A Conversation for Ask h2g2
First class return to Looburroo
Icy North Started conversation Dec 16, 2005
Or rather a first class return to "Luffburra" (Loughborough)
Have you ever been caught out trying to pronounce a placename? Let me know and if we get enough I'll try to compile something for the guide.
A couple more:
Boarhunt (in Hampshire) rhymes with "torrent", and
Puncknowle (in Dorset) rhymes with "tunnel", I'm told.
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Geggs Posted Dec 16, 2005
"Wolfardisworthy" is pronounced "Woolsey"
"Belvoir" is pronounced "Beaver"
Honest.
Geggs
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Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... Posted Dec 16, 2005
I've heard Loughbrough pronounced Loogah-boroogah...
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Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
Worcester = "Wooster"
Gloucester = "Gloster"
Bicester = "Bister"
Leicester = "Lester"
Towcester = "Toaster"
but
Cirencester = "Siren-sester"
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Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... Posted Dec 16, 2005
Wisbech = Wizbeech
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Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
and Slough rhymes with "cow", and not "cuff", "toff", "go" or "do"
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Dea.. - call me Mrs B! Posted Dec 16, 2005
Meikleour in Perthshire is pronounced McClure (as in Doug!) I've heard it pronounced Mee-kel-lee-our.
And Scotlands finest, Kirkcaldy, is pronounced Kir-caw-dee! Lots of people get that one wrong!
Anstruther in Fife is pronounced by most people correctly just as it's spelt, but the locals pronounce it Ainster.
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Reefgirl (Brunel Baby) Posted Dec 16, 2005
Keighley in Yorkshire is pronounced Keith-lee not Kee-lee
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Danny B Posted Dec 16, 2005
Mousehole in the west country is pronounced Mowzul.
Plymouth - Plimmuth
And all other -mouth places are pronounced -muth (Portsmouth etc) except for Tynemouth, which the Geordies pronounce with the 'mouth' in full.
First class return to Looburroo
Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
Beaulieu in the New Forest is "Byoolee"
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Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
With Mowzul (Mousehole) - is it "Mow" as in "mow the lawn", or does it rhyme with "cow"?
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aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Dec 16, 2005
Oh dear, I'd never have guessed that - and such a beautiful French name it once probaly was 
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Reefgirl (Brunel Baby) Posted Dec 16, 2005
Mow rhymes with Cow
Fetham is Felt-am not Felth-am
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Danny B Posted Dec 16, 2005
Ah yes - mow = cow 
Streatham = Strettum
Ely = Eelee
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Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
While you're over that way, we'd better cover
Norwich = "Norritch"
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Woodpigeon Posted Dec 16, 2005
Irish angle:
Drogheda - Drohedda
Cobh - Cove
Dun Laoighaire - Dun Leary
Ardara - Ardraah
Oughterard - Ookter-ard
Youghal - Yawl
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Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
And forget what Dionne says,
Warwick = "Worrick"
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Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
similar to Feltham,
Chatham = "Chattum"
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Icy North Posted Dec 16, 2005
But Grantham = "Gran-thum", not "Grant-um"
Didcot (Oxfordshire) = "Did-ct" Apparently there's no vowel between the C and T.
Do we have any Welsh experts? I think I can pronounce Pwllheli, but I can't render it in the English language.
Key: Complain about this post
First class return to Looburroo
- 1: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 2: Geggs (Dec 16, 2005)
- 3: Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... (Dec 16, 2005)
- 4: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 5: Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... (Dec 16, 2005)
- 6: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 7: Dea.. - call me Mrs B! (Dec 16, 2005)
- 8: Reefgirl (Brunel Baby) (Dec 16, 2005)
- 9: Danny B (Dec 16, 2005)
- 10: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 11: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 12: aka Bel - A87832164 (Dec 16, 2005)
- 13: Reefgirl (Brunel Baby) (Dec 16, 2005)
- 14: Danny B (Dec 16, 2005)
- 15: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 16: Woodpigeon (Dec 16, 2005)
- 17: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 18: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 19: Icy North (Dec 16, 2005)
- 20: aka Bel - A87832164 (Dec 16, 2005)
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