is by invitation-only from the Duke, who specially selects men with ties to the estate or the local area. T ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/119 "2022-08-19T00:09:58Z")
I lived in Moscow, ID for a couple of years, so can pronounce all of those. And lets not forget the person with my favorite name: [Athol Fugard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athol_Fugard) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/120 "2022-08-19T13:05:55Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > And here I thought that Kansas was the only state with an Athol. > > Turns out there are at least five states with one: Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, South Dakota. Old Massachusetts joke: Endicott Peabody (Governor of Massachusetts in the mid-1960s) is the only man to have four towns named after him: Endicott Peabody Marblehead Athol ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/town-names-that-only-locals-get-the-pronunciation-correct/969832/121 "2022-08-19T14:18:56Z")
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