List of irregularly spelt places in the United Kingdom
Colney COney Hatch
De Beauvoir BEAver Town (usu.)
Marylebone MARlyb'n (alt.)
Plaistow PLAHsto
Ruislip RYslip
Greenwich GRENidge
Southwark SU-ðərK
Vauxhall VOK-sawl
Dulwich DULLidge
Chiswick CHIZick
Isleworth Ayezəlworth
Thamesmead TEMZmead
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A map of irregularly spelled places in LondonThis is a sublist of List of irregularly spelled English names.
These common suffixes have these regular pronunciations, yet would be counterintuitive (irregular) in normal English. This means that their modern pronunciation might be regarded as counter-intuitive to their spelling, which is not counterintuitive as it is historic, regular, well-established, and etymologically consistent.
- -b(o)rough and -burgh – /bərə/
- -bury – /bri/
- -cester – /stər/[n 1]
- -combe, -coombe, -comb and -cambe – /kəm/. When stand-alone: always /kuːm/ (including in place names such as Castle Combe and Coombe Bissett)
- -ford – /fərd/
- -gh – silent (usually as 'f' in a considerable minority of northern English place names and in Woughton, Milton Keynes)
- -ham – /əm/
- -holm(e) – /hoʊm/, /əm/
- -mouth – /məθ/
- -shire – /ʃər/, /ʃɪər/, /ʃaɪər/ (esp. in Scotland)
- -wich - /ɪtʃ/, /ɪdʒ/[n 2]
- -wick – /ɪk/[n 3][n 4]
Prefixes:
- Al- – /ˈɒl/, /ˈɔːl/; with very few exceptions such as Alba, Alperton.
- Saint- – /sənt/, for most speakers.
Other:
- -on- – /ˈʌn/ as first syllable is usually as in London, Coningsby or Tonbridge (see Middle English handwriting preventing 'un' and 'um'); excludes a few such as Lonsdale
List
Subdivision | Place | Pronunciation | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Respelling | IPA | |||
England | Acomb, North Yorkshire | YAK-əm | /ˈjækəm/[1] | Historic; now regular |
England | Acomb, Northumberland | YEK-əm | /ˈjɛkəm/[1] | Historic; now regular |
Northern Ireland | Ahoghill | a-HOKH-il | /æˈhɒxɪl/ | |
England | Aigburth | EG-bərth | /ˈɛɡbərθ/ ⓘ | |
England | Aike | YAK | /ˈjæk/ ⓘ[1] | |
England | Aldeburgh | AWL-bər-ə | /ˈɔːlbərə/ | |
England | Allerton, West Yorkshire | OL-ər-tən | /ˈɒlərtən/ | Not for Allerton, Liverpool – /ˈælərtən/ |
England | Almeley | A(L)M-lee | /ˈæ(l)mliː/ | |
England | Alnmouth | AL(Ə)N-mowth | /ˈæl(ə)nmaʊθ/ | |
England | Alnwick | AN-ik | /ˈænɪk/ ⓘ | |
England | Althorp | AWL-trəp | /ˈɔːltrəp/[2] | |
England | Altrincham | OL-tring-əm | /ˈɒltrɪŋəm/ ⓘ[2] | |
England | Alresford, Essex | OLSS-fərd | /ˈɒlsfərd/ ⓘ | Variant of one name |
England | Alresford, Essex | AYLSS-fərd | /ˈeɪlsfərd/ | Variant of one name |
England | Alresford, Hampshire | OLZ-fərd | /ˈɒlzfərd/ | |
England | Alsager | OL-say-jər | /ˈɒlseɪdʒər/ | |
England | Alverdiscott | OL-skot | /ˈɒlskɒt/ | |
Scotland | Anstruther | AYN-stər | /ˈeɪnstər/ | Also regular |
England | Apethorpe | AP-thorp | /ˈæpθɔːrp/ | |
England | Ardingly | AR-ding-ly | /ˈɑːrdɪŋlaɪ/ | |
England | Ashtead | ASH-ted | /ˈæʃtɛd/ | |
England | Ashby-de-la-Zouch | ZOOSH | /zuːʃ/ | |
England | Aslackby | AY-zəl-bee | /ˈeɪzəlbi/ | |
Scotland | Athelstaneford | AYL-sən-fərd | /ˈeɪlsənfərd/ | Also regular |
Scotland | Auchinleck | like Affleck | /ˈæflɛk/ | Also regular |
England | Aughton, Lancaster | AF-tən | /ˈæftən/ | |
England | Averham | AIR-əm | /ˈɛərəm/ | |
England | Aveton Gifford | AW-tən-JIF-ərd | /ˈɔːtən ˈdʒɪfərd/ ⓘ | |
Scotland | Avoch | AWKH | /ˈɔːx/ | |
England | Ayscoughfee Hall | ASK-ə-fee | /ˈæskəfiː/ ⓘ | |
England | Balliol College[2] | BAY-lee-əl | /ˈbeɪliəl/ | |
England | Barham[2] | BARR-əm | /ˈbærəm/ | |
England | Barholm | BARR-əm | /ˈbærəm/ | |
England | Barnoldswick | BAR-lik | /ˈbɑːrlɪk/ | |
England | Barugh, North Yorkshire[2] | BARF | /bɑːrf/ | |
England | Barugh, South Yorkshire | BARK | /ˈbɑːrk/ | |
England | Basford | BAYSS-fərd | /ˈbeɪsfərd/ | |
England | Beaconsfield | BEK-ənz-feeld | /ˈbɛkənzfiːld/ ⓘ | |
England | Beaminster | BEM-in-stər | /ˈbɛmɪnstər/ | |
England | Beauchamp Roding | BEETCH-əm | /ˈbiːtʃəm/ | |
England | Beauchief | BEE-chif | /ˈbiːtʃɪf/ | |
England | Beaudesert[3][4] | like Belzer | /ˈbɛlzər/ | |
England | Beaulieu[2] | BEW-lee | /ˈbjuːli/ | |
England | Bellingham, Northumberland[2] | BEL-in-jəm | /ˈbɛlɪndʒəm/ | |
England | Belvoir Castle | like beaver | /ˈbiːvər/ | |
England | Berkeley[2] | like Barkley | /ˈbɑːrkli/ | All UK placenames |
England | Berwick-upon-Tweed[2] | BERR-ik | /ˈbɛrɪk/ | |
England | Bicester[2] | BISS-tər | /ˈbɪstər/ | |
England | Bideford | BID-ih-fərd | /ˈbɪdɪfərd/ | |
England | Billericay[2] | BIL-ə-RIK-ee | /ˌbɪləˈrɪki/ | |
England | Blackley[2] | like Blakely | /ˈbleɪkli/ ⓘ | |
England | Blidworth | BLID-ərth | /ˈblɪdərθ/ | |
England | Blyth | like blithe | /ˈblaɪð/ | |
England | Bosham | BOZ-əm | /ˈbɒzəm/ ⓘ | |
England | Bovey Tracey | BUV-ih | /ˈbʌvɪ/ | |
England | Bozeat | BOH-zhət | /ˈboʊʒət/ | |
England | Bradley[2] | BRAYD-lee | /ˈbreɪdli/ | |
England | Brant Broughton | BROO-tən | /ˈbruːtən/ | |
England | Breaston | BREE-stən | /ˈbriːstən/ | |
England | Brewood | like brood | /bruːd/ ⓘ | |
England | Bridestowe | BRID-ih-stoh | /ˈbrɪdɪstoʊ/ | |
England | Brough | BRUF | /ˈbrʌf/ | |
England | Brougham | like broom | /bruːm/ | |
Northern Ireland | Broughshane | brə-SHAYN | /brəˈʃeɪn/ | |
England | Browsholme Hall | BROO-zəm | /ˈbruːzəm/ | |
England | Bungay | BUNG-ghee | /ˈbʌŋɡi/ | |
England | Burgh le Marsh | BURR-ə | /ˈbʌrə/ | |
England | Burgh by Sands[2] | BRUF | /brʌf/ | |
England | Bylaugh | BEE-lə | /ˈbiːlə/ | |
England | Caius College[2] | like keys | /ˈkiːz/ | |
England | Caldmore | KAHM-ər | /ˈkɑːmər/ | |
England | Cambois | KAM-əss | /ˈkæməs/ | |
England | Cambridge[2] | KAYM-brij | /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/ | Cambridge, Gloucestershire is often regular |
England | Caterham | KAY-tər-əm | /ˈkeɪtərəm/ | |
England | Carlisle | kar-LYLE | /kɑːrˈlaɪl/ | |
England | Cheltenham | CHELT-nəm | /ˈtʃɛltnəm/ | |
England | Cheshunt | CHEZ-ənt | /ˈtʃɛzənt/ | |
England | Cheviot Hills | CHEE-vee-ət | /ˈtʃiːviət/ | |
England | Cheylesmore | CHAHLZ-mor | /ˈtʃɑːlzmɔːr/ | |
England | Chideock[5] | CHID-ək | /ˈtʃɪdək/ | |
England | Chiswick[6] | CHIZ-ik | /ˈtʃɪzɪk/ ⓘ | |
England | Cholmondeley[2] | CHUM-lee | /ˈtʃʌmli/ | |
England | Cholmondeston | CHUM-stən | /ˈtʃʌmstən/ | |
England | Chop Gate[7] | YAT | /jæt/ | |
England | Cirencester[2] | SISS-ih-tər | /ˈsɪsɪtər/ | Also regular |
England | Claughton, Lancaster[2] | KLAF-tən | /ˈklæftən/ | |
England | Claughton, Merseyside | KLAW-tən | /ˈklɔːtən/ | |
England | Claughton-on-Brock | KLY-tən | /ˈklaɪtən/ | |
England | Cleobury Mortimer[2] | KLIB-ər-ee | /ˈklɪbəri/ | |
England | Cley-next-the-Sea | KLY | /ˈklaɪ/ | |
England | Cogenhoe | KUUK-noh | /ˈkʊknoʊ/ | |
England | Colerne | KUL-ərn | /ˈkʌlərn/ | |
England | Coleshill | KOHZ-il | /ˈkoʊzɪl/ | |
England | Colne | KOHN | /ˈkoʊn/ | |
England | Colney Hatch | KOHN-ee | /ˈkoʊni/ | |
Northern Ireland | Comber | KUM-bər | /ˈkʌmbər/ | |
England | Combeinteignhead | KOO-min-TIN-əd | /ˌkuːmɪnˈtɪnəd/ | |
England | Congresbury | KONGZ-bər-ee | /ˈkɒŋzbəri/ | |
England | Cononley | KUUN-lə | /ˈkʊnlə/ | |
England | Costessey[2] | KOSS-ee | /ˈkɒsi/ | |
England | Cowbit[8] | KUB-it | /ˈkʌbɪt/ | |
England | Cowden | kow-DEN | /kaʊˈdɛn/ | |
England | Cowpen | KOO-pen | /ˈkuːpɛn/ | |
England | Cradley | KRAYD-lee | /ˈkreɪdli/ | |
England | Croxton Kerrial | KROH-sən KERR-il | /ˈkroʊsən ˈkɛrɪl/ | |
England | Cruwys Morchard | KROOZ | /ˈkruːz/ | |
England | Cuckfield[2] | KUUK-feeld | /ˈkʊkfiːld/ | |
England | Cudworth | KUD-ərth | /ˈkʊdərθ/ | |
Scotland | Culross[2] | KOOR-oss | /ˈkʊərɒs/ | |
Northern Ireland | Cultra | kul-TRAW | /kʌlˈtrɔː/ | |
Scotland | Culzean Castle[2] | kə-LAYN | /kəˈleɪn/ | |
England | Darwen[9] | like Darwin | /ˈdɑːrwɪn/ | |
England | Daventry | DAYN-tree | /ˈdeɪntri/ | Also regular |
England | De Beauvoir Town | də-BEE-vər | /də ˈbiːvər/ | Also regular |
Wales | Denbigh | DEN-bee | /dɛnbi/ | |
England | Derby | like Darby | /ˈdɑːrbi/ ⓘ | |
England | Didcot[9] | DID-kət | /ˈdɪdkət/ ⓘ | |
England | Dodworth | DOD-ərth | /ˈdɒdərθ/ | |
England | Doublebois | DUB-əl-boyz | /ˈdʌbəlbɔɪz/ | |
Scotland | Dounreay[10] | doon-RAY | /duːnˈreɪ/ | |
England | Dunchideock | DUN-chid-ək | /ˈdʌntʃɪdək/ | |
England | Durham | DURR-əm | /ˈdʌrəm/ ⓘ | |
England | Edensor | EN-zər | /ˈɛnzər/ | |
England | Edenham | ED-nəm | /ˈɛdnəm/ | |
England | Elham | EEL-əm | /ˈiːləm/ | |
England | Eling | like Ealing | /ˈiːliŋ/ | |
England | Elsecar | EL-sih-kər | /ˈɛlsɪkər/ | Also regular |
England | Ely | EEL-ee | /ˈiːli/ | |
England | Elmsall | EM-səl | /ˈɛmsəl/ | |
England | Esher[9] | EESH-ər | /ˈiːʃər/ | |
England | Eton College | EE-tən | /ˈiːtən/ ⓘ | |
England | Euxton[2] | EKS-tən | /ˈɛkstən/ | |
England | Eyam[2] | EEM | /iːm/ | |
England | Eynsham | EN-shəm | /ˈɛnʃəm/ | |
England | Farcet | FASS-ət | /ˈfæsət/ | |
Scotland | Findochty | FIN-əkh-tee | /ˈfɪnəxti/ | |
England | Flitwick | FLIT-ik | /ˈflɪtɪk/ ⓘ | |
England | Foleshill | FOHZ-il | /ˈfoʊzɪl/ | |
England | Folkingham | FOK-ing-əm | /ˈfɒkɪŋəm/ | |
England | Folkstone | FOHK-stən | /ˈfoʊkstən/ | |
England | Fowey[2][9] | like Foy | /ˈfɔɪ/ | |
Scotland | Freuchie | FRAY-khee | /ˈfreɪxi/ | |
Scotland | Friockheim | FREEK-əm | /ˈfriːkəm/ | |
England | Frithsden | FRIZ-dən | /ˈfrɪzdən/ | |
England | Frome[2] | FROOM | /ˈfruːm/ | |
Scotland | Garioch[9] | GHEER-ee | /ˈɡɪəri/ | |
England | Gateacre[2] | GAT-ə-kər | /ˈɡætəkər/ | |
England | Gillingham | GHIL-ing-əm | /ˈɡɪlɪŋəm/ | Not Gillingham, Kent[11]: 101 |
Scotland | Glamis[2] | GLAHMZ | /ˈɡlɑːmz/ | |
Scotland | Glenzier | GLING-ər | /ˈɡlɪŋər/ | |
England | Gloucester | GLOSS-tər | /ˈɡlɒstər/ | |
England | Godmanchester[12] | GUM-stər | /ˈɡʌmstər/ | Often regular |
Wales | Goodwick | GUUD-ik | /ˈɡʊdɪk/ | |
England | Gotham[2] | GOHT-əm | /ˈɡoʊtəm/ | |
Scotland | Grandtully | GRANT-lee | /ˈɡræntli/ | |
England | Greenwich[2] | GREN-itch | /ˈɡrɛnɪtʃ/ | |
England | Greysouthen | GRAY-soon | /ˈɡreɪsuːn/ | |
England | Groby | GROO-bee | /ˈɡruːbi/ | |
England | Guildford[2] | GHIL-fərd | /ˈɡɪlfərd/ ⓘ | |
Scotland | Gullane | GHIL-ən | /ˈɡɪlən/ | |
England | Guisborough | GHIZ-bər-ə | /ˈɡɪzbərə/ | |
England | Happisburgh[2] | HAYZ-bər-ə | /ˈheɪzbərə/ | |
England | Hardres | HARDZ | /ˈhɑːrdz/ | |
England | Harewood House | HAR-wuud | /ˈhɑːrwʊd/ | Namesake Harewood is regular |
England | Harwich | HARR-itch | /ˈhærɪtʃ/ | |
England | Hatch Beauchamp[13] | BEETCH-əm | /ˈbiːtʃəm/ | |
England | Haverholme | HAV-rəm | /ˈhævrəm/ | |
England | Haverhill | HAV-ril | /ˈhævrɪl/ | |
Wales | Hawarden | like harden | /ˈhɑːrdən/ | |
Scotland | Hawick[2] | HOYK | /ˈhɔɪk/ | Also regular |
England | Heather[2] | HEEDH-ər | /ˈhiːðər/ | |
England | Herstmonceux[14] | HURSS-mən-ZOO, -SOO | /ˌhɜːrsmənˈzuː/, /-ˈsuː/ | |
England | Hertford | HART-fəd | /ˈhɑːrtfəd/ | |
England | Hessle[2] | HEZ-əl | /ˈhɛzəl/ | |
England | Holborn[2] | HOH-bərn | /ˈhoʊbərn/ ⓘ | |
England | Holnicote Estate | HUN-ih-kot | /ˈhʌnɪkɒt/ | |
Wales | Holyhead | HOL-ee-hed | /ˈhɒlihɛd/ | |
England | Holywell | HOL-ee-wel | /ˈhɒliwɛl/ | |
England | Hough-on-the-Hill | HOF | /hɒf/ | |
England | Hougham | HOF-əm | /ˈhɒfəm/ | |
England | Houghton | HOH-tən | /ˈhoʊtən/ | |
England | Hunstanton[2] | HUN-stən | /ˈhʌnstən/ | |
England | Ide | EED | /iːd/ | |
England | Ifield | IF-feeld | /ˈifiːld/ | |
England | Ilfracombe | IL-frə-koom | /ˈɪlfrəkuːm/ | |
England | Ireshopeburn | EYESS-həp-burn | /ˈaɪshəpbɜːrn/ | |
Scotland | Isle of Gigha[2] | GHEE-ə | /ˈɡiːə/ | |
England | Isleworth | EYE-zəl-wərth | /ˈaɪzəlwərθ/ ⓘ | |
England | Islip | EYEZ-lip | /ˈaɪzlɪp/ | |
England | Iwerne Minster | YOO-urn | /ˈjuːɜːrn/ | |
Scotland | Jarlshof | YARLSS-hof | /ˈjɑːrlshɒf/ | |
England | Jervaulx Abbey | ZHUR-voh | /ˈʒɜːrvoʊ/ | |
England | Keadby | KID-bee | /ˈkɪdbi/ | |
England | Keighley[2] | KEETH-lee | /ˈkiːθli/ | |
England | Keswick | KEZ-ik | /ˈkɛzɪk/ | |
England | Keynsham[9] | KAYN-shəm | /ˈkeɪnʃəm/ | |
Scotland | Kilchurn Castle | KIL-ərn | /ˈkɪlərn/ | |
Scotland | Kilconquhar | kin-YUKH-ər | /kɪnˈjʌxər/ | |
Scotland | Kilncadzow | kil-KAY-gay | /kɪlˈkeɪɡeɪ/ | |
Scotland | Kingussie[2] | king-YOO-see | /kɪŋˈjuːsi/ | |
England | Kingston Bagpuize[15] | Kingston BAG-pewz | /ˈbæɡpjuːz/ | |
England | Kirkby[2] | like Kirby | /ˈkɜːrbi/ | Not for Kirkby-in-Ashfield. |
England | Kirkbymoorside | like Kirby-moor-side | /ˌkɜːrbiˈmʊərsaɪd/ | |
Scotland | Kirkcaldy | kər-KAW-dee | /kərˈkɔːdi/ | |
Scotland | Kirkcudbright[2] | kər-KOO-bree | /kərˈkuːbri/ | |
Wales | Laugharne | LARN | /ˈlɑːrn/ | |
England | Laughton | LOW-tən | /ˈlaʊtən/ | |
England | Launceston, Cornwall[2] | LAWN-stən | /ˈlɔːnstən/ | |
England | Leamington Spa | LEM-ing-tən | /ˈlɛmɪŋtən/ ⓘ | |
England | Leasingham | LEZ-ing-əm | /ˈlɛzɪŋəm/ | |
England | Leicester[2] | like Lester | /ˈlɛstər/ | |
England | Leigh[2] | like lye | /laɪ/ | All British Leighs; except Leigh, Greater Manchester and Leigh-on-Sea |
England | Leominster[2] | LEM-stər | /ˈlɛmstər/ ⓘ | |
England | Lilleshall | LIL-ə-shel | /ˈlɪləʃɛl/ | |
England | Lincoln | LINK-ən | /ˈlɪŋkən/ | |
England | Liskeard, Cornwall[2] | liss-KARD | /lɪˈskɑːrd/ | |
England | Little Hautbois | HOB-iss | /ˈhɒbɪs/ | |
Scotland | Loch Muick[10] | MIK | /ˈmɪk/ | |
England | London | LUN-dən | /lʌndən/ | |
England | Looe | LOO | /luː/ | |
England | Loose | LOOZ | /luːz/ | |
England | Lostwithiel[2] | loss-WITH-ee-əl | /lɒsˈwɪθiəl/ | |
Northern Ireland | Lough Neagh[2] | NAY | /neɪ/ | |
England | Loughborough | LUF-bər-ə | /ˈlʌfbərə/ ⓘ | |
England | Lover | LOH-vər | /ˈloʊvər/ | |
England | Ludgershall | LUG-ər-shawl | /ˈlʌɡərʃɔːl/ | |
England | Ludgvan, Cornwall | LUJ-ən | /ˈlʌdʒən/ | |
England | Luxulyan, Cornwall | luk-SIL-yən | /lʌkˈsɪljən/ | |
England | Lydgate Lane, Crosspool | LIH-jit | /ˈlɪdʒɪt/ | Also regular |
England | Lympne[2] | LIM | /ˈlɪm/ | |
England | Magdalen(e) College | MAWD-lin | /ˈmɔːdlɪn/ | For both Magdalen College, Oxford and Magdalene College, Cambridge |
England | Magdalen Hall | MAWN | /mɔːn/ | |
Northern Ireland | Maghera | MA-hə-RAH, MAK-ə-RAH | /ˌmæhəˈrɑː, ˌmækəˈrɑː/ | |
Northern Ireland | Magherafelt | MA-hər-ə-FELT, MAK-ə- | /ˌmæhərəˈfɛlt, ˌmækə-/ | |
England | Manea | MAYN-ee | /ˈmeɪni/ | |
England | Marholm | MARR-əm | /ˈmærəm/ | |
England | Market Weighton | WEE-tən | /ˈwiːtən/ | |
England | Marlborough | MORL-bər-ə | /ˈmɔːrlbərə/ | |
England | Marske-by-the-Sea | MASK | /ˈmæsk/ | |
England | Marylebone | MAR-lih-bən | /ˈmɑːrlɪbən/ | |
England | Masham | MASS-əm | /ˈmæsəm/ | |
England | Meaux | MEWSS | /mjuːs/ | |
England | Meols | MELZ | /mɛlz/ | |
England | Meols Cop | MEELZ | /miːlz/ | |
England | Meopham | MEP-əm | /ˈmɛpəm/ ⓘ | |
England | Mildenhall, Suffolk | MIL-dən-hawl | /ˈmʌldənhɔːl/ | |
England | Mildenhall, Wiltshire | MY-nəl | /ˈmaɪnəl/ | |
Scotland | Milngavie | məl-GHY | /məlˈɡaɪ/ | |
Scotland | Moray[n 5] | like Murry | /ˈmʌri/ | |
England | Mossley | MOZ-lee | /ˈmɒzli/ | |
England | Mousehole | MOWZ-əl | /ˈmaʊzəl/ | |
England | Mow Cop | MOW | /ˈmaʊ/ | |
England | Mudeford | MUD-ih-fərd | /ˈmʌdɪfərd/ | |
England | Muswell Hill | MUZ-əl | /ˈmʌzəl/ | Also regular |
England | Mytholmroyd | MY-dhəm-royd | /ˌmaɪðəmˈrɔɪd/ | |
England | Norwich | NORR-ij | /ˈnɒrɪdʒ/ | |
England | Olney | AWN-ee | /ˈɔːni/ | Variant of one name |
England | Olney | OHL-nee | /ˈoʊlni/ | Variant of one name |
England | Osbournby | OZ-ən-bee | /ˈɒzənbi/ | |
England | Oswaldtwistle | OZ-əl-twiz-əl | /ˈɒzəltwɪzəl/ | |
England | Oving | OOV-ing | /ˈuːvɪŋ/ | |
England | Ovingham | OV-in-jəm | /ˈɒvɪndʒəm/ | |
England | Pall Mall | PAL-MAL | /ˈpælˈmæl/ ⓘ | |
England | Peascod Street, Windsor | PESS-kəd | /ˈpɛskəd/ | |
Scotland | Penicuik[10] | like "penny cook" | /ˈpɛnɪkʊk/ | |
Scotland | Peterculter | PEE-tər-KOO-tər | /ˌpiːtərˈkuːtər/ ⓘ | |
England | Plaistow | PLAH-stoh | /ˈplɑːstoʊ/ ⓘ | |
England | Plymouth | PLIM-əth | /ˈplɪməθ/ | |
England | Pontefract | PUM-frit | /ˈpʌmfrɪt/ | Also regular |
England | Ponteland | pon-TEE-lənd | /pɒnˈtiːlənd/ | |
England | Portesham | like possum | /ˈpɒsəm/ | |
England | Postwick with Witton | PAW-zik | /ˈpɔːzɪk/ | |
England | Poxwell | POHKS-wel | /ˈpoʊkswɛl/ | |
England | Prideaux | PRID-əks | /ˈprɪdəks/ | |
England | Prinknash Abbey | PRIN-əsh | /ˈprɪnəʃ/ | |
England | Prudhoe | PRUD-ə | /ˈprʌdə/ | |
England | Puncknowle | PUN-əl | /ˈpʌnəl/ | |
England | Quadring | KWAY-dring | /ˈkweɪdrɪŋ/ | |
England | Quernmore | KWOR-mər | /ˈkwɔːrmər/ | |
England | Rainworth | REN-ərth | /ˈrɛnərθ/ | |
England | Rampisham | like ransom | /ˈrænsəm/ | |
England | Ratlinghope | RATCH-up | /ˈrætʃʌp/ | |
England | Rawtenstall | ROT-ən-stawl | /ˈrɒtənstɔːl/ | |
England | Reading | RED-ing | /ˈrɛdɪŋ/ | |
England | Redruth | rə-DROOTH | /rəˈdruːθ/ | |
England | Rievaulx | ree-VOH | /riːˈvoʊ/ | |
Scotland | Ravenstruther | REN-stree | /ˈrɛnstri/ | |
Scotland | Ravenstruther | RAYN-stree | /reɪnstri/ | |
Scotland | River Avon | AHN | /ˈɑːn/ | Regular outside Scotland |
England | River Cherwell | CHAR-wel | /ˈtʃɑːrwɛl/ | |
England | River Devon[16] | DEE-vən | /ˈdiːvən/ | |
England | River Nene | NEN | /nɛn/ | Also regular |
England | River Teign | like tin | /tɪn/ | |
Scotland | River Teviot | TEE-vee-ət | /ˈtiːviət/ | |
England | River Thame | TAYM | /ˈteɪm/ | |
England | River Thames | TEMZ | /ˈtɛmz/ ⓘ | Also for all derived names |
England | Rocester | like roaster | /ˈroʊstər/ | |
England | Roughton | ROO-tən | /ˈruːtən/ | |
England | Ruislip | RY-slip | /ˈraɪslɪp/ | |
Scotland | Ruthven | like riven | /ˈrɪvən/ | |
England | St Briavels | BREV-əlz | /ˈbrɛvəlz/ | |
England | St Ive, Cornwall | EEV | /ˈiːv/ | |
England | St Teath, Cornwall | TETH | /tɛθ/ | |
England | Salisbury | SAWLZ-b(ə)-ree | /ˈsɔːlzb(ə)ri/ | |
England | Salle | SAWL | /ˈsɔːl/ | |
England | Sandwich | SAND-wij | /sændwɪdʒ/ | Also regular |
Scotland | Sanquhar | SANK-ər | /ˈsæŋkər/ | |
Scotland | Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow | SUKH-ee-hawl | /ˈsʌxihɔːl/ | |
England | Scafell Pike | SKAW-fel | /ˈskɔːfɛl/ | |
Scotland | Scone | SKOON | /ˈskuːn/ | |
England | Seighford | SY-fərd | /ˈsaɪfərd/ | |
England | Shepton Beauchamp | BEETCH-əm | /ˈbiːtʃəm/ | |
England | Shrewsbury | SHROHZ-bər-ee | /ˈʃroʊzbəri/ | Also regular. Mainly for Shrewsbury School |
England | Shaftesbury | SHA(H)FTS-bər-ee | /ˈʃɑːftsbəri, ˈʃæfts-/ | |
England | Slaithwaite | SLA-wit | /ˈslæwɪt/ | |
England | Slaugham | SLAF-əm | /ˈslæfəm/ | |
England | Snowshill | SNOZ-əl | /ˈsnɒzəl/ | Variant of one name |
England | Snowshill | SNOHZ-əl | /ˈsnoʊzəl/ | Variant of one name |
England | Southwark | SUDH-ərk | /ˈsʌðərk/ ⓘ | |
England | Southwell | SUDH-əl | /ˈsʌðəl/ | Also regular |
England | Sowerby, West Yorkshire | SOR-bee | /ˈsɔːrbi/ | Also regular |
England | Sproxton | SPROH-sən | /ˈsproʊsən/ | |
England | Staithes | like Steers | /stɪərz/ | |
England | Stawell | STOL | /stɒl/ | |
England | Steyning | STEN-ing | /ˈstɛnɪŋ/ | |
England | Stiffkey | STEW-kee | /ˈstjuːkiː/ | Also regular |
England | Stivichall | STY-chəl | /ˈstaɪtʃəl/ | |
England | Stockingford | STOK-ing-FORD | /ˌstɒkɪŋˈfɔːrd/ | |
England | Stokenham | stohk-ən-HAM | /stoʊkənˈhæm/ | |
England | Stokeinteignhead | stohk-in-TIN-əd | /stoʊkɪnˈtɪnəd/ | |
Northern Ireland | Strabane | strə-BAN | /strəˈbæn/ | |
Scotland | Strathaven[9] | STRAY-vən | /ˈstreɪvən/ | |
England | Streatham | STRET-əm | /ˈstrɛtəm/ | |
England | Stroxton | STRAW-sən | /ˈstrɔːsən/ | |
Wales | Swansea | SWON-zee | /ˈswɒnzi/ | |
England | Sydenham | SID-ən-əm | /ˈsɪdənəm/ | |
England | Tacolneston | TAK-əl-stən | /ˈtækəlstən/ | |
England | Teigngrace | ting-GRAYSS | /tɪŋ'greɪs/ | |
England | Teignmouth | TIN-məth | /ˈtɪnməθ/ | |
England | Teston | TEE-sən | /ˈtiːsən/ | |
England | Thame | like tame | /ˈteɪm/ | |
England | The Cheviot | CHEEV-ee-ət | /ˈtʃiːviət/ | |
England | Theobald's Road | TIB-əldz | /ˈtɪbəldz/ | Often regular |
England | Threekingham | THREK-ing-gəm | /ˈθrɛkɪŋɡəm/ | |
England | Thriplow[1] | TRIP-loh | /ˈtrɪploʊ/ | |
Scotland | Thurso | THUR-zoh | /ˈθɜːrzoʊ/ | |
England | Tideswell | TID-səl | /ˈtɪdsəl/ | |
Scotland | Tillicoultry | TIH-lih-KOO-tree | /ˌtɪlɪˈkuːtri/ | |
England | Tintwistle | like tinsel | /ˈtɪnsəl/ | |
England | Todmorden | TOD-mər-dən | /ˈtɒdmərdən/ | |
England | Torpenhow | trə-PEN-ə | /trəˈpɛnə/ | Often regular |
England | Towcester | like toaster | /ˈtoʊstər/ | |
England | Tow Law | TOW | /taʊ/ | |
England | Trewoon, Cornwall | TROO-ən | /ˈtruːən/ | |
England | Trottiscliffe | TROZ-lee | /ˈtrɒzli/ | |
Scotland | Udny Green | WID-nee | /ˈwɪdni/[dubious – discuss] | |
Scotland | Udny Station | WID-nee | /ˈwɪdni/[dubious – discuss] | |
England | Ulgham | UF-əm | /ˈʌfəm/ | |
England | Uttoxeter | yoo-TOK-sit-ər | /juːˈtɒksɪtər/ | Variant of one name |
England | Uttoxeter | UUTCH-it-ər | /ˈʊtʃɪtər/ | Variant of one name |
England | Vauxhall | VOKS-awl | /ˈvɒks.ɔːl/ | |
England | Warwick | WORR-ik | /ˈwɒrɪk/ | |
England | Wavertree | WOR-tree | /ˈwɔːrtri/ | Mostly obsolete |
England | Wednesbury | WENZ-bər-ee | /ˈwɛnzbəri/ | |
Scotland | Wemyss Bay[9] | WEEMZ | /ˈwiːmz/ | |
England | Welwyn | WEL-in | /ˈwɛlɪn/ ⓘ | |
England | Wesham | WESS-əm | /ˈwɛsəm/ | |
England | Whittingham, Northumberland | WIT-in-jəm | /ˈwɪtɪndʒəm/ | |
England | Widecombe in the Moor | WID-ih-kəm | /ˈwɪdɪkəm/ | |
England | Wisbech | WIZ-beetch | /ˈwɪzbiːtʃ/ | |
England | Witham | WIT-əm | /ˈwɪtəm/ | |
England | Wombwell | WUUM-wel | /ˈwʊmwɛl/ | |
England | Woodhay | like woody | /ˈwʊdi/ | |
England | Woolfardisworthy | WUUL-zee | /ˈwʊlzi/ | Variant of one name |
England | Woolfardisworthy | WUUL-zər-ee | /ˈwʊlzəri/ | Variant of one name |
England | Worcester | WUUSS-tər | /ˈwʊstər/ | |
England | Worstead | WUUSS-ted | /ˈwʊstəd/ | |
England | Woughton | WUUF-tən | /ˈwʊftən/ | |
England | Wressle | REZ-əl | /ˈrɛzəl/ | |
England | Wrotham | ROOT-əm | /ˈruːtəm/ | |
England | Wroughton | RAW-tən | /ˈrɔːtən/ | |
England | Wybunbury | WIM-bree | /ˈwɪmbri/ | Variant of one name |
England | Wybunbury | WIN-bər-ee | /ˈwɪnbəri/ | Variant of one name |
England | Wycombe | WIK-əm | /ˈwɪkəm/ | |
England | Wymondham | WIND-əm | /ˈwɪndəm/ | |
England | Yeading | YED-ing | /ˈjɛdɪŋ/ | |
England | Yeaton | YET-ən | /ˈjɛtən/ | |
England | Yeavering | YEV-ər-ing | /ˈjɛvərɪŋ/ | |
England | Yeovil | YOH-vəl | /ˈjoʊvəl/ | |
England | Zouch | ZOTCH | /zɒtʃ/ |
See also
Notes
- ^ e.g. Leicester, Gloucester, Worcester, Bicester, Towcester, Rocester and Alcester, but not Cirencester
- ^ e.g. Norwich, Woolwich and West Bromwich, but not Ipswich, Nantwich or Droitwich Spa
- ^ e.g. Smethwick, Chiswick and Flitwick
- ^ Accordingly: Southwick, Hampshire - /ˈsʌðɪk/ Anomalies: Southwick, West Sussex is pronounced /ˈsaʊθwɪk/, like Painswick, Gloucestershire, Prestwick and Hardwick, as well as Pickwick, a former village in Wiltshire through which the novel The Pickwick Papers got its title, but these by population represent a very small minority.
- ^ Murray is also a common surname generally pronounced in this orthodox way.
References
- ^ a b c d P. H. Reaney (1969). The Origin of English Place Names. Routledge and Kegan Paul. pp. 44–5. ISBN 0-7100-2010-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az Wells, John C. (2000). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. 2nd ed. Longman. ISBN 0-582-36468-X.
- ^ Reflecting original "Beldesert" "Beaudesert and Henley-in-Arden Website | Warwickshire | Our Town|History|". Henley-in-Arden. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
- ^ Bill Bryson (1991-09-01). The Mother Tongue. HarperCollins. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-380-71543-5.
- ^ Wells, John (6 May 2010). "Chideock". John Wells's phoetic blog. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ^ "How Do You Pronounce Theydon Bois?". Londonist. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ "Chop Gate". yorkshiremoors.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ "History of Cowbit - Cowbit Village". cowbitvillage.co.uk. 2 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Pronouncing British Placenames at BBC's Edited Guide Entry h2g2 site
- ^ a b c "Moray - Pronunciation". Rootsweb at ancestry.com. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ Pointon, G.E. (1983). BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-212976-7.
- ^ "Oliver Cromwell's home; fields amid which his boyhood was passed. Villages in the neighborhood- where other great men were born-the boy Oliver saved". nY Times. 1888-12-30. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
- ^ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Bristol_and_Somerset/2000-01/0949053929 [dead link]
- ^ Roach & Hartman, eds (1997) English Pronouncing Dictionary, 15th edition. (Cambridge University Press). p. 234
- ^ "A Snippet of Village History". www.kingston-bagpuize.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ Lycett Green, Candida. Unwrecked England. Oldie. p. 30.
Further reading
- G. M. Miller, ed. (1971). BBC pronouncing dictionary of British names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-431125-2.