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List of irregularly spelled places in the United States

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This list is a sublist of List of irregularly spelled English names.

List

[edit]
List
Place Pronunciation Note
Respelling IPA
Aberdeen, Washington AB-ər-deen /ˈæbərdn/ Also the city in Maryland
Abiquiú, New Mexico AB-ə-kew /ˈæbəkjuː/
Acequia, Idaho ə-SEE-kwə /əˈskwə/
Achilles, Kansas ə-KIL-iss /əˈkɪlɪs/
Advance, North Carolina AD-vanss /ˈædvæns/ Also the place in Missouri
Alachua, Florida ə-LATCH-oo-ay /əˈlæ/
Albany, Georgia awl-BAY-nee, -⁠BEN-ee /ɔːlˈbni, -ˈbɛni/
Albuquerque, New Mexico AL-bə-kur-kee /ˈælbəkɜːrki/
Aloha, Oregon ə-LOH /əˈlə/
Amherst, Massachusetts AM-ərst /ˈæmərst/
Arab, Alabama AY-rab /ˈræb/ Also the place in Missouri
Arkansas AR-kən-saw /ˈɑːrkənsɔː/
Arkansas City, Kansas ar-KAN-zəss /ɑːrˈkænzəs/
Arkansas River ar-KAN-zəss /ɑːrˈkænzəs/[1]
Arriba, Colorado ARR-ib-ə /ˈærɪbə/
Armada, Michigan AR-may-də /ˈɑːrmdə/
Athens, Kentucky AY-thənz /ˈθənz/ Also the places in Illinois and Vermont
Au Sable River, Michigan aw SAY-bəl, ow /ɔː ˈsbəl, ˈsbəl/
Austwell, Texas AWSS-wel /ˈɔːswɛl/
Avon, New York AV-on /ˈævɒn/
Ayer, Massachusetts AY-ər /ˈər/
Bahama, North Carolina bə-HAY-mə /bəˈhmə/
Balmorhea, Texas BAL-mər-AY /ˌbælməˈr/
Bangor, Maine BANG-gor /ˈbæŋɡɔːr/
Banquete, Texas bang-KET-ee /bæŋˈkɛti/
Baraga, Michigan BAIR-ə-gə /ˈbɛərəɡə/
Barre, Vermont BARR-ee, like Barry /ˈbæri/
Beatrice, Alabama bee-AT-riss /bˈætrɪs/ Also the place in Nebraska
Beatty, Nevada BAY-tee /ˈbti/
Beaufort, South Carolina BEW-fərt /ˈbjuːfərt/
Bedias, Texas BEE-dysse /ˈbds/
Belen, New Mexico bə-LIN /bəˈlɪn/
Bellefontaine, Ohio bel-FOWN-tin /bɛlˈfntɪn/
Belle Fourche River bel FOOSH /bɛl ˈfʃ/
Benld, Illinois bə-NELD /bəˈnɛld/
Bergen, New York BUR-jən /ˈbɜːrən/
Berlin BUR-lin /ˈbɜːrlɪn/ Name of multiple places
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania BETH-ləm /ˈbɛθləm/[2]
Bexar County, Texas BAY-ər or like bear /ˈb.ər, ˈbɛər/
Billerica, Massachusetts bel-RIK /bɛlˈrɪkə/
Biloxi, Mississippi bil-UK-see /bɪˈlʌksi/
Bingen, Washington BIN-jən /ˈbɪnən/
Biscay, Minnesota BISS-kee /ˈbɪski/
Boca Raton, Florida BOH-kə rə-TOHN /ˈbkə rəˈtn/
Boerne, Texas BUR-nee /ˈbɜːrni/
Bogata, Texas bə-GOH-tə /bəˈɡtə/
Bogota, New Jersey bə-GOH-tə /bəˈɡtə/
Bois D'Arc, Missouri BOH dark /ˈb dɑːrk/
Boise, Idaho BOY-see, -⁠zee /ˈbɔɪsi/ in Idaho; /ˈbɔɪzi/ elsewhere[citation needed]
Boise City, Oklahoma like Boyce /ˈbɔɪs/[3][n 1]
Bolivar, Missouri BOL-iv-ər /ˈbɒlɪvər/ Name of multiple places[n 2]
Bolivar Township, Indiana BOL-iv-ər /ˈbɒlɪvər/
Bosque County, Texas BOSS-kee /ˈbɒski/
Bossier City, Louisiana BOH-zhər /ˈbʒər/
Bowie, Maryland BOO-ee /ˈbi/ Also the place in Texas
Buena, New Jersey BEW-nə /ˈbjuːnə/
Buena, Washington BEW-en-ə /ˈbjuːɛnə/
Buena Vista, Colorado BEW-nə-VISS-tə /ˌbjuːnəˈvɪstə/ Name of multiple places
Buck Creek, Indiana BUK-rik /ˈbʌkrɪk/
Buddha, Indiana BOO-dee /ˈbdi/
Buhl, Idaho bewl /bjuːl/
Bulverde, Texas buul-VUR-dee /bʊlˈvɜːrdi/
Burgundy Street, New Orleans, Louisiana bər-GUN-dee /bərˈɡʌndi/
Burien, Washington BURE-ee-ən /ˈbjʊəriən/
Burnet, Texas BUR-nit /ˈbɜːrnɪt/
Burthe Street, New Orleans, Louisiana bewth /bjuːθ/
Cairo, Georgia KAY-roh /ˈkr/ Also the place in Mississippi
Cairo, Illinois KAIR-oh /ˈkɛər/ Also the places in New York and Ohio
Cahuenga Pass kə-WENG-gə /kəˈwɛŋɡə/
Calais, Maine KAL-iss /ˈkælɪs/[n 3] Also the place in Vermont
Calliope Street, New Orleans, Louisiana KAL-ee-ohp /ˈkælip/
Camano Island kə-MAY-noh /kəˈmn/
Canaan Valley kə-NAYN /kəˈnn/
Casa Grande, Arizona KASSGRAND /ˈkæsə ˌɡrænd/
KASSGRAN-dee /ˈkæsə ˌɡrændi/
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania kam-PIL /kæmˈpɪl/
Canajoharie, New York KAN-ə-jə-HAIR-ee /ˈkænəəˈhɛəri/
Canyon de Chelly National Monument Canyon de SHAY /ˈʃ/
Castile, New York koss-TYLE /ˈkɒstl/
Cathlamet, Washington kəth-LAM-ət /kəθˈlæmət/
Celina, Texas sil-EYE-nə /sɪˈlnə/
Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana like charter /ˈɑːrtər/
Charlevoix, Michigan SHAR-lə-voy /ˈʃɑːrləvɔɪ/
Charlotte, Vermont shar-LOT /ʃɑːrˈlɒt/ Also the place in New York
Chatham, Massachusetts CHAT-əm /ˈætəm/ Also the places in New York and New Jersey
Chauncey, Ohio CHAN-see /ˈænsi/
Cheesequake, New Jersey like "chess quick" /ˈɛskwɪk/ [4]
Chehalis River, Washington shə-HAY-liss /ʃəˈhlɪs/
Chelan County, Washington shil-AN /ʃɪˈlæn/
Cheyenne, Wyoming shy-AN /ʃˈæn/
Cherryville, North Carolina CHUR-vil /ˈɜːrvɪl/
Chewelah, Washington chih-WIL /ɪˈwlə/
Chicago shik-AH-goh /ʃɪˈkɑːɡ/
Chickasha, Oklahoma CHIK-ə-shay /ˈɪkəʃ/
Chili, New York CHY-ly /ˈl/[5] Also the place in Indiana
Clatskanie, Oregon KLAT-skə-ny /ˈklætskən/
Clinton, South Carolina KLIN-ən /ˈklɪnən/
Coahoma, Mississippi kə-HOH-mə /kəˈhmə/
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho KOR də-LAYN /ˌkɔːr dəˈln/
Concord, New Hampshire KONK-ərd /ˈkɒŋkərd/ Also the place in Massachusetts
Conneaut, Ohio KON-ee-awt /ˈkɒniɔːt/
Conneautville, Pennsylvania KON-ee-awt /ˈkɒniɔːt/
Conetoe, North Carolina kə-NEE-tə /kəˈntə/
Connecticut kə-NET-ik-ət /kəˈnɛtɪkət/
Copalis Beach, Washington koh-PAY-liss /kˈplɪs/
Copiague, New York koh-PAYG /kˈpɡ/
Coquille, Oregon koh-KEEL /kˈkl/
Cordele, Georgia kor-DEEL /kɔːrˈdl/
Cordele, Texas kor-DEL /kɔːrˈdɛl/
Cotulla, Texas kə-TEW-lə /kəˈtjlə/
Coupland, Texas like Copeland /ˈkplənd/
Courtois Creek KOH-tə-way locally /ˈktəw/
Coventry, Connecticut KOV-ən-tree /ˈkɒvəntri/ Also the place in Rhode Island
Coxsackie, New York kuuk-SAK-ee /kʊkˈsæki/
Creve Coeur, Missouri KREEV KOOR /ˈkrv ˈkʊər/
Cudahy, California KUD-ə-h(a)y, KOO-də- /ˈkʌdəh, ˈkdəh/
Dalton, Ohio DAL-tən /ˈdæltən/
Damariscotta, Maine dam-riss-KOT /dæmrɪˈskɒtə/
Darien, Connecticut DAIR-ee-AN /ˌdɛəriˈæn/
Delhi, California DEL-hy /ˈdɛlh/ Name of multiple places
Del Norte County, California and Del Norte, Colorado del NORT /dɛl ˈnɔːrt/
Demonbreun Street, Nashville, Tennessee də-MON-bree-in /dəˈmɒnbri.ɪn/[6]
Dequindre Cut, Detroit, Michigan duu-KWIN-duurr /dʊˈkwɪndʊr/
Des Moines, Iowa dih MOYN /dɪ ˈmɔɪn/
Des Moines, Washington dih MOYNZ /dɪ ˈmɔɪnz/
Deschutes River, Oregon dish-OOTS /dɪˈʃts/
Duarte, California DWOR-tee /ˈdwɔːrti/
DuBois, Pennsylvania doo-BOYZ, -⁠BOYSS, -⁠BWAH /duˈbɔɪz, -ˈbɔɪs/[n 4]
Dubois County, Indiana doo-BOYZ, -⁠BOYSS /duˈbɔɪz, -ˈbɔɪs/[n 4]
Duenweg, Missouri dun-ə-WEG /dʌnəˈwɛɡ/
Duffau, Texas də-FOH /dəˈf/
Dungeness River DUN-jin-iss /ˈdʌnɪnɪs/[n 5]
Eau Claire, Michigan aw-KLAIR /ɔːˈklɛər/[n 6]
El Dorado, Arkansas EL-də-RAY-doh /ˌɛldəˈrd/ Multiple placenames
El Dorado Springs, Missouri EL-də-RAY-doh /ˌɛldəˈrd/
Elbe, Washington EL-bee /ˈɛlb/
Elizabethton il-IZ-ə-BEE-thən, like Elizabethan /ɪˌlɪzəˈbθən/
Elkhart EL-kart /ˈɛlkɑːrt/ Name of multiple places
Elyria, Ohio ə-LEER-ee-ə /əˈlɪəriə/
Embarras River, Illinois AM-braw /ˈæmbrɔː/
Ephrata, Washington ee-FRAY-tə /iˈfrtə/[n 7]
Estacada, Oregon ESS-tə-KAY-də /ˌɛstəˈkdə/
Faneuil Hall, Boston FAN-(ee)-əl /ˈfæn(i)əl/
Floydada, Texas floy-DAY-də /flɔɪˈddə/
Forked River, New Jersey FOR-kid /ˈfɔːrkɪd/
Fort Duquesne, Pittsburgh dew-KAYN /djˈkn/
Fremont, California FREE-mont /ˈfrmɒnt/
Freret, New Orleans fər-ET /fərˈɛt/
Fries, Virginia FREEZ, like 'freeze' /ˈfrz/
Galice, Oregon gə-LEESS /ɡəˈls/
Gallipolis, Ohio GAL-ə-pə-LEESS /ˌɡæləpəˈls/
Galveston, Indiana gal-VESS-tən /ɡælˈvɛstən/[n 8]
Geauga County, Ohio jee-AW-gə /iˈɔːɡə/
Genoa, New York jen-OH /ɛˈnə/
Ghent, Ohio JENT /ˈɛnt/
Gloucester County, New Jersey GLAW-stər /ˈɡlɔːstər/[n 9] Name of multiple places
Gnadenhutten, Ohio jə-NAY-dən-HUT-ən /əˌndənˈhʌtən/
Gogebic County, Michigan goh-GHEE-bik /ɡˈɡbɪk/
Greenwich, Connecticut GREN-itch /ˈɡrɛnɪ/[n 10]
Greenwich Village GREN-itch /ˈɡrɛnɪ/
Gruene, New Braunfels, Texas like 'green' /ˈɡrn/
Harlingen, Texas HAR-lin-jən /ˈhɑːrlɪnən/[n 11]
Haverhill, Massachusetts HAY-vər-il /ˈhvərɪl/
Havre, Montana HAV-ər /ˈhævər/
Havre de Grace, Maryland HAV-ər də GRAYSS /ˈhævər də ˈɡrs/
Helena, Alabama hə-LEE-nə /həˈlnə/
Hereford, Texas HUR-fərd /ˈhɜːrfərd/ Also a place in Pennsylvania
Hindman, Kentucky HIM-ən /ˈhɪmən/[n 12]
Hochheim, Texas HOH-hyme /ˈhhm/
Hockessin, Delaware HOH-kess-in /ˈhkɛsɪn/
Holcomb, Missouri HAW-kəm /ˈhɔːkəm/
Houston, Delaware HOW-stən /ˈhstən/ Also places in Georgia and Ohio, and the New York City street
Houston, Texas HEW-stən, YOO- /ˈ(h)juːstən/[n 13]
Houston Street, New York City HOW-stən /ˈhstən/
Hualapai WOL-ə-py /ˈwɒləp/
Huger, South Carolina HEW-jee, YOO- /ˈ(h)juːi/
Humble, Texas UM-bəl /ˈʌmbəl/
Hurricane, Utah HUR-ik-ən /ˈhɜːrɪkən/[n 14][n 15] Also places in Mississippi and West Virginia
Illinois IL-in-OY /ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ/
Ilwaco il-WAH-koh /ɪlˈwɑːk/[n 16]
Inez, Kentucky AN-eez, like 'Annie's' /ˈænz/[n 17]
Iowa, Louisiana EYE-ə-way /ˈ.əw/
Iraan, Texas EYE-rə-AN /ˌrəˈæn/
Ironton ARN-tən /ˈɑːrntən/
Ischua ISH-way /ˈɪʃw/
Isla Vista EYE-lə VISS-tə /ˌlə ˈvɪstə/
Iselin IZ-lən /ˈɪzlən/
Isle au Haut EYE-lə-hoh /ˈləh/
Islip EYESS-lip /ˈslɪp/
Italy, Texas IT-lee /ˈɪtli/[n 18]
Jourdanton, Texas JUR-dən-tən /ˈɜːrdəntən/
Juab County JOO-ab /ˈæb/
Julian, Pennsylvania joo-lee-AN /liˈæn/
Kalaloch KLAY-lok /ˈkllɒk/
Kamay, Texas KAY-may /ˈkm/
Kamela, Oregon kə-MEE-lə /kəˈmlə/
Kamiah KAM-ee-eye /ˈkæmi/
Kearney KAR-nee /ˈkɑːrni/ Various places
Keechelus Lake KETCH-əl-əss /ˈkɛələs/
Keuka Lake KEW-kə /ˈkjuːkə/
Keweenaw County KEE-win-aw /ˈkwɪnɔː/
Kissimmee kiss-IM-ee /kɪˈsɪm/
Kleberg County, Texas KLAY-burg /ˈklbɜːrɡ/
Kosciusko koz-ee-ESS-koh /kɒziˈɛsk/
Kosciusko County koss-ee-OSS-koh /kɒsiˈɒsk/
Kountze, Texas KOONTS /ˈknts/
Kure Beach KURE-ee /ˈkjʊəri/
La Fayette lə-F(A)Y-ət /ləˈfət, -ˈf-/
La Grande GRAND /lə ˈɡrænd/
La Jolla HOY /lə ˈhɔɪə/
Lac Courte Oreilles lə-KOO-tə-RAY /ləˌktəˈr/
Lafayette LA(H)F-ee-ET /ˌlɑːfˈɛt, ˌlæf-/
La Plata PLAY-tə /lə ˈpltə/
Lake Orion ORR-ee-ən /ˈɒriən/ Also other places named "Orion"
Lake Oswego oss-WEE-goh /ɒsˈwɡ/
Lake Pend Oreille pon-də-RAY /pɒndəˈr/
Lalor Street, Trenton LAW-lər /ˈlɔːlər/
Lamesa, Texas lə-MEE-sə /ləˈmsə/
Lancaster, Pennsylvania LANG-kih-stər /ˈlæŋkɪstər/
Lapwai LAP-wy /ˈlæpw/
Latah LAY-tah /ˈltɑː/ Also Latah County
Leakey LAY-kee /ˈlki/
Lebam lə-BAM /ləˈbæm/
Lebanon, Pennsylvania LEB-(ə)n-ən /ˈlɛbənən/, /ˈlɛbnən/ Also the city in New Hampshire
Leicester, Massachusetts like Lester /ˈlɛstər/[n 19]
Leicester, Vermont LY-stər /ˈlstər/
Lemhi County LEM-hy /ˈlɛmh/
Lemoore lə-MOR /ləˈmɔːr/ Colloquial pronunciation
LEE-mor /ˈlmɔːr/ Official pronunciation
Leominster LEM-in-stər /ˈlɛmɪnstər/
Levy, South Carolina LEE-vee /ˈlvi/
Lewes LEW-iss /ˈljɪs/
Lima LY-mə /ˈlmə/
Limon, Colorado LY-mən /ˈlmən/
Livernois Avenue, Detroit liv-uurr-NOY /lɪvʊrˈnɔɪ/
Lodi LOH-dy /ˈld/
Lompoc LOM-pohk /ˈlɒmpk/
Los Angeles loss AN-jəl-əss /lɒs ˈænələs/
Louisville LOO-iss-vil /ˈlɪsvɪl/ Most places besides the one in Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky LUV-əl /ˈlʌvəl/
LOO-ə-vəl /ˈləvəl/
Lowville, New York LOW-vil /lvɪl/
Mabank MAY-bank /ˈmbæŋk/
Mackinac Island MAK-in-aw /ˈmækɪnɔː/
Madras, Oregon MAD-rəss /ˈmædrəs/
Madrid, Alabama MAD-rid /ˈmædrɪd/ Name of various places
Malad River mə-LAD /məˈlæd/
Malheur River MAL-hure /ˈmælhjʊər/
Manchaca, Texas MAN-shak /ˈmænʃæk/
Manor, Texas MAY-nər /ˈmnər/
Mantua, Utah MAN-ə-way /ˈmænəw/
Marathon, Texas MAIR-ə-thən /ˈmɛərəθən/
Marquam MAR-kəm /ˈmɑːrkəm/
Marquez, Texas mar-KAY /mɑːrˈk/
Marseilles, Illinois mar-SAYLZ /mɑːrˈslz/ Also a place in Ohio
Martinez, Georgia mar-tin-EZ /mɑːrtɪˈnɛz/
Maryland MARR-il-ənd /ˈmærɪlənd/[n 20]
Mattapan mat-ə-PAN /mætəˈpæn/
Maury County MUR-ee /ˈmɜːri/
Mazatzal Mountains mat-ə-ZEL /mætəˈzɛl/
McGaheysville, Virginia mə-GAK-eez-vil /məˈɡækizvɪl/
Meagher County, Montana MAR /ˈmɑːr/
Mebane, North Carolina MEB-ən /ˈmɛbən/
Medina, Ohio mid-EYE-nə /mɪˈdnə/ Also places in Washington and New York
Melpomene Street, New Orleans, Louisiana MEL-pəm-een /ˈmɛlpəmn/
Mentor, Ohio MEN-(t)ər /ˈmɛn(t)ər/
Mesa, Washington MEE-sə /ˈmsə/
Methow MET-ow /ˈmɛt/
Mexia, Texas mə-HAY /məˈhə/
Miami, Oklahoma my-AM /mˈæmə/[n 21] Also a place in Texas
Micanopy MIK-ə-NOH-pee /ˌmɪkəˈnpi/
Michigan MISH-ig-ən /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/
Milan, Illinois MY-lən /ˈmlən/ Name of multiple places
Minam, Oregon MY-nəm /ˈmnəm/
Minot, North Dakota MY-not /ˈmnɒt/
Missouri miz-UR-ee /mɪˈzɜːri/
Mobile, Alabama moh-BEEL /mˈbl/
Mogollon Rim mug-ih-YOHN /mʌɡɪˈjn/
Monson, Massachusetts MUN-sən /ˈmʌnsən/
Montague, Texas MON-tag /ˈmɒntæɡ/
Montpelier, Vermont mont-PEE-lee-ər /mɒntˈpliər/[n 22] Pronunciation used for the other places with this name
Montpelier, Virginia mont-pə-LEER /mɒntpəˈlɪər/
Moscow, Idaho MOSS-koh /ˈmɒsk/[n 23] Also a place in Tennessee
Mount Desert Island diz-URT /dɪˈzɜːrt/[n 24]
Munday, Texas MUN-dee /ˈmʌndi/
Mulino, Oregon mə-LYNE-oh /məˈln/
Mukilteo MUK-əl-TEE-oh /ˌmʌkəlˈt/
Muskegon mə-SKEE-gən /məˈskɡən/
Nacogdoches NAK-ə-DOH-chiss /ˌnækəˈdɪs/
Nahant nə-HAHNT /nəˈhɑːnt/
Nahma Township NAY-mə /ˈnmə/
Naselle nay-SEL /nˈsɛl/
Natchitoches NAK-ih-təsh /ˈnækɪtəʃ/
Nederland, Texas NEE-dər-lənd /ˈndərlənd/
Nehalem nee-HAY-ləm /nˈhləm/
Nenana River nee-NAN /nˈnænə/
Neodesha nee-OH-də-shay /nˈdəʃ/
Nespelem ness-PEE-ləm /nɛsˈpləm/
Netarts NEE-tarts /ˈntɑːrts/
Nevada (state) niv-AD /nɪˈvædə/[n 25]
Nevada (cities) niv-AY-də /nɪˈvdə/
Nevada County niv-AY-də /nɪˈvdə/
Newark, Ohio NURK /ˈnɜːrk/[n 26]
New Athens New AY-thənz /ˈθənz/ Name of multiple places
New Berlin New BUR-lin /ˈbɜːrlɪn/ Name of multiple places
New Orleans new OR-linz /nj ˈɔːrlɪnz/[n 27]
New Madrid, Missouri New MAD-rid /ˈmædrɪd/
New Prague, Minnesota New PRAYG /ˈprɡ/
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania New trih-POH-lee /trɪˈpli/
Noel, Missouri NOHL /nl/
Norfolk, Nebraska NOR-fork /ˈnɔːrfɔːrk/
Norfolk, Virginia NOR-fuuk /ˈnɔːrfʊk/[n 28]
Ochelata oh-shə-LAY-tə /ʃəˈltə/
Ochiltree County OK-əl-tree /ˈɒkəltr/
Ojai OH-hy /ˈh/ As per the Spanish
Olathe oh-LAY-thə /ˈlθə/
Olean OH-lee-ann /ˈliæn/
Ontonagon River ON-tə-NAH-gən /ˌɒntəˈnɑːɡən/
Orcas Island OR-kəss /ˈɔːrkəs/
Ouray YOOR-ay /ˈjʊər/
Palacios pə-LASH-əss /pəˈlæʃəs/
Palermo, North Dakota PAL-ər-moh /ˈpælərm/
Palestine, Texas PAL-ist-een /ˈpælɪstn/[n 29] Also East Palestine, Ohio (stress changes: PAL-ist-EEN /ˌpælɪˈstn/)
Palo Gaucho Bayou, Texas PAH-lee-GAHTCH /ˈpɑːliˌɡɑː/
Palouse pə-LOOSS /pəˈls/
Paso Robles PASSROH-bəlz /ˌpæsə ˈrbəlz/
Pass Christian PASS-kriss-chee-AN /ˌpæskrɪsiˈæn/[n 30]
Patchogue PATCH-og /ˈpæɒɡ/
Pawtucket pə-TUK-it /pəˈtʌkɪt/
Peabody, Massachusetts PEE-bə-dee /ˈpbədi/[7]
Pearrygin Lake PAIR-ij-in /ˈpɛərɪɪn/
Pedernales PUR-də-NAL-iss /ˌpɜːrdəˈnælɪs/
Pend Oreille River PON-də-RAY /ˌpɒndəˈr/
Peoria, Iowa PIRR-ee /ˈpɪrˌ/
Peru, Indiana PEE-roo /ˈpr/
Picabo like peek-a-boo /ˈpkəb/
Piceance Creek PEE-a(w)nss /ˈpɔːns, -æns/
Pierre, South Dakota peer, like 'pier' /pɪər/
Pittsburgh PITS-burg /ˈpɪtsbɜːrɡ/
Placer County PLASS-ər /ˈplæsər/
Placerville PLASS-ər-vil /ˈplæsərvɪl/
Plano PLAY-noh /ˈpln/[n 31]
Plymouth PLIM-əth /ˈplɪməθ/
Point Mugu Point mə-GOO /ˌpɔɪnt məˈɡ/
Pojoaque pə-WAH-kee /pəˈwɑːki/[n 32]
Pompeii, Michigan POM-pee-eye /ˈpɒmp/[n 33]
Port Bolivar Port BOL-iv-ər /ˈbɒlɪvər/
Port Hueneme port wy-NEE-mee /pɔːrt wˈnmi/
Poth pohth /pθ/
Poughkeepsie pə-KIP-see /pəˈkɪpsi/
Poulsbo PAWLZ-boh, like 'Paul's bow' /ˈpɔːlzb/
Poway POW-ay /ˈp./
Prague, Oklahoma prayg /prɡ/
Puget Sound PEW-jit /ˈpjɪt/
Pulaski, New York pə-LASS-ky /pəˈlæsk/
Purgatoire River PIK-it-wire /ˈpɪkɪt.waɪər/
Puyallup, Washington pew-AWL-əp /pjˈɔːləp/ Local pronunciation
pew-AL-əp /pjuːˈæləp/
Quincy, Massachusetts KWIN-zee /ˈkwɪnzi/
Quitaque KIT-ə-kway /ˈkɪtəkw/
Qulin KEW-lin /ˈkjuːlɪn/
Raleigh RAH-lee /ˈrɑːli/[n 34]
Refugio, California rə-FEW-fee-oh, -⁠hee- /rəˈfjfi, -hi/ Name of multiple places
Refugio, Texas rə-FURE-ee-oh /rəˈfjʊəri/
Rensselaer REN-sə-LEER /ˌrɛnsəˈlɪər/ Name of multiple places
Rhea County RAY /r/
Riga, New York RY-gə /ˈrɡə/
Rio RY-oh /ˈr/ In Florida and Wisconsin
Rio Grande, Ohio RY-oh GRAND /ˌr ˈɡrænd/
Ronkonkoma ron-KONG-kə-mə /rɒnˈkɒŋkəmə/
Ruch ROOSH /rʃ/
Russia, Ohio ROOSH-ee /ˈrʃi/
Russiaville ROOSH-ee-vil /ˈrʃivɪl/
Rutherfordton, North Carolina RULF-tən /ˈrʌlftən/
Saguache, Colorado (town and county) sə-WAHTCH /səˈwɑː/
Salida, Colorado sə-LY-də /səˈldə/
Saline, Michigan sə-LEEN /səˈln/
Samish Island SAM-ish /ˈsæmɪʃ/
Sammamish sə-MAM-ish /səˈmæmɪʃ/
San Jose, Illinois san JOHZ /sæn ˈz/
San Luis Obispo, California Middle word LOO-iss /sæn ˌlɪs əˈbɪsp/
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California san PEE-droh /sæn ˈpdr/
San Rafael, California san rə-FEL /sæn rəˈfɛl/
San Xavier, Arizona san HAH-vee-ay /sæn ˈhɑːvi/
Sangre Street, Stillwater, Oklahoma ZANG-ər /ˈzæŋər/
Sault Sainte Marie SOO saynt mə-REE /ˈs snt məˈr/
Schaghticoke SKAT-(ih)-kuuk /ˈskæt(ɪ)kʊk/
Schuylkill River SKOO-kəl /ˈskkəl/
Scioto (various), Ohio sy-OH-tə /sˈtə/
Scituate SITCH-oo-it /ˈsɪuɪt/
Sebring, Florida SEE-bring /ˈsbrɪŋ/
Sedro-Woolley SEE-droh WUUL-ee /ˈsdr ˈwʊli/
Sekiu SEE-kew /ˈskjuː/
Semiahmoo Bay sem-ee-AH-moh /sɛmiˈɑːm/
Sequim SKWIM /ˈskwɪm/
Shawangunk Ridge SHON-gum /ˈʃɒnɡʌm/[n 35]
Shawano SHAWN-oh /ˈʃɔːn/
Shoshone, Idaho shoh-SHOHN /ʃˈʃn/
Sigourney, Iowa SIG-ər-nee /ˈsɪɡərn/[n 36]
Siuslaw River sy-YOO-slaw /sˈjuːslɔː/
Skagit SKAJ-it /ˈskæɪt/ Various places
Skamokawa skə-MOK-ə-way /skəˈmɒkəw/
Skaneateles Lake SKIN-ee-AT-ləss, like "skinny atlas" /ˌskɪniˈætləs/
Socastee SOK-ə-stee /ˈsɒkəst/
Sol Duc River like "Soul Duck River" /ˈsl dʌk/
Spokane spoh-KAN /spˈkæn/
Staunton, Virginia like Stanton /ˈstæntən/
Stehekin stə-HEE-kin /stəˈhkɪn/
Steilacoom STIL-ə-kum /ˈstɪləkʌm/
Strait of Juan de Fuca Strait of HWAHN FEW-kə /ˌhwɑːn də ˈfjuːkə/
Study Butte STEW-dee BEWT /ˈstjdi ˈbjt/
Suisun City siss-OON /sɪˈsn/
Swarthmore SWAHTH-mor /ˈswɑːθmɔːr/
Swansea SWON-zee /ˈswɒnzi/
Tahawus tə-HAWZ /təˈhɔːz/
Taliaferro County TOL-iv-ər /ˈtɒlɪvər/
Tallmadge, Ohio TAL-mij /ˈtælmɪ/
Tanana River TAN-ə-nah /ˈtænənɑː/
Tazewell, Virginia TAZ-wel /tæz.wɛl/ Name of multiple places
Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans CHOP-ih-TOO-ləss /ˌɒpɪˈtləs/
Tekoa, Washington TEE-koh /ˈtk/
Telocaset TEL-ə-KASS-it /ˌtɛləˈkæsɪt/
Terre Haute TERRHOHT, HUT /ˌtɛrə ˈht, -ˈhʌt/
Tewksbury TUUKS-bə-ree /ˈtʊksbəri/
Thames River, Connecticut THAYMZ, not TEMZ /ˈθmz/, not /tɛmz/
The Dalles The DALZ /ˈdælz/
Thibodaux TIB-ə-doh /ˈtɪbəd/
Thoreau, New Mexico thə-ROO /θəˈru/
Throop TROOP, like 'troop' /ˈtrp/
Tieton TY-ə-tən /ˈt.ətən/
Tigard TY-gərd /ˈtɡərd/
Tillamook TIL-əm-ik /ˈtɪləmʌk/
TIL-əm-uuk /ˈtɪləmʊk/
Tok TOHK /tk/
Tooele too-IL /tuˈɪlə/
Topsail Beach TOP-səl Beach /ˈtɒpsəl/
Topsham TOP-səm /ˈtɒpsəm/
Touchet River TOO-shee /ˈtʃi/
Tow, Texas TOW /t/
Towaoc, Colorado TOY-awk /tɔɪɔːk/
Towson TOW-sən /tsən/
Tripoli, Iowa trip-OH-lə /trɪˈplə/
Tualatin too-AH-lə-tin /tuˈɑːlətɪn/
Tucson TOO-son /ˈtsɒn/
Tulare tuul-AIR-(ee) /tʊˈlɛər(i)/
Tuolumne River too-OL-əm-ee /tuˈɒləmi/
Tygh Valley TY, like 'tie' /t/
Uhland YOO-lənd /ˈjuːlənd/
Utley, Texas YOOT-lee /ˈjuːtli/
Valatie və-LAY-shə /vəˈlʃə/
Valdez, Alaska val-DEEZ /vælˈdz/
Vallejo və-LAY-(h)oh /vəˈl(h)/
Vedauwoo, Wyoming VEE-də-voo /ˈvdəv/
Veneta vin-EE-tə /vɪˈntə/
Venetie VEEN-it-eye /ˈvnɪt/
Verdi VUR-dy /ˈvɜːrd/
Vergennes vər-JENZ /vərˈɛnz/
Versailles vur-SAYLZ /vɜːrˈslz/ Various places
Vici VY-sy /ˈvs/
Vienna vy-AN /vˈænə/ In Illinois, Ohio, and South Dakota
Visalia vy-SAY-lee-ə /vˈsliə/
Waelder like welder /ˈwɛldər/
Wahkiakum County wə-KY-ə-kəm /wəˈk.əkəm/
Wallowa Mountains wə-LOW /wəˈlə/
Waltham WAWL-tham /ˈwɔːlθæm/[n 37]
Waukesha WAW-kish-aw /ˈwɔːkɪʃɔː/
Waupun WAW-pawn /ˈwɔːpɔːn/
Waxahachie WOK-sə-HATCH-ee /ˌwɒksəˈhæi/
Waynoka wə-NOH-kə /wəˈnkə/
Wayzata wy-ZET /wˈzɛtə/
Weippe WEE-ype /ˈwp/
Weiser WEEZ-ər /ˈwzər/
Whitemarsh Island WHIT-marsh /ˈhwɪtmɑːrʃ/
Wilkes-Barre BARR /ˈbærə/
like Barry /ˈbæri/
BARR /ˈbær/
Willamette River wil-AM-it /wɪˈlæmɪt/
Willapa River WIL-ə-pah /ˈwɪləpɑː/
Woburn WOO-bərn /ˈwbərn/[n 38]
Wooster WUUSS-tər /ˈwʊstər/[n 39]
Worcester WUUSS-tər /ˈwʊstər/[n 40] Various places
Wyandanch WY-ən-dantch /ˈwənˌdæn/
Wytheville, Virginia /wɪθvɪl/
Yakima YAK-ə-mah /ˈjækəmɑː/[n 41]
Yachats YAH-hahts /ˈjɑːhɑːts/
Yaquina Bay yə-KWIN /jəˈkwɪnə/
Yocona River YOK-nee /ˈjɒkni/
Youghiogheny River YAW-kə-GAY-nee /ˌjɔːkəˈɡni/
Ypsilanti IP-sil-AN-tee /ˌɪpsɪˈlænti/
Yreka wy-REE-kə /wˈrkə/
Zabcikville ZAHB-chik-vil /ˈzɑːbɪkvɪl/
Zuehl, Texas ZEEL /zl/
Zzyzx, California ZY-ziks /ˈzzɪks/

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The "s" sound generally merges with the same sound in "City."
  2. ^ In contradistinction to the surname, by convention, these rhyme with "Oliver"
  3. ^ The town of Calais in France was for centuries also pronounced /ˈkælɪs/ in English; today /ˈkæl/ KAL-ay, with initial stress in British English and final stress in American English are the normal pronunciations.
  4. ^ a b Cf the surnames Du Bois and De Bois, which are often /-ˈbwɑː/
  5. ^ cf. English low-lying point (without a middle syllable).
  6. ^ Eau Claire, Wisconsin is pronounced more closely to the French pronunciation: /ˈklɛər/ (oh-KLAIR)
  7. ^ cf. intuitive Borough of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, which is pronounced /ˈɛfrətə/ EF-rə-tə
  8. ^ cf. intuitive/ˈɡælvɪstən/ GAL-viss-tən for larger Galveston, Texas
  9. ^ As per traditional English town, county and nursery rhyme
  10. ^ Beginning defies traditional English rules (cf. green) But Greenwich, New Jersey is pronounced as if it were "green-witch" [1]
  11. ^ cf. intuitive /ˈhɑːrlɪŋən/ HAR-ling-ən for Harlingen, Netherlands
  12. ^ Intuitively /ˈhndmən/ HYND-mən is sometimes used outside Eastern Kentucky
  13. ^ Named via Sam Houston after Houston, Scotland, a concatenation of "Hu's town"'
  14. ^ The last syllable is standard in the British pronunciation of hurricane, but not in American English, whereas the first syllable is counterintuitive and muted compared to hurricane in either.
  15. ^ Anecdotally, locals of Hurricane say that the proper pronunciation rhymes with that of the neighboring town La Verkin.
  16. ^ cf. various Waco towns
  17. ^ locally
  18. ^ with two syllables only
  19. ^ As per English town and county
  20. ^ Uncommon, rare, or dialectal pronunciation
  21. ^ cf. the obvious final syllable of Miami, Florida
  22. ^ All derived from Montpellier, France [mɔ̃pɛlje]
  23. ^ equivalent to the British English pronunciation of Moscow, Russia. Other Moscows in America are /ˈmɒsk/ MOSS-kow, the American English pronunciation of the Russian city.
  24. ^ Homophone to the dining course, dessert
  25. ^ The pronunciation /nɪˈvɑːdə/ niv-AH-də, while fairly common (particularly in the eastern United States), is stigmatized locally.
  26. ^ cf. Newark, New Jersey /ˈnərk/ NOO-ərk, and Newark, Delaware or Newark, New York /ˈnɑːrk/ NOO-ark generally
  27. ^ Traditionally locally /ˈnwɔːrlɪnz/ NWOR-linz with a very light /w/ is used, i.e. between the local and national.
  28. ^ Identical to the English county of Norfolk, and intuitive given the common word folk. Popular navy wordplay notwithstanding, the vowel in the last syllable is unstressed, very short, and closed, as in foot. Locals born in or after the last half of the 20th Century, who have partly or wholly adopted the American Broadcast Accent, often pronounce it /ˈnɔːrfɪk/ NOR-fik with the r substituted for /ɻ/
  29. ^ cf. Palestine: /ˈpælɪstn/ PAL-ist-eyen
  30. ^ cf. the regular American pronunciation of "Christian", /ˈkrɪsən/ KRISS-chən
  31. ^ cf. common and well-known Spanish approximations elsewhere.
  32. ^ Or intuitively per Spanish among Hispanics
  33. ^ Italian ruined city pronounced /pɒmˈp/ pom-PAY)
  34. ^ cf. Raleigh surname and brands traditionally said like Wall
  35. ^ Locally.
  36. ^ cf. given name Sigourney: /sɪˈɡɔːrn/
  37. ^ Same as examples in England such as London Borough of Waltham Forest. cf. greatly US well-known comparators.
  38. ^ Woburn, Bedfordshire and Woburn, Toronto are simply /ˈwbərn/ WOH-bərn
  39. ^ Mispronounced as /ˈwstər/
  40. ^ As per traditional English town, county and sauce
  41. ^ Though the pronunciation /ˈjækəmə/ YAK-əm-ə is also heard. The Native American people for whom the river, city, and county are named now prefer the spelling Yakama.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Arkansas". Dictionary.com.
  2. ^ "Bethlehem, Bethlum or Bethleum -- there's no one way to pronounce it". March 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Pumpkin Rollers in No Man's Land". Car And Driver. May 2002. Archived from the original on December 3, 2005.
  4. ^ Markarian, Taylor (May 29, 2019). "35 City Names Around the World You're Mispronouncing". Reader's Digest. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Though indeed named after the country Chili, now Chile Town of chili.org
  6. ^ "The evolution of Demonbreun Street". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  7. ^ Not intuitive /pˈbɒdi/ pee-BOD-eegroup= n