From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a set of lists of English personal and place names whose pronunciations are counterintuitive to their spelling, either because the pronunciation does not correspond to the spelling, or because a better-known namesake has a markedly different pronunciation.

Excluded are the numerous spellings which fail to make the pronunciation obvious without actually being at odds with it: for example, the pronunciation /skəˈnɛktədi/ of Schenectady is non-intuitive but not counter-intuitive.

See Wikipedia:IPA for English for guides to the IPA symbols used, and WP:United States dictionary transcription for a guide to the US dictionary symbols used.

Contents 1 Place names in Britain and Ireland 1.1 A 1.2 B 1.3 C 1.4 D 1.5 E 1.6 F 1.7 G 1.8 H 1.9 I 1.10 K 1.11 L 1.12 M 1.13 N 1.14 O 1.15 P 1.16 R 1.17 S 1.18 T 1.19 U 1.20 W 1.21 Y 1.22 Z 2 Place names in the United States of America 2.1 A 2.2 B 2.3 C 2.4 D 2.5 E 2.6 F 2.7 G 2.8 H 2.9 I 2.10 J 2.11 K 2.12 L 2.13 M 2.14 N 2.15 O 2.16 P 2.17 Q 2.18 R 2.19 S 2.20 T 2.21 V 2.22 W 2.23 Y 2.24 Z 3 Place names in other English-speaking countries 4 Given names 5 Surnames 5.1 A-B 5.2 C 5.3 D-E 5.4 F-H 5.5 I-L 5.6 M 5.7 N-Q 5.8 R 5.9 S 5.10 T-V 5.11 W-Z 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links

Place names in Britain and Ireland

Although several examples are included in the list below, pronunciations for the following common suffixes may be considered regular:

• -borough and -burgh — /-bʌrə, -brə/; (-bŭr·ə, -brə)
• -bury — /-bʌri, -bri/; (-bŭr·ē, -brē)
• -cester — /-stər/; (-stər)
• -ham — /-əm/; (-əm)
• -shire — /-ʃər, -ʃɪər/; (-shər, -shēr)
• -wick — /-ɪk/; (-ĭk)
• -mouth — /-məθ/; (-məth)

A

• Ahoghill, County Antrim — /æˈhɒhɪl/ or /æˈhɒxɪl/; (ă·hŏ′·hĭl) or (ă·hŏ′·khĭl)
• Aigburth, Liverpool — /ˈɛɡbərθ/; (ĕg′·bûrth)
• Alcester, Warwickshire — /ˈɒlstər/, /ˈɔːlstər/; (ŏls′·tər, ôls′·tər)
• Allesley, Coventry — /ˈɔːlzli/; (ôlz′·lē)
• Aldeburgh, Suffolk — /ˈɔːlbrə/; (ôl′·brə)
• Alnwick, Northumberland — /ˈænɪk/; (ă′·nĭk)
• Althorp, Northamptonshire — /ˈɔːltrʌp/; (ôl′·trŏp)
• Altrincham, Greater Manchester — /ˈɒltrɪŋəm/; (ŏl′·trĭng·əm)
• Alverdiscott, Devon — /ˈɒlskɒt/
• Anstruther, Fife — /ˈeɪnstər/; (ān′·stər)
• Athelstaneford, East Lothian — /ˈæθəlsteɪnfərd/ (ăth′·əl·stān·fərd) or /ˈeɪlsənfərd/ (āl′·sən·fərd)
• Auchinleck, Ayrshire — /ˈæflɛk/; (ăf′·lĕk)
• Averham, Nottinghamshire — /ˈɛərəm/; (ār′·əm)
• Aveton Gifford, Devon — /ˈɔːtən ˈdʒɪfərd/ (ôtən jĭf·fərd)
• Avoch, Highland /ˈɔx/; (ôkh)

B

• Balliol College, University of Oxford — /ˈbeɪliəl/; (bā′·lē·əl)
• Barham, Kent — /ˈbærəm/; (băr′·əm)
• Barugh, South Yorkshire — /ˈbɑrk/; (bârk)
• Great Barugh and Little Barugh, North Yorkshire — /ˈbɑrf/; (bârf)
• Barnstaple, Devon — /ˈbɑrnstəbəl/; (bârn′·stə·bəl)
• Beaminster, Dorset — /ˈbɛmɨnstər/
• Beauchief, Sheffield — /ˈbiːtʃɪf/; (bē′·chĭf)
• Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire — /ˈbɛkənzfiːld/; (bĕk′·ənz·fēld)
• Beaudesert, Warwickshire — until recently /ˈbɛlzər/ (BEL-zər), reflecting original "Beldesert"^[1][2]
• Beaulieu, Hampshire — /ˈbjuːli/; (bū′·lē)
• Bellingham, Northumberland — /ˈbɛlɪndʒəm/; (bĕl′·ən·jəm) · (the city of Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A., is pronounced as spelled: /ˈbɛlɪŋhæm/, bĕ′·lĭng·hăm)
• Belvoir Castle, village, and vale, Leicestershire — /ˈbiːvər/; (bē′·vər)
• Berkeley (all English towns) — /ˈbɑrkli/; (bârk′·lē)
• Berkshire — /ˈbɑrkʃər/; (bârk′·shər)
• Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland — /ˈbɛrɪk/; (bĕr′·ĭk)
• Bicester, Oxfordshire — /ˈbɪstər/; (bĭs′·tər)
• Billericay, Essex — /ˌbɪləˈrɪki/; (bĭl′·ə·rĭk′·ē)
• Blackley, Greater Manchester — /ˈbleɪkli/; (blāk′·lē)
• Boyounagh, County Galway — /ˈbwiːnəx/; (bwē′·nəkh)
• Bozeat, Northamptonshire — /ˈbʊʒət/; (bŏŏzh′·ət)
• Breaghwy, Connacht — /ˈbreɪfiː/; (brĕf′·ē)
• Bradley, West Midlands — /ˈbreɪdli/; (brād′·lē)
• Brewood, Staffordshire — /ˈbruːd/; (brōōd)
• Bridestowe, West Devon — /ˈbrɪdɪstoʊ/;
• Brougham, Cumbria — /ˈbruːm/; (brōōm)
• Burgh by Sands, Cumbria — /ˈbrʌf/; (brŭf)

C

• Cahir, County Tipperary — /ˈkɛər/; (kār)
• Caius College, Cambridge — /ˈkiːz/; (kēz)
• Caldmore, West Midlands — /ˈkɑːmər/; (kâ′·mər)
• Cambois, Northumberland — /ˈkæməs/; (kăm′·əs)
• Cambridge — /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/; (kām′·brĭj) · (note that the River Cam and Cambridge, Gloucestershire are pronounced with /ˈkæm/)
• Canterbury, Kent — /ˈkæntəbriː/; (kăn′·tə·brē)
• River Cherwell, river in England — /ˈtʃɑrwɛl/; (châr′·wĕl)
• Cheylesmore, Coventry — /ˈtʃɑːlzmɔr/; (châlz′·mor)
• Chiswick, London — /ˈtʃɪzɨk/; (chĭz′·ɪk)
• Cholmondeley, Cheshire — /ˈtʃʌmli/; (chŭm′·lē)
• Cholmondeston, Cheshire — likewise /ˈtʃʌmstən/;
• Cirencester, Gloucestershire — now usually /ˈsaɪrənsɛstər/ (sī′·rən·sĕs·tər), but formerly (and still occasionally) /ˈsɪsɪtər/ (sĭ′·sĭ·tər)
• Claughton, Lancashire — /ˈklæftən/
• Claughton on Brock, Lancashire — /ˈklaɪtən/
• Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire — /ˈklɪbəri/; (klĭb′·ə·rē)
• Cley next the Sea, Norfolk — /ˈklaɪ/; (klī)
• Cliveden, Buckinghamshire — /ˈklɪvdən/; (klĭv′·dən)
• Cloghore, County Donegal — /klaɪˈhɔər/; (klī′·hōr)
• Clones, County Monaghan — /ˈkloʊnɪs/; (klō′·nĭs)
• Cobh, County Cork — /ˈkoʊv/; (kōv; Cóbh is regular in Irish)
• Cogenhoe, Northamptonshire — /ˈkʊknoʊ/; (kŏŏk′·nō)
• Costessey, Norfolk — /ˈkɒsi/; (kŏs′·ē)
• Cowpen, Northumberland — /ˈkuːpɛn/; (kōō′·pĕn)
• Cruwys Morchard, Devon — /ˈkruːz/; (krōōz)
• Cuckfield, Sussex — /ˈkʊkfiːld/; (kŏŏk′·fēld) · (compare nearby Uckfield pronounced /ˈʌkfiːld/)
• Culross, Fife — /ˈkʊərɒs/; (kōō′·rŏs)
• Cultra, Northern Ireland— /kʌlˈtrɔː/; (kŭl·trô′)
• Culzean Castle, Ayrshire — kuːˈleɪn/; (kōō·lān′)

D

• Denbigh — /ˈdɛnbi/; (den′·bē)
• Derby — /ˈdɑrbi/; (dâr′·bē)
• Dodworth, South Yorkshire — /ˈdɒdərθ/
• Durham — /ˈdʌrəm/ in RP, locally /ˈdʏrəm/

E

• Edensor, Derbyshire — /ˈɛnzər/; (ĕn′·zər)
• Elsecar, South Yorkshire — /ɛlsɪˈkɑr/; (ĕl·sĭ·kâr′)
• Ely, Cambridgeshire — /ˈiːli/; (ē′·lē)
• Erith, London — /ˈɪərɪθ/; (ē′·rĭth)
• Esher, Surrey — /ˈiːʃər/; (ē′·shər)
• Euxton, Lancashire — /ˈɛkstən/; (ĕks′·tən)
• Eyam, Derbyshire — /ˈiːm/; (ēm)

F

• Findochty, Moray — /ˈfɪnəxti/; (fĭn′·əkh·tē)
• Fowey, Cornwall — /ˈfɔɪ/; (foi)
• Friockheim, Angus — /ˈfriːkəm/ (frē′·kŭm)
• Frocester, Gloucestershire - /frɒstər/; (fross′·ter)
• Frome, Somerset — /ˈfruːm/; (frōōm)

G

• The Garioch, Aberdeenshire — /ˈɡɪəri/; (gēr′·ē)
• Gateacre, Liverpool — /ˈɡætækər/; (găt′·ăk·ər)
• Gigha, Argyll and Bute — /ˈɡiːə/ (gē′·ə)
• Gillingham, Kent — /ˈdʒɪlɪŋəm/; (jĭl′·ĭng·əm)
• Gillingham, Dorset — /ˈɡɪlɪŋəm/; (gĭl′·ĭng·əm)
• Glamis, Argyll and Bute — /ˈɡlɑːmz/ (glâmz)
• Glenzier, Dumfries and Galloway — /ˈɡlɪŋər/; (glĭng′·ər)
• Gloucester — /ˈɡlɒstər/; (glŏs′·tər)
• Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire — /ˈɡʌmstər/
• Gotham, Nottinghamshire — /ˈɡoʊtəm/; (gō′·təm)
• Grandtully, Perthshire — /ˈɡræntli/ (grănt′·lē)
• Greenwich, Greater London — /ˈɡrɛnɨtʃ/ or /ˈɡrɪnɨtʃ/; (grĕn′·ɪch) or (grĭn′·ɪch)
• Greysouthen, Cumbria — /ˈɡreɪsuːn/; (grā′·sōōn)
• Groby, Leicestershire — /ˈɡruːbiː/; (grōō′·bē)
• Guildford, Surrey — /ˈɡɪlfərd/; (gĭl′·fərd)
• Guisborough, North Yorkshire — /ˈɡɪzbrə/; (gĭz′·brə)

H

• Halford, Midlands — /ˈhɑːlfərd/; (hâl′·fərd") (not /ˈhɒlfərd/ as in Leeds)
• Happisburgh, Norfolk — /ˈheɪzbrə/; (hāz′·brə)
• Little Hautbois, Norfolk — /ˈhɒbɪs/
• Hawarden, Flintshire — /ˈhɑrdən/; (hâr′·dən)
• Hawick, Scottish Borders — /ˈhɔɪk/; (hoik)
• Heather, Leicestershire — /ˈhiːðər/; (hē′·dhər)
• Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire — /ˈhɛzəl/; (hĕz′·əl)
• Heysham, Lancashire — /ˈhiːʃəm/; (hē′·shəm)
• Holborn, London — /ˈhoʊbərn/; (hō′·bərn")
• Holnicote, Somerset — /ˈhʌnɨkɒt/
• Holyhead, Wales — /ˈhɒlihɛd/; (hŏl′·ē·hĕd)
• Hunstanton, Norfolk — /ˈhʌnstən/; (hŭns′·tən)

I

• Ide, Devon — /ˈiːd/
• Inistioge, County Kilkenny — /ɪnɪʃˈtiːɡ/; (ĭn·ĭsh·tēg′)
• Islay, island of the Inner Hebrides — /ˈaɪlə/; (ī′·lə)

K

• Keadby, Lincolnshire — /ˈkɪdbi/; (kĭd′·bē)
• Keighley, West Yorkshire — /ˈkiːθli/; (kēth′·lē)
• Keswick, Cumbria — /ˈkɛzɨk/; (kĕz′·ɪk)
• Keynsham, near Bristol — /ˈkeɪnʃəm/; (kān′·shəm)
• Kilncadzow, South Lanarkshire, Scotland — /kɪlˈkeɪɡeɪ/; Kill-caig-eh
• Kilconquhar, Fife — /kɨˈnjʌxər/; (kɪ·nyŭkh′·ər)
• Kingussie, Highland — /kɪŋˈjuːsi/; (kĭng·yōō′·sē)
• Kiltimagh, County Mayo — /kɪltʃɨˈmɒk/; (kĭl·chɪ·mŏk′)
• Kirkby, Merseyside — /ˈkɜrbi/; (kûr′·bē)
• Kirkcaldy, Fife — /kɪrˈkɔːdi/; (kĭr·kô′·dē)
• Kirkcudbright, Galloway — /kərˈkuːbri/; (kər·kōō′·brē")

L

• Laugharne, Carmarthenshire — /ˈlɑrn/; (lârn)
• Launceston, Cornwall — /ˈlɔːns(t)ən/ or /ˈlæns(t)ən/ (lôn′·stən, lôn′·sən or lăn′·stən, lăn′·sən) (versus Launceston, Tasmania, pronounced /ˈlɒnsəstən/ [lŏn′·səs·tən])
• Leamington Spa and Leamington Hastings, Warwickshire — /ˈlɛmɪŋtən/; (lĕm′·ĭng·tən)
• Leap, County Cork — /ˈlɛp/; (lĕp)
• Leicester — /ˈlɛstər/; (lĕs′·tər)
• Leigh, Kent — /ˈlaɪ/; (lī)
• Leighlin^[3][4] and Leighlinbridge,^[5][6] County Carlow — /ˈlɒxlɪn/ (Also with /k/ instead of /x/)
• Leominster, Herefordshire — /ˈlɛmstər/; (lĕm′·stər) · (compare Leominster, Massachusetts below)
• Lewannick, Cornwall — /luːˈɒnɨk/; (lōō·ŏn′·ɪk)
• Liskeard, Cornwall — /lɪˈskɑrd/; (lĭ·skârd′)
• Loose, Kent — /ˈluːz/; (lōōz)
• Lostwithiel, Cornwall — /lɒsˈwɪði.ɛl/; (lŏs·wĭdh′·ē·ĕl)
• Ludgvan, Cornwall — /ˈlʌdʒən/;
• Lympne, Kent — /ˈlɪm/; (lĭm)

M

• Magdalen College, University of Oxford and Magdalene College, University of Cambridge — /ˈmɔːdlɪn/; (môd′·lĭn)
• Magdalen Hill, Winchester — /ˈmɔːn/; (môn)
• Marlborough, Wiltshire — /ˈmɔːlbrə/; (môl′·brə)
• Marylebone, London — /ˈmɑrlɪbən/, /ˈmærɪbən/, or /ˈmærɪlɪbən/;
• Meols, Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside — /ˈmɛlz/; (mĕlz)
• Meols Cop, Southport — /ˈmiːlz/; (mēlz)
• Meopham, Kent — /ˈmɛpəm/; (mĕp′·əm)
• Mildenhall, Wiltshire — /ˈmaɪnəl; (mī′·nəl)
• Milngavie, Scotland — /ˈmʌlɡaɪ/ or /ˈmɪlɡaɪ/; (mŭl′·gī) or (mĭl′·gī)
• Mousehole, Cornwall — /ˈmaʊzəl/; (mou′·zəl)
• Mweelrea, County Mayo — /mweɪlˈriːə/ ; (mwāl·rē′·ə)
• Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire — /ˈmaɪðəmrɔɪd/; (mī′·dhəm·royd)

N

• Naas, County Kildare, Ireland — /ˈneɪs/; (nās)
• Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland — /ˈneɪ/; (nā)
• River Nene, Northamptonshire — /ˈnɛn/; (nĕn)
• Norwich, Norfolk — /ˈnɒrɨdʒ/; (nŏr′·ɪj)

O

• Olney, Milton Keynes — /ˈɔːniː/ (ô′·nē) (local pronunciation); /ɒlniː/ (ŏl′·nē)
• Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire — /ˈɒztwɪsəl/; (ŏz′·twĭs·l) (local pronunciation); /ˈɒzəltwɪzəl/ (ŏz′·l·twĭz·l)
• Owenabue, river in County Cork — /oʊnəˈbwiː/ (ō·nə·bwē′)

P

• Plaistow, Newham, Greater London — /ˈplɑːstoʊ/; (plâ′·stō)
• Plymouth, Devon — /ˈplɪməθ/; (plĭm′·əth)
• Portesham, Dorset — /ˈpɒsəm/ (old-fashioned), currently /ˈpɔrtɨʃəm/ or /ˈpɔrtsəm/
• Postwick, Norfolk - /ˈpɔzik/
• Poxwell, Dorset — /ˈpoʊkswɛl/
• Prideaux Castle, Cornwall — /ˈprɪdəks/
• Prinknash, Gloucestershire — /ˈprɪnɨʃ / (prĭn′·nɪsh)
• Puncknowle, Devon — /ˈpʌnəl/ (pŭn′·əl)

R

• Rainworth, Nottinghamshire — /ˈrɛnəθ/; (rĕn′·əth)
• Ratlinghope, Shropshire — /ˈrætʃʌp/; (răt′·shŭp) (local pronunciation)
• Ravenstruther, Lanarkshire — /ˈrɛnstri/; ren-stray
• Reading, Berkshire — /ˈrɛdɪŋ/; (rĕd′·ĭng)
• Rievaulx, North Yorkshire — /ˈriːvoʊ/; (rē′·vō)
• Rocester, Staffordshire — /ˈroʊstə(r)/; (rō′·stə(r))
• Ruislip, London — /ˈraɪslɪp/
• Ruthven, Aberdeenshire — /ˈrɪvən/; (rĭv′·ən)

S

• St. Ive, Cornwall — /ˈiːv/; (ēv) · (however, St Ives is pronounced /ˈaɪvz/)
• St. Teath, Cornwall — /ˈtɛθ/; (tĕth)
• Salisbury, Wiltshire — [ˈzɔːzbri]; (zôz′·brē) (local pronunciation) · /ˈsɒlzbri/ or /ˈsɔːlzbri/; (sŏlz′·brē) or (sôlz′·brē)
• Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway — /ˈsænkər/
• Scone, Perthshire - /ˈskuːn/ (rhymes with "spoon")
• Shrewsbury, Shropshire — /ˈʃroʊzbri/; (shrōz'brē) · (though sometimes pronounced as /ˈʃruːzbri/)
• Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire — pronunciation varies /ˈslæwɪt/, /ˈslæθwɪt/; (slă′·wĭt)
• Smethwick, West Midlands — /ˈsmɛðɨk/; (smĕdh′·ɪk)
• Southwark, Greater London — /ˈsʌðərk/; (sŭdh′·ərk); locally [ˈsʌvək]; (sŭv′·ərk)
• Southwell, Nottinghamshire — /ˈsʌðəl/ or /ˈsaʊθwəl/; (sŭdh′·əl or sowth′·wəl)
• Staithes, North Yorkshire — locally /ˈstɪərz/ (stērz)
• Stawell, Somerset — /ˈstɒl/ (stŏl)
• Steyning, West Sussex — /ˈstɛniŋ/;
• Stiffkey, Norfolk — /ˈstjuːkiː/; (stū′·kē); (though it can be pronounced /ˈstɪfkiː/)
• Stivichall or Styvechale, Coventry — /ˈstaɪtʃəl/; (stī′·chəl)
• Strabane, County Tyrone — /strəˈbæn/; (strə·băn′)
• Strathaven, South Lanarkshire — /ˈstreɪvən/; (strā′·vən)
• River Suir in Leinster, Ireland — /ˈʃʊər/; (shōōr)

T

• Tacolneston, Norfolk — /ˈtækəlstən/; (tăk′·əl·stən)
• Tallaght, County Dublin — /ˈtælə/; (tăl′·ə)
• Teignmouth, Devon — /ˈtɪnməθ/; (tĭn′·məth)
• Teston, Kent — /ˈtiːsən/; (tē′·sən)
• River Thames— /ˈtɛmz/; (tĕmz) · (the Thames River in Connecticut is pronounced as /ˈθeɪmz/)
• Tideswell, Derbyshire — /ˈtɪdsəl/; (tĭd′·səl) [1]
• Tintwistle, Derbyshire — /ˈtɪnsəl/; (tĭn′·səl)
• Todmorden, West Yorkshire — /ˈtɒdmərdən/ is the most common pronunciation although the BBC uses /ˈtɒdmɔrdən/.^[7]
• Torpenhow, Cumbria — /trəˈpɛnə/ (trə·pĕn′·ə) (local pronunciation) · (elsewhere pronounced as /ˈtɔrpənhaʊ/)
• Torquay, Devon — /tɔrˈkiː/; (tôr·kē′)
• Towcester, Northamptonshire — /ˈtoʊstər/; (tōs′·tər)
• Trewoon, Cornwall — /ˈtruː.ən/; (trōō′·ən)
• Trottiscliffe, Kent — /ˈtrɒzli/; (trŏz′·lē)

U

• Ulgham, Northumberland — /ˈʌfəm/ (ŭf′·əm)

W

• Warwick and Warwickshire — /ˈwɒrɨk/; (wŏr′·ɪk) · /ˈwɒrɨkʃər/; (wŏr′·ɪk·shər)
• Wavertree, Lancaster— /ˈwɔːtri/ (probably obsolete [2])
• Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire — /ˈwiːtən/; (wēt′·n)
• Welwyn, /ˈwɛlɨn/ (wĕl′·ĭn)
• Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde — /ˈwiːmz/ (wēmz)
• Widecombe, Devon — /ˈwɪdɪkəm/
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire — /ˈwɪzbiːtʃ/ (wĭz′·bēch)
• East Woodhay and West Woodhay — /ˈwʊdi/; (wŏŏd′·ē)
• Woolfardisworthy, Devon — /ˈwʊlzi/ or /ˈwʊlzəri/; (wŏŏl′·zē) or (wŏŏl′·zər·ē)
• Worcester /ˈwʊstər/ (wŏŏs′·tər)
• Wrotham, Kent — /ˈruːtəm/ (rŏŏt′·əm)
• Wybunbury, Cheshire — /ˈwɪnbri/; (wĭn′·brē)
• Wycombe, Buckinghamshire — /ˈwɪkəm/; (wĭk′·əm)
• Wymondham, Norfolk — /ˈwɪndəm/; (wĭn′·dəm) (local pronunciation)
• Wytham, Oxfordshire — /ˈwaɪtəm/; (wī′·təm)

Y

• Youghal, County Cork, Ireland — /ˈjɔːl/; (yôl)

Z

• Zouch, Nottinghamshire — /ˈzɒtʃ/; (zŏch)
• Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire — /ˈzuːʃ/; (zōōsh)

Place names in the United States of America

A

• Aberdeen, Washington — stressed on the first syllable (/ˈæbərdiːn/), unlike Aberdeen, Scotland, which is stressed on the final syllable
• Abiquiu, New Mexico — /ˈæbəkjuː/
• Acequia, Idaho — /əˈsiːkwə/
• Achilles, Kansas — /əˈkɪlɪs/ (Achilles is /əˈkɪliːz/)
• Aloha, Oregon — /əˈloʊ.ə/
• Alsea, Oregon — /ˈælsiː/
• Amherst, Massachusetts — /ˈæmərst/ (The "h" is silent.)
• Arab, Alabama — /ˈeɪræb/
• Arkansas — /ˈɑrkənsɔː/ (AR-kən-saw). However, Arkansas City, Kansas is pronounced /ɑrˈkænsəs/ (ar-KAN-zəs), as is the Arkansas River to many Kansans.
• Arriba, Colorado — /ˈɛrɪbə/
• Athens, Kentucky, Athens, Illinois and New Athens, Illinois — /ˈeɪθənz/
• Ausable River (New York) — /ɔːˈseɪbəl/

B

• Bahama, North Carolina — /bəˈheimə/
• Barre, Vermont — /ˈbæri/
• Beatrice, Alabama and Beatrice, Nebraska — /biːˈætrɨs/; usually Beatrice is /ˈbiːətrɨs/
• Beaufort, South Carolina — /ˈbjuːfərt/ vs. /ˈboʊfərt/ of Beaufort, North Carolina
• Belen, New Mexico — /bəˈlɪn/
• Bellefontaine, Ohio — /bɛlˈfaʊntɨn/
• Benld, Illinois — /bəˈnɛld/
• Bergen, New York — /ˈbɜrdʒɨn/
• Berlin, Connecticut, New Berlin, Illinois, Berlin, New Hampshire, New Berlin, Wisconsin, and Berlin, Ohio — /ˈbɜrlɨn/ (stress on first syllable) listen (help·info)
• Bernardsville, New Jersey — ˈbɜrnərdzvɨl BERN-ərds-vil
• Bexar, Texas — /ˈbeɪ.ər/ or /ˈbɛr/
• Billerica, Massachusetts — /bɪl(ə)ˈrɪkə/
• Bingen, Washington — /ˈbɪndʒən/
• Biscay, Minnesota — /ˈbɪski/ (cf Biscay /bɨˈskeɪ/)
• Boerne, Texas — /ˈbɜrni/
• Bois D'Arc, Missouri — /ˈboʊdɑrk/
• Boise, Idaho — /ˈbɔɪsi/ (this is the standard local pronunciation, but most Americans, especially those far removed from Idaho, pronounce it /ˈbɔɪzi/)
• Boise City, Oklahoma — The "Boise" in this place name is locally pronounced /ˈbɔɪs/^[8], which is different from either pronunciation of the name of the Idaho city. The "s" sound generally merges with the same sound in "City."
• Bolivar, Tennessee, Bolivar, Missouri, Bolivar, West Virginia — named for Simón Bolívar but pronounced /ˈbɒlɨvər/, as if to rhyme with "oliver"
• Bossier City, Louisiana — /ˈboʊʒər/
• Bowie, Maryland — /ˈbuːi/
• Bothell, Washington — /ˈbɒθəl/
• Buena Vista, Colorado, Buena Vista, Oregon, Buena Vista, Virginia, Buena Vista, Shelby County, Texas — /ˌbjuːnəˈvɪstə/
• Bucoda, Washington — bəˈkoʊdə bə-KOH-də
• Buddha, Indiana — /ˈbuːdi/
• Buhl, Idaho — /ˈbjuːl/
• Burien, Washington — /ˈbjɜrriən/

C

• Cairo, Illinois, Cairo, Ohio and Cairo, Mississippi — /ˈkɛəroʊ/ listen (help·info)
• Calais, Maine and Calais, Vermont — /ˈkælɨs/ listen (help·info) (The town of Calais in France was formerly also pronounced /ˈkælɨs/ in English; today /kæleɪ/, with initial stress in British English and final stress in American English, is the normal pronunciation.)
• Camano Island, Washington — /kəˈmeɪnoʊ/
• Cambridge, Massachusetts — /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/
• Casa Grande, Arizona — /ˈkæsə ˈɡrænd/ (not as it would be in Spanish)
• Camp Hill, Pennsylvania – /kæmˈpɪl/
• Canyon de Chelly, Arizona — /ˈʃeɪ/
• Castile, New York /ˈkɒstaɪl/
• Celina, Texas — /səˈlaɪnə/
• Chatham, Massachusetts — /ˈtʃætəm/
• Chehalis, Washington — /ʃəˈheɪlɨs/
• Chelan, Chelan County, and Lake Chelan, Washington — /ʃɨˈlæn/, ( shə-lăn′)
• Cherryville, North Carolina — /ˈtʃɜrvɨl/
• Chewelah, Washington — /tʃɨˈwiːlə/
• Chicago — /ʃɨˈkɔːɡoʊ/
• Chickasha, Oklahoma — /ˈtʃɪkəʃeɪ/
• Chili, New York — /ˈtʃaɪlaɪ/, though indeed named after the country Chili/Chile^[9]
• Clatskanie, Oregon — /ˈklætskənaɪ/
• Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — /kɔrdəˈleɪn/
• Columbus, Ohio — /ˈklʌmbɨs/ (non-standard)
• Conneaut, Ohio and Conneautville, Pennsylvania — /ˈkɒni.ɔːt/
• Conetoe, North Carolina — /kəˈniːtə/
• Connecticut — /kəˈnɛtɨkɨt/
• Copalis Beach, Washington — /koʊˈpeɪlɨs/
• Coquille, Oregon — /koʊˈkiːl/
• Cordele, Georgia — /kɔrˈdiːl/ kor-deel
• Corfu, New York — /ˈkɔrfjuː/
• Cudahy, California — /ˈkʌdəheɪ/ or /ˈkuːdəhaɪ/

D

• Delhi, California and Delhi, New York — both /ˈdɛlhaɪ/
• Des Moines, Iowa — /dɨˈmɔɪn/, Des Moines, Washington — /dɨˈmɔɪnz/, (cf. Des Plaines, Illinois /dɛsˈpleɪnz/)
• Deschutes River, Oregon, and Deschutes River, Washington — /dɨˈʃuːts/
• Mount Desert Island, Maine— /dɨˈzɜrt/ to add to the confusing pronunciation of desert and dessert
• Duarte, California — /ˈdwɔərti/
• DuBois, Pennsylvania — /duːˈbɔɪz/ or /duːˈbɔɪs/ vs. the surname, which is sometimes /duːˈbwɑː/
• Duenweg, Missouri — /dʌnəˈwɛɡ/
• Dungeness River and Dungeness Spit, Washington — /ˈdʌndʒɨnɨs/

E

• El Dorado, Arkansas, El Dorado, Kansas, El Dorado Springs, Missouri, and Eldorado, Illinois — /ˌɛldəˈreɪdoʊ/ listen (help·info)
• Elbe, Washington — /ˈɛlbi/
• Elgin, Illinois — /ˈɛldʒɨn/ vs. Elgin, Texas /ˈɛlɡɨn/
• Embarras(s) River, Illinois — /ˈæmbrɔː/
• Ephrata, Washington — /ɨˈfreɪtə/ (unlike the Borough of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, which is pronounced /ˈɛfrətə/)
• Estacada, Oregon — /ˌɛstəˈkeɪdə/

F

• Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts — /ˈfæn(j)əl/
• Fries, Virginia — /ˈfriːz/

G

• Galice, Oregon — /ɡəˈliːs/
• Galveston, Indiana — /ɡælˈvɛstən/ vs /ˈɡælvɨstən/ for Galveston, Texas
• Gloucester, Massachusetts —/ˈɡlɔːstər/.
• Greenwich, Connecticut and Greenwich Village in New York City — /ˈɡrɛnɨtʃ/
• Gruene, Texas — /ˈɡriːn/

H

• Haverhill, Massachusetts — /ˈheɪv(ə)rɪl/
• Havre, Montana — /ˈhævər/
• Havre de Grace, Maryland — /ˈhævər dɨ ˈɡreɪs/
• Hereford, Texas and Hereford, Pennsylvania — /ˈhɜrfərd/
• Hindman, Kentucky /'hɪmən/
• Hockessin, Delaware — /ˈhoʊkɨsɨn/
• Houston, Georgia and Houston Street (Manhattan) — /ˈhaʊstən/, vs the better known, irregularly pronounced /ˈ(h)juːstən/ of Houston, Texas, named via Sam Houston after Houston, Scotland, a concatenation of "Hu's town"
• Huger, South Carolina — /ˈhjuːdʒi/ or /ˈjuːdʒi/
• Hurricane, Utah, Hurricane, West Virginia and Hurricane, Mississippi — /ˈhɜrɨkən/ (The /-ən/ ending is standard in the British pronunciation of hurricane, but not in American English)
• Hyak, Washington — /ˈhaɪ.æk/

I

• Illinois — /ˌɪlɨˈnɔɪ/
• Ilwaco, Washington — /ɪlˈwɑːkoʊ/
• Ironton, Ohio — /ˈɑrntən/
• Ischua, New York — /ˈɪʃweɪ/
• Isla Vista, California - /ˈaɪlə ˈvɪstə/
• Iselin, New Jersey — /ˈɪzlən/
• Isle au Haut, Maine — /ˈaɪləhoʊ/
• Islip, New York — /ˈaɪslɨp/
• Italy, Texas — /ˈɪtli/, with two syllables only

J

• Strait of Juan de Fuca — /wɑːndəˈfjuːkə/
• Julian, Pennsylvania — /dʒuːliˈæn/

K

• Kalaloch, Washington — /ˈkleɪlɒk/
• Kamela, Oregon — /kəˈmiːlə/
• Kamiah, Idaho — /ˈkæmi.aɪ/
• Kearney, Nebraska and Kearny, New Jersey — /ˈkɑrni/
• Keechelus Lake, Washington — /ˈkɛtʃələs/
• Kosciusko, Mississippi — /kɒziˈɛskoʊ/
• Kosciusko County, Indiana — /kɒsiˈɒskoʊ/
• Kountze, Texas — /ˈkuːnts/
• Kure Beach, North Carolina — /ˈkjʊəri/

L

• Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin — /ləˌkuːtəˈreɪ/
• Lafayette in Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee — /lɨˈfeɪ.ət/ vs. the cities in Indiana and Louisiana that are pronounced /lɑːfaɪˈɛt/, approximating the original French
• La Grande, Oregon — /ləˈɡrænd/
• Lake Oswego, Oregon — /ɒzˈwiːɡoʊ/
• Lamesa, Texas — /ləˈmiːsə/
• La Plata, Maryland — /ləˈpleɪtə/ listen (help·info)
• Lapwai, Idaho — /ˈlæpwaɪ/
• Latah, Washington and Latah County, Idaho — /ˈleɪtɑː/
• Leakey, Texas — /ˈleɪki/
• Lebam, Washington — /ləˈbæm/
• Lebanon, New Hampshire — /ˈlɛbnən/
• Leicester, Massachusetts — /ˈlɛstər/
• Lemhi County, Idaho — /ˈlɛmhaɪ/
• Lemoore, California — officially /ˈliːmɔr/ after the founder, quickly becoming /ləˈmɔr/ due to its spelling and the number of new people moving in to the town
• Leominster, Massachusetts — /ˈlɛmɨnstər/
• Lewes, Delaware — /ˈljuːɪs/
• Lima, Ohio — /ˈlaɪmə/
• Lodi, California, and elsewhere in US — /ˈloʊdaɪ/
• Lompoc, California — /ˈlɒmpoʊk/
• Louisville, Colorado, Louisville, Georgia, Louisville, Ohio — /ˈluːɨsvɨl/ vs. Louisville, Kentucky /ˈluːivɨl]/, locally /ˈluːǝvǝl/ or even /ˈlʊvǝl/

M

• Mackinac Island, Michigan — /ˈmækɨnɔː/
• Madras, Oregon — /ˈmædrəs/
• Madrid, New Mexico and New Madrid, Missouri — /ˈmædrɪd/
• Malad City, Idaho and Malad River — /məˈlæd/
• Malheur County, Oregon and Malheur River — /ˈmælhjər/
• Manchaca, Texas — /ˈmæntʃæk/
• Manor, Texas — /ˈmeɪnər/
• Mantua, Utah — /ˈmænəweɪ/
• Marquam, Oregon — /ˈmɑrkəm/
• Maury County, Tennessee — /ˈmɜrreɪ/
• Medina, Ohio and Washington — /mɨˈdaɪnə/
• Mesa, Washington — /ˈmiːsə/
• Methow, Washington — /ˈmɛtaʊ/
• Mexia, Texas — /məˈheɪə/ listen (help·info)
• Miami, Oklahoma — /maɪˈæmə/ (as opposed to the commonly known pronunciation of Miami, Florida)
• Milan, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington — /ˈmaɪlən/ listen (help·info)
• Minam, Oregon — /ˈmaɪnəm/
• Missouri — The "ss" represents IPA: [z] in either common pronunciation: /mɨˈzʊəri/ or /mɨˈzɜrrə/
• Monson, Massachusetts — /ˈmʌnsən/
• Montague, Texas — /ˈmɒntæɡ/
• Montpelier, Virginia — /mɒntpəˈlɪr/, perhaps more intuitive than the US standard /mɒntˈpiːliər/ of Montpelier, Vermont and others. all derived from Montpellier, France (/mɔ̃pɛˈlje/)
• Moscow, Idaho — /ˈmɒskoʊ/ (similar to the British English pronunciation of Moscow, Russia). Other Moscows in America are /ˈmɒskaʊ/, the American English pronunciation of the Russian city.
• Mukilteo, Washington — /ˌmʌkəlˈtiː.oʊ/
• Mulino, Oregon — /məˈlaɪnoʊ/

N

• Naches, Washington — /ˈnætʃiːz/
• Nacogdoches, Texas — /ˌnækəˈdoʊtʃɨs/
• Nahant, Massachusetts — /nəˈhɑːnt/
• Naselle, Washington — /neɪˈsɛl/
• Natchitoches, Louisiana — /ˈnækɨtəʃ/
• Neah Bay, Washington — /ˈniːə/
• Nenana, Alaska and Nenana River — /niːˈnænə/
• Nespelem, Washington — /nɛsˈpiːləm/
• Nevada — /nəˈvædə/; the pronunciation /nəˈvɑːdə/, while fairly common (particularly in the eastern United States), is stigmatized locally.
• Nevada County, Arkansas; Nevada, Iowa; and Nevada, Missouri — /nəˈveɪdə/
• Newark, Ohio — /ˈnɜrk/ vs. Newark, Delaware /ˈnjuː.ɑrk/
• New Orleans — /nuˈːɔrlɨnz/ or [ˈnɔrlɨnz] (local pronunciation only)
• New Madrid, Missouri — /ˈmædrɪd/ (accent on first syllable)
• New Prague, Minnesota. — /ˈpreɪɡ/

O

• Ojai, California — /ˈoʊhaɪ/
• Orcas Island, Washington — /ˈɔrkəs/ (not /ˈɔrkəz/, like the plural of orca)
• Ouray, Colorado — /ˈjʊəreɪ/
• Owyhee River and Owyhee County, Idaho — /oʊˈwaɪhi/

P

• Palacios, Texas — /pəˈlæʃəs/ (pə-LASH-əs)
• Palermo, North Dakota — /ˈpælərmoʊ/ (PAL-ər-moh)
• Palestine, Texas — /ˈpælɛstiːn/ (cf Palestine /ˈpælɨstaɪn/
• Palo Gaucho Bayou, Texas — /ˈpɑːli ˈgɑːtʃ/ "Polly-gotch"
• Palouse, Washington — /pəˈluːs/
• Pass Christian, Mississippi — /ˌpæs krɪsˈtʃæn/ or /ˌpæs krɪstʃiːˈæn/ (cf. the regular pronunciation of "Christian", /ˈkrɪstʃən/)
• Pawtucket, Rhode Island — /pəˈtʌkɨt/ (pə-TUCK-it)
• Peabody, Massachusetts — /ˈpiːbədi/, not /ˈpiːˈbɒdi/
• Pearrygin Lake, Washington — /ˈpɛərɨdʒɪn/
• Pedernales River, Texas — /ˌpɜrdəˈnælɨs/ (PER-dən-AL-iss)
• Pend Oreille County, Washington and Pend Oreille (also Pend d'Oreille) River — /pɒndəˈreɪ/ (pon-də-ray), compare to the similarly pronounced nearby town of Ponderay, Idaho.
• Picabo, Idaho — /ˈpiːkəbuː/
• Pierre, South Dakota — /ˈpɪər/
• Pfafftown, North Carolina — /ˈpɑːftaʊn/ (Usually the p is silent in names starting with Pf)
• Piceance Creek & Basin, Colorado — /ˈpiː.ɔːnts/ or /ˈpiː.ænts/ (PEE-ants)
• Plano, Texas — /ˈpleɪnoʊ/ (PLAY-noh)
• Plymouth, Massachusetts and elsewhere — /ˈplɪməθ/ (PLIM-əth)
• Point Mugu, California - /ˌpɔɪnt məˈɡuː/
• Pojoaque Pueblo, New Mexico — /pəˈwɑːki/ (pə-WAH-kee) by Anglos only
• Port Hueneme, California - /pɔrt waɪˈniːmi/
• Pompeii, Michigan — /ˈpɒmpiː.aɪ/ (POM-pee-eye, unlike the Italian town pronounced /pɒmˈpeɪ/)
• Poughkeepsie, New York — /pəˈkɪpsi/ (pə-KIP-see)
• Poulsbo, Washington — /ˈpɑːlzboʊ/ (PAHLZ-boh)
• Puget Sound, Washington — /ˈpjuːdʒɨt/ (PEW-jit)
• Puyallup, Washington — /pjuːˈæləp/ (pew-AL-əp)

Q

• Quincy, Massachusetts — /ˈkwɪnzi/
• Quitaque, Texas — /ˈkɪtɨkweɪ/
• Qulin, Missouri — /ˈkjuːlɨn/

R

• Raleigh, North Carolina — /ˈrɑːli/
• Refugio, Texas — /rəˈfjʊərioʊ/ listen (help·info) (rə-FYOOR-ee-oh)
• Rhea County, Tennessee — /ˈreɪ/
• Riga, New York — /ˈraɪɡə/ (RYE-gə)
• Rio Grande, Ohio — /ˌraɪ.oʊ ˈɡrænd/ (RYE-oh-grand) (Rio, Florida also uses the "RYE-oh" pronunciation)
• Ruch, Oregon — /ˈruːʃ/
• Russia, Ohio — /ˈruːʃiː/ (ROO-shee), which approximates the Russian language pronunciation
• Rutherfordton, North Carolina — locally /ˈrʌlftən/ or variations on that

S

• Saline, Michigan and Saline County, Illinois — /səˈliːn/ (sə-leen)
• Samish Island, Washington — /ˈsæmɪʃ/
• Sammamish, Washington — /səˈmæmɪʃ/
• San Jose, Illinois — /sæn ˈdʒoʊz/ listen (help·info)
• San Rafael, California — /sæn rəˈfɛl/
• San Xavier, Arizona — /sæn ˈhɑːvi.eɪ/
• Schaghticoke, New York — /ˈskætɨkʊk/ (SKA-ti-kook) or /ˈskætɨkoʊk/
• Schuylkill in Pennsylvania — /ˈskuːkəl/ (SKOO-kəl)
• Sedro-Woolley, Washington — /ˈsiːdroʊ ˈwʊli/
• Sekiu, Washington — /ˈsiːkjuː/
• Semiahmoo, Washington — /sɛmiˈɑːmoʊ/; (sĕm′·ē·â′·mō)
• Sequim, Washington — /ˈskwɪm/
• Shawangunk (Mountains, town and prison in Hudson Valley region of New York) — local pronunciation is /ˈʃɑːn.ɡʌm/ SHAHN-gum
• Shoshone, Idaho — /ʃoʊˈʃoʊn/
• Siuslaw River, Oregon — /saɪˈjuːslɔː/ sye-EW-slaw
• Skagit (name of a Native American tribe and various locales in Washington) — /ˈskædʒɨt/
• Skamokawa, Washington — /skəˈmɒkəˌweɪ/ (skə-MOK-ə-way)
• Sol Duc River, Washington — /ˈsoʊldʌk/ SOHL-duk (the spelling "soleduck" is also encountered)
• Spokane, Washington — /spoʊˈkæn/ (spoh-kan)
• Staunton, Virginia — /ˈstæntɨn/ (STAN-tin)
• Stehekin, Washington — /stəˈhiːkɨn/
• Steilacoom, Washington — /ˈstɪləkʌm/ (STIL-ə-kum)
• Suisun City, California — /sɨˈsuːn/ (sə-soon)
• Swansea, Massachusetts — /ˈswɑːnzi/

T

• Taliaferro County, Georgia— /ˈtɒlɪvər/
• Tanana, Alaska and Tanana River — /ˈtænənɑː/
• Tekoa, Washington — /ˈtiːkoʊ/
• Telocaset, Oregon — /ˌtɛləˈkæsɨt/
• Terre Haute, Indiana — /ˌtɛrəˈhoʊt/ (also /ˌtɛrəˈhʌt/)
• Tewksbury, Massachusetts — traditionally /ˈtʊksbəri/
• The Dalles, Oregon — /ˈdælz/
• Thibodaux, Louisiana — /ˈtɪbədoʊ/ (TIB-ə-doe)
• Tieton, Washington — /ˈtaɪ.ɨtən/
• Tillamook County, Oregon — /ˈtɪləmʌk/ (although locals pronounce it as /ˈtɪləmʊk/)
• Tok, Alaska — /ˈtoʊk/
• Tooele, Utah — /tuːˈɪlə/ (too-WIL-ə)
• Topsail Beach, North Carolina — /ˈtɒpsəl/ (TOP-səl)
• Touchet River, Washington — /ˈtuːʃi/
• Toutle River, Washington — /ˈtuːtəl/
• Tripoli, Iowa — /trɨˈpoʊlə/
• Tualatin, Oregon, Tualatin River — /tuːˈɑːlətɨn/
• Tulare, California — /tuːˈlɛəri/ or /tuːˈlɛər/
• Tucson, Arizona — /ˈtuːsɒn/
• Tygh Valley, Oregon — /ˈtaɪ/

V

• Valdez, Alaska — /vælˈdiːz/
• Vallejo, California — /vəˈleɪhoʊ/, locally /vəˈleɪ.oʊ/
• Veneta, Oregon — /vɨˈniːtə/
• Verdi, Nevada — /ˈvɜrdaɪ/
• Versailles, Illinois, Versailles, Kentucky, Versailles, Missouri, and Versailles, Ohio — /vɜrˈseɪlz/ listen (help·info)
• Vienna, Illinois, Vienna, South Dakota — /vaɪˈænə/ listen (help·info)

W

• Wahkiakum County, Washington — /wəˈkaɪ.əkəm/
• Wallowa, Oregon, Wallowa County, and the Wallowa Mountains — /wəˈlaʊ.ə/
• Wallula, Washington — /wəˈluːlə/
• Weippe, Idaho — /ˈwiː.aɪp/
• Weiser, Idaho — /ˈwiːzər/
• Whitemarsh Island — /ˈhwɪtmɑrʃ/
• Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — /ˈwɪlksbɛrə/, /ˈwɪlksbɛri/, or /ˈwɪlksbɛr/
• Willamette River, Oregon — /wɪˈlæmɨt/ (wil-LAM-it)
• Willapa River and Willapa Hills, Washington — /ˈwɪləˌpɑː/ (WILL-ə-pah)
• Woburn, Massachusetts — /ˈwuːbərn/, Woburn, Bedfordshire and Woburn, Toronto are simply /ˈwoʊbərn/
• Worcester, Massachusetts — /ˈwʊstər/

Y

• Yakima, Yakima County, and Yakima River, Washington — /ˈjækəmɑː/ (YAK-ə-mah), though the pronunciation /ˈjækəmə/ is also heard. The Native American people for whom the river, city, and county are named now prefer the spelling Yakama.
• Yachats, Oregon — /ˈjɑːhɑːts/ (YAH-hahts)
• Yaquina Bay and related place names in Oregon — /jəˈkwɪnə/
• Yocona River, Mississippi — /ˈjɒkni/ (YOK-nee)
• Youghiogheny River, U.S. — /ˌjɔːkəˈɡeɪni/ (YAW-kə-GAYN-ee)
• Yreka, California — /waɪˈriːkə/ (wye-REEK-ə)

Z

• Zzyzx, California — /ˈzaɪzɨks/ (ZYE-ziks)

Place names in other English-speaking countries

A

• Agassiz, British Columbia — /ˈæɡəsi/

B

• Baie d'Espoir, Newfoundland — /ˌbeɪ dɨsˈpɛər/, French for "Bay of Hope", ironically pronounced "Bay Despair"
• Brisbane, Australia — /ˈbrɪzbən/

C

• Cockburn, Australia — /ˈkoʊbɜrn/

D

• Delhi, Ontario — /ˈdɛlhaɪ/

E

• Etobicoke, Ontario — /ɨˈtoʊbɨkoʊ/

G

• Gaultois, Newfoundland and Labrador — /ˈɡɔːltəs/

J

• Job's Cove — /ˈdʒoʊbz/ (after biblical Job)

K

• Kelowna, British Columbia — /kəˈloʊnə/
• Keremeos, British Columbia — /ˌkɛrɨˈmiːəs/
• Kiribati (island nation in Pacific Ocean) — /ˈkɪrɨbæs/ (Gilbertese approximation of Gilberts.)
• Kiritimati (island in Pacific Ocean) — /ˈkɪrɨsmæs/ (Gilbertese approximation of Christmas.)
• Mount Kosciuszko, Australia — /ˌkɒziːˈɒskoʊ/

L

• L'Ardoise, Nova Scotia - /ˈlɔrdweɪz/

M

• Melbourne, Australia — /ˈmɛlbərn/ or /ˈmælbərn/

N

• Newfoundland — /ˈnuːfənlænd/
• North Gower, Ontario — /ˈɡoʊ.ər/ "go-er" (not "gow-er")

O

• Osoyoos, British Columbia — /ɒˈsuːjuːs/ (o-SOO-yoos) or /ɒˈsuːjəs/ and (originally) pronounced /ˈsuːjuːs/

P

• Pago Pago, American Samoa — /ˈpɑːŋɡoʊ ˈpɑːŋɡoʊ/
• Pouce Coupe, British Columbia — /ˌpuːs ˈkuːpi/

Q

• Quebec, Canada — /kəˈbɛk/ (alongside anglicized /kwɨˈbɛk/)
• Quesnel, British Columbia — /kwɨˈnɛl/
• Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland — /ˈkɪdi ˈvɪdi/
• Quirpon, Newfoundland and Labrador — /ˈkɑrpuːn/

S

• Saanich Peninsula and related place names in British Columbia — /ˈsænɨtʃ/
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/ Michigan — /ˈsuː ˈseɪnt məˈriː/
• Sechelt, British Columbia — /ˈsiːʃɛlt/
• Skidegate, British Columbia — /ˈskɪdəɡət/

• Stouffville, Ontario — /ˈstoʊvɪl/ (STOH-vill)
• Summerland, British Columbia — /ˈsʌmərlænd/ (not /ˈsʌmərlənd/)

T

• Thames River in Ontario, and town and firth in New Zealand — /ˈtɛmz/ (the Thames River in Connecticut is pronounced /ˈθeɪmz/)
• Tsawwassen, British Columbia — /təˈwɑːsən/

Given names

• Antawn Jamison — /ˈæntwɑːn/ (American English pronunciation of "Antoine". For more information, see the section on his name.)
• Chynna Phillips — /ˈtʃaɪnə/
• Kiki Cuyler — /ˈkaɪkaɪ/ (KYE-kye); compare with the more common /ˈkiːki/ (KEE-kee), as in Kiki Dee and Kiki Vandeweghe
• Magdalen(e) (as in Magdalen College, Oxford and Magdalene College, Cambridge) — /ˈmɔːdlɨn/
• MaliVai Washington — /mæləˈviːə/ (mal-ə-VEE-ə)
• Matraca Berg — /məˈtreɪsə/ (mə-TRAY-sə)
• Michellie Jones — /mɨˈkiːli/ (mə-KEE-lee)
• Monta Ellis — /ˈmɒnteɪ/ (MON-tay)
• Picabo Street — /ˈpiːkəbuː/
• Ralph — traditionally /ˈreɪf/, as with Ralph Fiennes, Ralph Vaughan Williams; now usually the intuitive /ˈrælf/
• Rise — occasionally /ˈriːsə/ (REE-sə, after Risë Stevens: the diaeresis over the e of Risë indicates that it is not a silent e)
• Seamus — /ˈʃeɪməs/; spelling Séamus is regular in Irish)
• Sean — /ˈʃɔːn/ (spelling Seán is regular in Irish)
• Shan Foster — /ˈʃeɪn/
• Siobhan — /ʃɨˈvɔːn/ (shə-vawn; spelling Siobhán is regular in Irish)
• Stephen Curry — /ˈstɛfən/, instead of the more common (in American English) /ˈstiːvən/
• Wynonna Judd — /waɪˈnoʊnə/ (wye-NOH-nə)

Surnames

A-B

• Duke of Abercorn — /ˈævərkɔrn/ (AV-ər-korn)
• David Acer — /ˈækər/ (AK-ər)
• Peter Agre — /ˈɑːɡreɪ/ (AH-gray) [3]
• Ameche (Don & Alan) — /əˈmiːtʃiː/ (ə-MEE-chee) (Anglicized spelling of the Italian name "Amici")
• Aucoin — from /oʊˈkwæn/ (e.g. Kevyn Aucoin), /oʊˈkwiːn/, /oʊˈkɔɪn/ (e.g. Bill Aucoin), to /ˈɔːkɔɪn/
• Ayscough (e.g. Hannah Ayscough) — /əˈskjuː/
• Walter Bagehot — /ˈbædʒɨt/
• Jim Bakker — /ˈbeɪkər/
• Earl Beauchamp — /ˈbiːtʃəm/
• Beauclerk — /boʊˈklɛər/
• Berkeley (English surname) — /ˈbɑrkli/. Surname in the US /ˈbɜrkli/.
• Bohun — /ˈbuːn/
• Blount (e.g. Mel Blount, Roy Blount, Jr.) — /ˈblʌnt/
• Roger Boisjoly — /boʊʒəˈleɪ/
• Boulware (Virginia) — /ˈboʊlər/
• John Boozman — /ˈboʊzmən/
• KC Boutiette — /ˈbuːti.eɪ/ (BOO-tee-ay)
• Eli Broad — /broʊd//
• Duke of Buccleuch — /bəˈkluː/ (bə-clue)
• Steve Buyer — /ˈbuːjər/ (BOO-yər)

C

• John Caius (as in Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge) — /ˈkiːz/
• Thomas Carew, poet — /ˈkɛriː/; compare with the more intuitive /kəˈruː/ (kə-roo), as in John Carew (footballer) and Rod Carew
• Jason Chaffetz — /ˈtʃeɪfits/ [4]
• Craig Chaquico — /tʃəˈkiːsoʊ/ (chə-KEE-soh)
• Mamah Cheney — /ˈmeɪmə ˈtʃeɪni/ (MAY-mə CHAY-nee)
• Cheves (e.g. Langdon Cheves) — /ˈtʃɪvɨs/ (CHIV-əs)
• Cholmondeley — /ˈtʃʌmli/ (CHUM-lee)
• Cecelia Cichan — /ˈʃiːhən/ (SHEE-hən)
• Cockburn — /ˈkoʊbərn/
• Colcolough (Virginia, e.g. Tom Colcolough) — /ˈkoʊkli/ or /ˈkɒkli/
• Colquhoun — /kəˈhuːn/ (kə-HOON)
• Aaron Copland — /ˈkoʊplənd/
• Dan Cortese — /kɔrˈtɛz/
• Cowper — /ˈkuːpər/
• Crichton — /ˈkraɪtən/
• Cruwys (e.g. Margaret Cruwys — /ˈkruːz/
• Culzean Castle, Scotland — /kəˈleɪn/ (kə-LAYN)
• Cuyjet — /suːˈʒeɪ/ (soo-ZHAY)

D-E

• Vernon Dahmer —/ˈdeɪmər/
• Dalyell and Dalziel (as in the UK television series Dalziel and Pascoe) — /diˈɛl/ (dee-el)
• Davies — both /ˈdeɪvɪs/ and /ˈdeɪviːz/
• DeLaughter, e.g. Tim DeLaughter —/dɨˈlɔːtər/
• Diuguid —/ˈduːɡɨd/ (DOO-gid)
• John Donne, poet — /dʌn/
• Andre Dubus —/dəˈbjuːs/ (də-byooss)
• Justin Duchscherer —/ˈduːkʃər/ (DOOK-shər)
• Keir Dullea —/dəˈleɪ/ (də-lay)
• Dyches — /daɪks/
• Eames (e.g. Emma Eames) — properly (?) /ˈeɪmz/, though often /iːmz/
• Ehle (Jennifer; John) — /ˈiːli/ (EE-lee)
• Cary Elwes — /ˈɛlweɪz/ (EL-wayz)
• Enroughty (S. Carolina) — /ˈdɑrbi/^[10]

F-H

• Faneuil — /ˈfænəl/ or /ˈfænjəl/
• Ron Faucheux — /foʊˈʃeɪ/ (foe-shay)
• Brett Favre — /ˈfɑrv/
• Featherstonehaugh — /ˈfænʃɔː/ (FAN-shaw); also /ˈfɛstənhɔː/, /ˈfiːsənheɪ/, /ˈfɪərstənhɔː/, or as /ˈfɛðərstənhɔː/^[11]
• Ronald Fedkiw — /ˈfɛdkoʊ/
• William Foege — /ˈfeɪɡi/ (FAY-gee)
• Fotheringay — pronounced funghy
• Robert Fulghum — /ˈfʊldʒəm/ (FULL-jəm)
• Clifford Geertz — /ˈɡɜrts/
• Geogehan, Geoghegan — /ˈɡeɪɡən/ (GAY-gən)
• Donald Glut — /ˈɡluːt/
• Lee Godie — /ˈɡoʊdeɪ/ (GOH-day)
• Goodenough — usually /ˈɡuːdənoʊ/
• Elizabeth Goudge — /ˈɡuːʒ/ (GOOZH)
• Greenhalgh — /ˈɡriːnhælʒ/ or /ˈɡriːnhælʃ/ (GREEN-halzh, -sh)
• Matt Groening — /ˈɡreɪniŋ/
• Grosvenor — /ˈɡroʊvənʊər/ or /ˈɡroʊvnər/
• Guild, e.g. Nancy Guild — /ˈɡaɪld/
• Earl of Harewood — /ˈhɑrwʊd/
• Earl of Home — /ˈhjuːm/ (rhymes with fume)
• Benjamin Huger — /ˈuːdʒi/ (OO-jee) or /ˈuːdʒeɪ/
• William Hulme — /ˈhjuːm/ (same as the Earl of Home's name)

I-L

• David Icke — /ˈaɪk/
• Andrew P. Iosue — /ˈɒzweɪ/ (OZ-way)^[12]
• Isley Brothers — /ˈaɪzliː/
• Darrell Issa — /ˈaɪzə/ (EYE-zə)
• Jacques — sometimes (e.g. Brian Jacques, Hattie Jacques) /ˈdʒeɪks/
• Hamilton Jordan — /ˈdʒɜrdən/
• Rob Kearney - (Pronounced as 'Carney')
• John Keble (of Keble College) — /ˈkiːbəl/
• Kehoe, Keogh (Irish surname) — /ˈkjoʊ/
• Kerr
  • In the case of Deborah Kerr, /ˈkɑr/ "car"
  • Original Scottish: [keɾ] (e.g., Graham Kerr, the "Galloping Gourmet")
  • American English: Often /ˈkɜr/, as in Steve Kerr
• Keynes, e.g. John Maynard Keynes — /ˈkeɪnz/
• Karch Kiraly — /kɪˈraɪ/ (kirr-eye)
• Shia LaBeouf — /ˈʃaɪə ləˈbʌf/ (lə-buff)
• Landrieu — /ˈlændruː/ (LAN-droo)
• Lalor — /ˈlɔːlər/ (LAW-lər)
• Lange — usually /ˈlæŋ/
  • David Lange — /ˈlɒŋi/ (LONG-ee)
• Lascelles (e.g. Alan Lascelles) — /ˈlæsəls/ (rhymes with "tassels")
• Lauren (Ralph) — /ˈlɒrən/ (LORR-ən, rather than lo-ren)
• Legaré (e.g. Hugh S. Legaré ) — /ləˈɡriː/ (lə-gree)
• John Lescroart — /lɛsˈkwɑː/ (les-skwah)
• Leveson-Gower (e.g. H. D. G. Leveson-Gower, Granville George Leveson-Gower) — /ˈluːsən ˈɡɔər/
• Lewes, e.g. George Henry Lewes — /ˈluːɪs/
• J. Thomas Looney — /ˈloʊni/

M

• Machin (e.g. Arnold Machin) — /ˈmeɪtʃɨn/ (MAY-chin)
• MacKay — in Scotland /məˈkaɪ/ (rhymes with "sky"), elsewhere more often the anglicised /məˈkeɪ/
• Mackay (e.g. Clarence Mackay) — /ˈmæki/
• MacLeod, McLeod — /məˈklaʊd/
• MacMahon, McMahon — sometimes /məkˈmæn/ (mək-man), as in the McMahon wrestling family
• Mainwaring — /ˈmænərɪŋ/ (non-fictional Mainwarings pronounce it the same)
• Robert Mapplethorpe — /ˈmeɪpəlθɔrp/
• Marjoribanks — /ˈmɑrʃbæŋks/
• Marlborough — /ˈmɔrlbrə/
• Maugham (e.g. Somerset Maugham) — /ˈmɔːm/
• Marin Mazzie — /ˈmeɪzi/ (MAY-zee)
• McCaughey (e.g. the McCaughey septuplets) — /məˈkɔɪ/
• Geraldine McCaughrean — /məˈkɔːkrən/
• McGrath — In Ireland usually /məˈɡrɑː/, though elsewhere often /məˈɡræθ/
• McLean, MacLean — /məˈkleɪn/^[13][14][15], occasionally its anglicised equivalent /məˈkliːn/ (rhymes with "clean")
• Meagher — /ˈmɑr/, /ˈmɑːhər/
• David Mech — /ˈmiːtʃ/
• Melancon (e.g. Charlie Melancon) — /məˈlɔːsɔ̃/[5] (almost is regular French pronunciation /məˈlɑ̃sɔ̃/ of "Melançon" with a c-cedilla)
• Menzies — /ˈmɪŋɨs/ (MING-iss)
• Moog — /ˈmoʊɡ/
• Moragne (U.S.) — /mɒˈreɪni/

N-Q

• Naifeh — /ˈneɪfi/ (NAY-fee)
• Randy Neugebauer — /ˈnɔːgəbaʊər/[6]
• Bill Nighy — /ˈnaɪ/
• Laura Nyro — /ˈnɪəroʊ/
• Laurence Olivier — /ɒˈlɪvi.eɪ/
• Ouzts — /ˈuːts/
• Samuel Pepys — /ˈpiːps/
• Lou Piniella — /pəˈnɛlə/ (pə-NEL-ə)
• Pole-Carew (e.g. William Pole-Carew) — /puːl ˈkɛəri/
• Cliff Politte — /pɒˈliːt/ (pol-leet)
• Popo Agie Wilderness, Wyoming /poʊpoʊˈʒɑː/
• Pou (e.g. Edward W. Pou) — /ˈpjuː/
• Prioleau (e.g. Pierson Prioleau) — /ˈpreɪloʊ/
• Proulx (as in Marcel Proulx and E. Annie Proulx) — /ˈpruː/

R

• Raleigh (surname) — /ˈrɔːli/
• Rehm (e.g. Diane Rehm) — /ˈriːm/
• Pete Reiser — /ˈriːsər/
• Mary Renault — /ˈrɛnəlt/ (REN-əlt)
• Reynolds — /ˈrɛnəldz/
• Rhea (e.g. Caroline Rhea) — /ˈreɪ/
• Rhys — /ˈriːs/
• Lisa Rieffel — /rəˈfɛl/ (rə-fel)
• Riordan (e.g. Richard Riordan, Mike Riordan) — often/ˈrɪərdən/ (REER-dən)
• Roosevelt - /ˈroʊzəvɛlt/ (ROE-zə-velt)
• Klaus Roth — /ˈroʊθ/
• Marge Roukema — /ˈrɒkəmə/ (ROCK-ə-mə)
• Kirk Rueter — /ˈriːtər/ (REE-tər)
• Ed Ruscha — /ruːˈʃeɪ/ (roo-shay)

S

• St John (first name and surname) — /ˈsɪndʒən/ (as in Oliver St. John Gogarty); or /sɪnˈdʒɒn/ or /saɪntˈdʒɒn/ (as in Ian St. John).
• Rachael Scdoris — /səˈdɔrɪs/ (the same as the Sedoris from which it developed)
• Schaffer, Shaffer — often /ˈʃeɪfər/ rather than /ˈʃæfər/
• Terri Schiavo — /ˈʃaɪvoʊ/ (SHY-voh) vs. regular Mary Schiavo /skiˈɑːvoʊ/.
• Schlumberger — /ʃlʌmbərˈʒeɪ/ (shlum-bər-zhay)
• Patti Scialfa — /ˈskælfə/ (SKAL-fə)
• Steven Seagal — /sɨˈɡɑːl/ (after Chagall; his father's name is simply pronounced /ˈsiːɡəl/)
• Junior Seau — /ˈseɪ.aʊ/ (SAY-ow)
• Seay — sometimes (Seay, Mark Seay) /ˈseɪ/, usually /ˈsiː/
• Karen Sillas — /ˈsaɪləs/ (SYE-ləs)
• Smellie (Scottish, e.g. William Smellie) — /ˈsmaɪli/
• Somerset — /ˈsʌmərsɨt/
• Strachan — /ˈstrɔːn/ (e.g. Gordon Strachan); /ˈstræxən/, now often /ˈstrækən/
• Baron Strange — /ˈstræŋ/, as in Lord Strange's Men
• Dana Suesse — /ˈswiːs/
• Synge — /ˈsɪŋ/

T-V

• Tal(l)iaferro — /ˈtɒlɨvər/
• Roger Taney — /ˈtɔːni/
• Lauren Tewes — /ˈtwiːz/
• Thome (e.g. Jim Thome) — /toʊˈmeɪ/
• Threatt (e.g. Sedale Threatt) — /ˈθriːt/
• Todd Tiahrt — /ˈtiːhɑrt/
• Tilghman — /ˈtɪlmən/
• Tjoelker — /ˈtʃoʊkər/
• Jonathan Toews — /ˈteɪvz/
• Trevelyan — /trəˈvɪljən/
• Tyrwhitt (e.g. Reginald Tyrwhitt) — /ˈtɪrɨt/ (rhymes with "spirit")
• Urquhart — /ˈɜrkərt/
• Vanderhorst (S. Carolina) (e.g. Arnoldus Vanderhorst — /vænˈdrɑːs/
• Bill Veeck — /ˈvɛk/

W-Z

• Waldegrave — /ˈwɔːlɡreɪv/
• Wein, Weiner — often /ˈwiːn/ and /ˈwiːnər/
• Winzet — /ˈwɪnjət/
• Wodehouse — /ˈwʊdhaʊs/
• Worcester — /ˈwʊstər/
• Larry Woiwode — /ˈwaɪwʊdi/
• Woolfardisworthy — /ˈwʊlzi/
• Herman Wouk — /ˈwoʊk/
• Patricia Wrede — /ˈriːdi/
• Wriothesley (e.g. the Earls of Southampton)— variably given as /ˈrɪzli/, /ˈraɪzli/, /ˈroʊzli/,^[16], /ˈrɔːtsli/ or /ˈrɒksli/
• Yeaton — /ˈjɛtən/ (YET-n)
• William Butler Yeats — /ˈjeɪts/
• Yeend, e.g. Frances Yeend — /ˈjɛnd/
• Clayton Yeutter — /ˈjaɪtər/ (rhymes with "fighter")

See also

• English spelling
• Pronunciation of Chinese names in English Counterintuitive Q, X, C, Zh, etc in words romanised in Pinyin.

Notes

References

• G. M. Miller (editor) (1971). BBC pronouncing dictionary of British names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-431125-2. 
• Ordnance Survey of Ireland (1989). Gazetteer of Ireland. Government Publications Office. ISBN 0-7076-0076-6. 

External links

• h2g2 guide to Pronouncing British Placenames
• How Do You Pronounce That Name? on genealogymagazine.com
• A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures