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 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.

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"
• 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 and Leighlinbridge, 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, Buckinghamshire — /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/.
• 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, New York, Berlin, Ohio, and New Berlin, Wisconsin — /ˈbɜrlɨn/ (stress on first syllable) listen
• 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/, 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
• 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/
• 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
• 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
• Elbe, Washington — /ˈɛlbi/
• Elgin, Illinois — /ˈɛldʒɨn/ vs. Elgin, Texas /ˈɛlɡɨn/
• Elizabethton, Tennessee - /ilɪzɪ'biθɜn/
• 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 California, 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 — /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
• 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/
• 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 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 and East Palestine, Ohio — /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 (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
• 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 — /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-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
• 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/ (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/

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/
• 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)
• 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)
• 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, 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/, 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/,, /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.

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

zh:英國和愛爾蘭音異讀城市列表