List of names in English with counterintuitive pronunciations

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 not immediately obvious, but neither is it counterintuitive.

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.

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)
• -gh – silent
• -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/ or /ˈɔːlstər/
• Aldeburgh, Suffolk – /ˈɔːlbrə/; (ôl′·brə)
• Alnwick, Northumberland – /ˈænɪk/; (ă′·nĭk)
• Althorp, Northamptonshire – /ˈɔːltrəp/; (ôl′·trəp) beside intuitive /ˈɔːlθɔrp/; (ôl′·thôrp)
• Altrincham, Greater Manchester – /ˈɔːltrɪŋəm/; (ôl′·trĭng·əm)
• Alverdiscott, Devon – /ˈɒlskɒt/
• Anstruther, Fife – /ˈeɪnstər/; (ān′·stər) beside intuitive /ˈænstrʌðər/; (ăn′·strŭdh·ər)
• Aslackby, Lincolnshire – /ˈeɪzəlbi/ and /ˈlaʊtən/
• Athelstaneford, East Lothian – /ˈæθəlsteɪnfərd/ (ăth′·əl·stān·fərd) or /ˈeɪlsənfərd/ (āl′·sən·fərd)
• Auchinleck, Ayrshire – /ˈæflɛk/; (ăf′·lĕk) or intuitively /ˈɔːkɨnlɛk/ or /ˈɒxɨnlɛk/
• Averham, Nottinghamshire – /ˈɛərəm/; (ār′·əm)
• Aveton Gifford, Devon – /ˈɔːtən ˈdʒɪfərd/ (ôtən jĭf·fərd)
• Avoch, Highland – /ˈɔːx/ (ôkh)

B

• Balliol College, University of Oxford – /ˈbeɪliəl/; (bā′·lē·əl)
• Barham, Kent – /ˈbærəm/; (băr′·əm)
• Barnoldswick, Lancashire - local pronunciation is /ˈbɑrlĭk/; (bâr'·lĭk)
• Barnstaple, Devon – /ˈbɑrnstəbəl/; (bârn′·stə·bəl)^{[citation needed]}
• Barugh, South Yorkshire – /ˈbɑrk/; (bârk)
• Great Barugh and Little Barugh, North Yorkshire – /ˈbɑrf/; (bârf)
• Beauchamp Roding, Essex – /biːtʃəm/; (bee′·chəm)
• Beauchief, Sheffield – /ˈbiːtʃɪf/; (bē′·chĭf)
• Beaudesert, Warwickshire – until recently /ˈbɛlzər/ (bĕl′·zər), reflecting original "Beldesert"
• 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: Belvoir Castle and village, and Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire; also Belvoir, an area of Belfast, Northern Ireland, with Belvoir Park Golf Club – /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)
• Blidworth, Nottinghamshire – /ˈblɪdəθ/; (blīd′·əth)
• Bosham, West Sussex - /ˈbɒzəm/
• Boyounagh, County Galway – /ˈbwiːnəx/; (bwē′·nəkh)
• Bozeat, Northamptonshire – /ˈbʊʒət/; (bŏŏzh′·ət)
• Bradley, West Midlands – /ˈbreɪdli/; (brād′·lē)
• Breaghwy, Connacht – /ˈbreɪfiː/; (brĕf′·ē)
• 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/)
• River Cherwell, river in England – /ˈtʃɑrwɛl/; (châr′·wĕl)
• Cheylesmore, Coventry – /ˈtʃɑːlzmɔr/; (châlz′·mor)
• Chideock – /ˈtʃɪdək/
• Chiswick, London – /ˈtʃɪzɨk/; (chĭz′·ĭk)
• Cholmondeley, Cheshire – /ˈtʃʌmli/; (chŭm′·lē)
• Cholmondeston, Cheshire – /ˈtʃʌmstən/; (chŭm′·stən)
• Cirencester, Gloucestershire – now usually /ˈsaɪrənˌsɛstər/ (sī′·rən·sĕs·tər), but traditionally /ˈsɪsɨtər/ (sĭ′·sĭ·tər)
• Claughton, Lancashire – /ˈklæftən/; (klăf′·tən)
• Claughton on Brock, Lancashire – /ˈklaɪtən/; (klī′·tən)
• Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire – /ˈklɪbəri/; (klĭb′·ə·rē)
• Cloghore, County Donegal – /klaɪˈhɔər/; (klī′·hōr)
• Cobh, County Cork – /ˈkoʊv/; (kōv; Cóbh is regular in Irish)
• Cogenhoe, Northamptonshire – /ˈkʊknoʊ/; (kŏŏk′·nō)
• Costessey, Norfolk – /ˈkɒsi/; (kŏs′·ē)
• Cowden, Kent - /kaʊˈdɛn/; (kow·dĕn')
• Cowpen, Northumberland – /ˈkuːpɛn/; (kōō′·pĕn)
• Croxton Kerrial, Leicestershire - /ˈkroʊsən ˈkɛrɨl/; (krō′·sən ˈker′·il)
• Cruwys Morchard, Devon – /ˈkruːz/; (krōōz)
• Cuckfield, Sussex – /ˈkʊkfiːld/; (kŏŏk′·fēld) · (compare nearby Uckfield pronounced /ˈʌkfiːld/)
• Culross, Fife – /ˈkuːrɒs/; (kōō′·rŏs)
• Cultra, Northern Ireland – /kʌlˈtrɔː/; (kŭl·trô′)
• Culzean Castle, Ayrshire – /kəˈleɪn/; (kə·lān′)

D

• Daventry – now usually /ˈdævəntri/ (da′·vən·trē), but traditionally /ˈdeɪntri/ (dān′·trē)
• Denbigh – /ˈdɛnbi/; (den′·bē)
• Derby – /ˈdɑrbi/; (dâr′·bē)
• Dodworth, South Yorkshire – /ˈdɒdərθ/
• Durham – /ˈdʌrəm/

E

• Edensor, Derbyshire – /ˈɛnzər/; (ĕn′·zər)
• Edenham, Lincolnshire – /ˈɛdnəm/
• Edinburgh, Scotland – /ˈɛdɪnbʌrə/; (ED-in-brə);
• Elsecar, South Yorkshire – /ɛlsɪˈkɑr/; (ĕl·sĭ·kâr′)
• Esher, Surrey – /ˈiːʃər/
• Euxton, Lancashire – /ˈɛkstən/; (ĕks′·tən)
• Ewell, Surrey – /ˈjuːl/;
• Eyam, Derbyshire – /ˈiːm/; (ēm)

F

• Findochty, Moray – /ˈfɪnəxti/; (fĭn′·əkh·tē)
• Flitwick, Bedfordshire - /ˈflɪtɪk/; (flĭt'·ĭk)
• Folkingham, Lincolnshire – /ˈfɒkɪŋəm/
• Fowey, Cornwall – /ˈfɔɪ/; (foi)
• Friockheim, Angus – /ˈfriːkəm/ (frē′·kŭm)
• Frocester, Gloucestershire - /ˈfrɒstər/; (fros' tər)
• Frome, Somerset – /ˈfruːm/; (frōōm)

G

• The Garioch, Aberdeenshire – /ˈɡɪəri/; (gēr′·ē)
• Gateacre, Liverpool – /ˈɡætəkər/; (găt′·ə·kər)
• Gigha, Argyll and Bute – /ˈɡiːə/ (gē′·ə)
• Gillingham, Dorset - /ˈɡɪlɪŋəm/; (gil′·ing·əm) (but Gillingham, Kent is pronounced /ˈdʒɪlɪŋəm/ ((jil′·ing·əm))
• Glamis, Argyll and Bute – /ˈɡlɑːmz/ (glâmz)
• Glenzier, Dumfries and Galloway – /ˈɡlɪŋər/; (glĭng′·ər)
• Gloucester – /ˈɡlɒstər/
• Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire – /ˈɡʌmstər/^{[citation needed]}
• Gotham, Nottinghamshire – /ˈɡoʊtəm/; (gō′·təm)
• Grandtully, Perthshire – /ˈɡræntli/ (grănt′·lē)
• Greenwich, Greater London – /ˈɡrɛnɨtʃ/ or /ˈɡrɪnɨtʃ/; (grĕn′·ĭch) or (grĭn′·ĭch)
• Greysouthen, Cumbria – /ˈɡreɪsuːn/; (grā′·sōōn)
• Groby, Leicestershire – /ˈɡruːbiː/; (grōō′·bē)
• Guildford, Surrey – /ˈɡɪlfərd/; (gĭl′·fərd)

H

• Happisburgh, Norfolk – /ˈheɪzbrə/; (hāz′·brə)
• Little Hautbois, Norfolk – /ˈhɒbɪs/
• Hawarden, Flintshire – /ˈhɑrdən/; (hâr′·dən)
• Hawick, Scottish Borders – /ˈhɔɪk/; (hoik) alongside intuitive /ˈhɔː.ɪk/ (hô′·ĭk)
• Heather, Leicestershire – /ˈhiːðər/; (hē′·dhər)
• Herstmonceux, East Sussex – /ˌhɝːsmənˈzuː/ or /-ˈsuː/
• Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire – /ˈhɛzəl/; (hĕz′·əl)
• Holborn, London – /ˈhoʊbərn/; (hō′·bərn")
• Holnicote, Somerset – /ˈhʌnɨkɒt/
• Holyhead, Wales – /ˈhɒlihɛd/; (hŏl′·ē·hĕd)
• Houghton-le-Spring – /ˈhoʊtən liː ˈsprɪŋ/;
• Hunstanton, Norfolk – /ˈhʌnstən/; (hŭns′·tən) alongside intuitive /hʌnˈstæntən/ (hŭn·stăn′·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′·ĭk)
• Kilchurn Castle, /ˈkɪlʌrn/
• Kilconquhar, Fife – /kɨnˈjʌxər/; (kĭn·yŭkh′·ər)
• Kilncadzow, South Lanarkshire, Scotland – /kɪlˈkeɪɡeɪ/; Kill-caig-eh
• Kiltimagh, County Mayo – /kɪltʃɨˈmɒk/; (kĭl·chĭ·mŏk′)
• Kingussie, Highland – /kɪŋˈjuːsi/; (kĭng·yōō′·sē)
• Kirkby, Merseyside – /ˈkɜrbi/; (kûr′·bē)
• Kirkcaldy, Fife – /kɪrˈkɒdi/; (kĭr·kŏ′·dē)
• Kirkcudbright, Galloway – /kərˈkuːbri/; (kər·kōō′·brē)

L

• Laugharne, Carmarthenshire – /ˈlɑrn/; (lârn)
• Launceston, Cornwall – /ˈlɔːns(t)ən/ or /ˈlɑːns(t)ən/ (lôn′·stən, lôn′·sən or lân′·stən, lân′·sən) (versus Launceston, Tasmania, pronounced /ˈlɒnsəstən/ [lŏn′·səs·tən])
• Leap, County Cork – /ˈlɛp/; (lĕp)
• Leicester – /ˈlɛstər/; (lĕs′·tər)
• Leigh, Kent and Leigh, Surrey – /ˈlaɪ/; (lī)
• Leighlin and Leighlinbridge, County Carlow – /ˈlɒxlɪn/ (Also with /k/ instead of /x/)
• Leominster, Herefordshire – /ˈlɛmstər/; (lĕm′·stər) · (compare Leominster, Massachusetts below)
• Liskeard, Cornwall – /lɪˈskɑrd/; (lĭ·skârd′)
• Loose, Kent – /ˈluːz/; (lōōz)
• Loughborough, Leicestershire – /ˈlʌfbrə/; (lŭf'·brə)
• Lostwithiel, Cornwall – /lɒsˈwɪθiəl/; (lŏs·wĭth′·ē·əl)
• 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 /ˈmærɪlɨbən/
• Meols, Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside – /ˈmɛlz/; (mĕlz)
• Meols Cop, Southport – /ˈmiːlz/; (mēlz)
• Meopham, Kent – /ˈmɛpəm/; (mĕp′·əm)
• Mildenhall, Wiltshire – /ˈmaɪnəl; (mī′·nəl)^{[citation needed]}
• Milngavie, Dunbartonshire – /ˈmʌlɡaɪ/ or /ˈmɪlɡaɪ/; (mŭl′·gī) or (mĭl′·gī)
• Mousehole, Cornwall – /ˈmaʊzəl/; (mou′·zəl)
• Mweelrea, County Mayo – /mweɪlˈriːə/ ; (mwāl·rē′·ə)
• Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire – /ˌmaɪðəmˈrɔɪd/; (mī′·dhəm·royd′)

N

• Naas, County Kildare, Ireland – /ˈneɪs/; (nās)
• Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland – /ˈneɪ/; (nā)
• River Nene, Northamptonshire – /ˈnɛn/; (nĕn) alongside intuitive /niːn/; (nēn)
• Norwich, Norfolk – /ˈnɒrɨdʒ/; (nŏr′·ĭj)

O

• Olney, Buckinghamshire – /ˈɔːniː/ (ô′·nē) (local pronunciation)^{[citation needed]}; /ˈoʊlniː/ (ōl′·nē)
• Osbournby, Lincolnshire – /ˈɒznbi/
• Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire – /ˈɒzəltwɪzəl/ (ŏz′·l·twĭz·l); (ŏz′·twĭs·l) (local pronunciation);^{[citation needed]} /ɒzwəl(d)twɪsəl/ (ŏz′·wəl(d)·twĭs·əl)
• Ovingham, Northumberland – /ˈɒvɪndʒəm/
• Owenabue, river in County Cork – /oʊnəˈbwiː/ (ō·nə·bwē′)

P

• Plaistow

• Plaistow, Newham, Greater London – /ˈplɑːstaʊ/
• Plaistow, West Sussex – /ˈplɑːstaʊ/

• Plymouth, Devon – /ˈplɪməθ/; (plĭm′·əth)
• Portesham, Dorset – /ˈpɒsəm/ (old-fashioned), currently /ˈpɔrtɨʃəm/ or /ˈpɔrtsəm/
• Postwick, Norfolk – /ˈpɔːzɨk/
• Poxwell, Dorset – /ˈpoʊkswɛl/
• Prideaux Castle, Cornwall – /ˈprɪdəks/
• Prinknash, Gloucestershire – /ˈprɪnɨʃ/ (prĭn′·nish)
• Puncknowle, Devon – /ˈpʌnəl/ (pŭn′·əl)

R

• Rainworth, Nottinghamshire – /ˈrɛnəθ/; (rĕn′·əth)
• Ratlinghope, Shropshire – /ˈrætʃʌp/; (răt′·shŭp) (debatable)
• 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 – /ˈsæŋkər/
• Scone, Perthshire – /ˈskuːn/ (rhymes with "spoon")
• Shrewsbury, Shropshire – /ˈʃroʊzbri/; (shrōz'brē) or /ˈʃruːzbri/; (shrōōz'brē)
• Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire – pronunciation varies /ˈslæwɪt/, /ˈslæθwɪt/; (slă′·wĭt)
• Smethwick, West Midlands – /ˈsmɛðɨk/; (smĕdh′·ik)
• Southwark, Greater London – /ˈsʌðərk/; (sŭdh′·ərk); locally [ˈsʌvək]; (sŭv′·ərk)
• Southwell, Nottinghamshire – /ˈsʌðəl/ or /ˈsaʊθwəl/; (sŭdh′·əl or sowth′·wəl)
• Southwick, Hampshire - /ˈsʌðɨk/; (sŭdh′·ik) - however Southwick, West Sussex is pronounced /ˈsaʊθwɨk/; (sowth′·wik)
• Sproxton, Leicestershire – /ˈsproʊsən/
• 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)
• Stroxton, Lincolnshire – /ˈstrɔːsən/

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/)
• Threekingham, Lincolnshire – /ˈθrɛkɪŋɡəm/
• Tideswell, Derbyshire – /ˈtɪdsəl/; (tĭd′·səl)
• Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire – /tɪlɪˈcutrɪ/; (tĭ·lĭ·kōō·trĭ)
• Tintwistle, Derbyshire – /ˈtɪnsəl/; (tĭn′·səl)
• Todmorden, West Yorkshire – /ˈtɒdmərdən/ is the most common pronunciation although the BBC uses /ˈtɒdmɔrdən/.
• 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′·ik) · /ˈwɒrɨkʃər/; (wŏr′·ik·shər)
• Wavertree, Lancaster – /ˈwɔːtri/ (obsolete)
• Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire – /ˈwiːtən/; (wēt′·n)
• Welwyn – /ˈwɛlɨn/ (wĕl′·ĭn)
• Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde – /ˈwiːmz/ (wēmz)
• Whittingham, Northumberland – /ˈwɪtɪndʒəm/
• 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

• Yeavering, Northumberland – /ˈjɛvəriŋ/
• 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/
• Arab, Alabama and Arab, Missouri – /ˈeɪræb/
• Arkansas – /ˈɑrkənsɔː/ (AR-kən-saw). However, Arkansas City, Kansas is pronounced /ɑrˈkænsəs/ (ar-KAN-zəs), as is the Arkansas River to many Kansans.
• Athens, Kentucky, Athens, Illinois and New Athens, Illinois – /ˈeɪθənz/
• Au Sable, New York, and the river of that name - /ɔːˈseɪbəl/ or /aʊseɪbəl/ (aw-SAY-bil or ow-SAY-bil)

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, Massachusetts; Berlin, New Hampshire; New Berlin, New York; New Berlin, New York; Berlin, Ohio; Berlin, Wisconsin; and New Berlin, Wisconsin – /ˈbɜrlɨn/ (stress on first syllable)  listen
• Bernardsville, New Jersey – ˈbɜrnərdzvɨl BURN-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/, 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 Township, Benton County, Indiana, Bolivar, Missouri, Bolivar County, Mississippi, Bolivar, New York, Bolivar, Ohio, Bolivar, Pennsylvania, Mount Bolivar, Oregon, Bolivar, Tennessee, Bolivar, West Virginia – all 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, Buena Vista, Iowa – /ˌbjuːnəˈvɪstə/
• Bucoda, Washington – bəˈkoʊdə bə-KOH-də
• Buddha, Indiana – /ˈbuːdi/
• Buhl, Idaho – /ˈbjuːl/
• Burien, Washington – /ˈbjɜrriən/

C

• Cairo, Georgia and Cairo, Mississippi – /ˈkeɪ.roʊ/
• Cairo, Illinois, Cairo, Ohio, and Cairo, New York – /ˈkɛəroʊ/  listen
• Calais, Maine and Calais, Vermont – /ˈkælɨs/  listen (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/
• Chartres Street, New Orleans – /ˈch ärtər/
• Chatham, Massachusetts, Chatham, New Jersey and Chatham, New York – /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
• 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, Delhi, Louisiana, and Delhi, New York – both /ˈdɛlhaɪ/
• Des Moines, Washington – /dɨˈmɔɪnz/
• 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 and Dubois County, Indiana – /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
• Elbe, Washington – /ˈɛlbiː/
• Elgin, Illinois – /ˈɛldʒɨn/ vs. Elgin, Texas /ˈɛlɡɨn/
• Elizabethton, Tennessee – /ɨˌlɪzɨˈbiːθən/
• Embarras 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, Greenwich, New Jersey, Greenwich, New York 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 /ˈhɪmən/
• Hockessin, Delaware – /ˈhoʊkɨsɨn/
• Houston, Delaware, 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

• Iaeger, West Virginia – /ˈjeɪɡər/
• 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
• Lapwai, Idaho – /ˈlæpwaɪ/
• Latah, Washington and Latah County, Idaho – /ˈleɪtɑː/
• Leakey, Texas – /ˈleɪki/
• Lebam, Washington – /ləˈbæm/
• Lebanon, New Hampshire – /ˈlɛbənən/ or even /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 /ˈluːəvəl/ or even /ˈlʊvəl/
• Lowville, New York - /laʊvɪl/

M

• Mackinac Island, Michigan – /ˈmækɨnɔː/
• Madras, Oregon – /ˈmædrəs/
• Madrid, Alabama, 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/
• Marseilles, Illinois – /mɑrˈseɪlz/
• Maury County, Tennessee – /ˈmɜrreɪ/
• Medina, Ohio, Washington and New York – /mɨˈdaɪnə/
• Mesa, Washington – /ˈmiːsə/
• Methow, Washington – /ˈmɛtaʊ/
• Mexia, Texas – /məˈheɪə/  listen
• 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
• Minam, Oregon – /ˈmaɪnəm/
• Minot, North Dakota - /maɪnɒt/
• Missouri – The "ss" represents /z/ in either common pronunciation: /mɨˈzʊəri/ or /mɨˈzɜrrə/
• Mobile, Alabama -  /moʊˈbiːl/ moh-BEEL
• 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/
• Netarts, Oregon – /ˈniːtɑrts/
• 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, New Jersey /ˈnuːərk/ vs. Newark, Delaware and Newark, New York /ˈnuːɑrk/
• New Berlin, New York – (see Berlin)
• 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 ˈɡɑːtʃ/ "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/ (PUR-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)
• Placer County & Placerville, California – /ˈplæːsər/ (PLASS-ur)
• 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)
• Purgatoire River, Colorado – /ˈpɪkɨt.waɪr/ (PIK-ət-wire), also spelled Picketwire
• 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 (rə-FEWR-ee-oh)
• Rhea County, Tennessee – /ˈreɪ/
• Riga, New York – /ˈraɪɡə/ (RY-gə)
• Rio Grande, Ohio – /ˌraɪ.oʊ ˈɡrænd/ (RY-oh GRAND) (Rio, Florida also uses the RY-oh pronunciation)
• Ruch, Oregon – /ˈruːʃ/
• Russia, Ohio – /ˈruːʃiː/ (ROO-shee)
• 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
• San Rafael, California – /sæn rəˈfɛl/
• San Xavier, Arizona – /sæn ˈhɑːvi.eɪ/
• Schaghticoke, New York – /ˈskætɨkʊk/ (SKA-ti-kuuk) 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, river and prison in Hudson Valley region of New York) – local pronunciation is /ˈʃɑːn.ɡʌm/ (SHAHN-gum)
• Shoshone, Idaho – /ʃoʊˈʃoʊn/
• Siuslaw River, Oregon – /saɪˈjuːslɔː/ (sy-EW-slaw)
• Skagit (name of a Native American tribe and various locales in Washington) – /ˈskædʒɨt/
• Skamokawa, Washington – /skəˈmɒkəweɪ/ (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-doh)
• Throop, Pennsylvania - /ˈtrup/; (trōōp)
• Tieton, Washington – /ˈtaɪ.ɨtən/
• Tigard, Oregon – /ˈtaɪɡɜrd/ or /ˈtaɪɡərd/ (TY-gurd or TY-gərd)
• Tillamook County, Oregon – /ˈtɪləmʌk/ (although locals pronounce it as /ˈtɪləmʊk/)
• Tok, Alaska – /ˈtoʊk/
• Tooele, Utah – /tuːˈɪlə/ (too-IL-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

• Valatie, New York - /vəˈleɪʃə/ (va-LAY-sha)
• 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
• Vienna, Illinois, Vienna, South Dakota – /vaɪˈænə/  listen

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 – /ˈwɪləpɑː/ (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/ (wy-REEK-ə)

Z

• Zzyzx, California – /ˈzaɪzɨks/ (ZY-ziks)

Place names in Canada

• Agassiz, British Columbia – /ˈæɡəsi/
• Baie d'Espoir, Newfoundland – /ˌbeɪ dɨsˈpɛər/, French for "Bay of Hope", ironically pronounced "Bay Despair"
• Delhi, Ontario – /ˈdɛlhaɪ/
• Etobicoke, Ontario – /ɨˈtoʊbɨkoʊ/
• Gaultois, Newfoundland and Labrador – /ˈɡɔːltəs/
• Job's Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador – /ˈdʒoʊbz/ (after biblical Job)
• Kelowna, British Columbia – /kəˈloʊnə/
• Keremeos, British Columbia – /ˌkɛrɨˈmiːəs/
• L'Ardoise, Nova Scotia – /ˈlɔrdweɪz/
• Osoyoos, British Columbia – /ɒˈsuːjuːs/ (o-SOO-ews) or /ɒˈsuːjəs/ and (originally) /ˈsuːjuːs/
• Pouce Coupe, British Columbia – /ˌpuːs ˈkuːpi/
• Quebec – /kəˈbɛk/ (alongside anglicized /kwɨˈbɛk/)
• Quesnel, British Columbia – /kwɨˈnɛl/
• Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland – /ˈkɪdi ˈvɪdi/
• Quirpon, Newfoundland and Labrador – /ˈkɑrpuːn/
• Saanich Peninsula and related place names in British Columbia – /ˈsænɨtʃ/
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – /ˈsuː ˈseɪnt məˈriː/
• Sechelt, British Columbia – /ˈsiːʃɛlt/
• Skidegate, British Columbia – /ˈskɪdəɡət/
• Stouffville, Ontario – /ˈstoʊvɪl/ (STOH-vill)
• Summerland, British Columbia – /ˈsʌmərlænd/ (not /ˈsʌmərlənd/)
• Thames River in Ontario – /ˈtɛmz/ (the Thames River in Connecticut is pronounced /ˈθeɪmz/)
• The Pas, Manitoba – /ðəˈpɑː/
• Tsawwassen, British Columbia – /təˈwɑːsən/

In Verdun, Quebec, the town's name is pronounced Vurr-done, while Verdun Avenue is pronounced Vurdin.

Place names in Australia

• Brisbane, Queensland – /ˈbrɪzbən/ pronounced virtually as if there is no vowel between second "b" and the "n", "brizbn", frequently mispronounced by Americans and Canadians as "brizBAIN"
• Bunbury, Western Australia pronounced "bun-bree" never "bun-buree"
• Canberra, Australian Capital Territory pronounced "kan-bra" never "kan-berra"
• Capalaba, Queensland pronounced "ka-pal-a-bar" never "kapa-laba"
• City of Cockburn – /ˈkoʊbɜrn/
• Gladstone, Queensland - pronounced virtually as if there is no vowel between the "t" and the "n", "gladstn", frequently mispronounced by Americans and Canadians as "glad-STONE"
• Geelong, Victoria - pronounced Ji-long, very short "Ji" sound, never Gee-long
• Mount Kosciuszko – /ˌkɒziːˈɒskoʊ/, common Australian pronunciation "/ˌkɒziːˈɒskoʊ/" grossly incorrect, correct Polish pronunciation /ˌkɔɕˈt͡ɕuʂkɔ/
• Mackay, Queensland - most often pronounced "Ma-KAI" sometimes "Makay"
• Melbourne, Victoria – /ˈmælbən/
• Ravenshoe, Queensland, Australia - pronounced "ravens-HO" never "ravens-SHOE" or "ravens-shoo"
• South Kolan, Queensland - Kolan, "lan" pronounced like the "lan" in "Land"
• Strahan, Tasmania- pronounced "strawn" never "stra-han"
• Tiaro, Queensland - pronounced TAI-ro
• Wagga Wagga, New South Wales - pronounced "wogga wogga" frequently mispronounced by foreigners as "wagga wagga"
• Wangi Wangi, New South Wales /ˈwɒndʒi wɒndʒi/

Place names in other English-speaking countries

• Pago Pago, American Samoa – /ˈpɑːŋɡoʊ ˈpɑːŋɡoʊ/
• Thames town and firth in New Zealand – /ˈtɛmz/

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/ (KY-ky); 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/ (wy-NOH-nə)

Surnames

A-B

• Duke of Abercorn – /ˈævərkɔrn/ (AV-ər-korn)
• David Acer – /ˈækər/ (AK-ər)
• Peter Agre – /ˈɑːɡreɪ/ (AH-gray)
• 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-KLEW)
• 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/
• 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/
• 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-BEWSS)
• Justin Duchscherer —/ˈduːkʃər/ (DOOK-shər)
• Keir Dullea —/dəˈleɪ/ (də-LAY)
• Dyches – /ˈdaɪks/
• 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/ (DAR-bi)

F-H

• Faneuil – /ˈfænəl/ or /ˈfænjəl/
• Ron Faucheux – /foʊˈʃeɪ/ (foh-SHAY)
• Brett Favre – /ˈfɑrv/
• Fetherstonhaugh – /ˈfænʃɔː/ (FAN-shaw); also /ˈfɛstənhɔː/, /ˈfiːsənheɪ/, /ˈfɪərstənhɔː/, or as /ˈfɛðərstənhɔː/
• Ronald Fedkiw – /ˈfɛdkoʊ/
• William Foege – /ˈfeɪɡi/ (FAY-gee)
• Fotheringay – /ˈfʌŋɡi/ (FUNG-gee)
• Jim Fuchs – /ˈfjuːʃ/ (FEWSH)
• 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/, /ˈɡriːnhælʃ/ or /ˈɡriːnhæltʃ/ (GREEN-halzh, -sh, -ch)
• 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)
• 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/ (ki-RY) (approximating the pronunciation in Hungarian, his father's native language)
• Stephen Kleene – /ˈkleɪniː/ KLAY-nee; /ˈkliːniː/ and /ˈkliːn/ are common mispronunciations.
• 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
• 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/
• Robert Mapplethorpe – /ˈmeɪpəlθɔrp/
• Marjoribanks – /ˈmɑrtʃbæŋks/ or /ˈmɑrʃbæŋks/ (MARCH-banks or MARSH-banks)
• Marlborough – family name /ˈmɔrlbərə/, trademark /ˈmɑː(r)lbərə/
• 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/, occasionally its anglicised equivalent /məˈkliːn/ (rhymes with "clean")
• Meagher – /ˈmɑr/, /ˈmɑːhər/
• David Mech – /ˈmiːtʃ/
• Melancon (e.g. Charlie Melancon) – /məˈlɔːsɔ̃/ (almost is regular French pronunciation /məlɑ̃ˈsɔ̃/ of "Melançon" with a c-cedilla)
• Menzies – /ˈmɪŋɨs/ (MING-iss)
• Moog – /ˈmoʊɡ/
• Moragne (U.S.) – /mɒˈreɪni/

N-Q

• Naifeh – /ˈneɪfi/ (NAY-fee)
• Randy Neugebauer – /ˈnɔːɡəbaʊər/
• 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/ (ROH-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). The former pronunciation can also be seen in Sinjin Smith, whose birth name is Christopher St. John Smith.
• 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/ (SY-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 – /ˈwʊlzəri/.
• Herman Wouk – /ˈwoʊk/
• Patricia Wrede – /ˈriːdi/
• Wriothesley (e.g. the Earls of Southampton) – variably given as /ˈrɪzli/, /ˈraɪzli/, /ˈroʊzli/, /ˈrɔːtsli/ or /ˈrɒksli/
• Yeaton – /ˈjɛtən/ (YET-ən)
• William Butler Yeats – /ˈjeɪts/
• Yeend, e.g. Frances Yeend – /ˈjɛnd/
• Clayton Yeutter – /ˈjaɪtər/ (rhymes with "fighter")

See also

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

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