



Let me begin this post by stating that this article is not a slam against Americans. Indeed, a lot of the places listed below have such wild and mesmerising pronunciations that even an Englishman - one who isn't down with the local lingo - might struggle to say the names correctly. That said, I do get a lot of requests from American readers wanting to know why, for example, Worcester is pronounced WUSSTER and why the second w is not spoken in Warwick.





This page is a guide you can use to impress the locals, who would no doubt be surprised to hear anyone - much less an American - pronouncing the name of their town or city correctly. Furthermore, you can use it simply just to blow your mind.





I have given the local pronunciation of each word, along with the relevant phonemes, for those who are fluent in phonetics. Note: the bold font indicates where the stress is placed when pronouncing a place name. As you can see, the names are listed in alphabetical order, so as to avoid preferential treatment.

1. Aigburth

2. Aldeburgh

3. Alnwick

4. Althorp

5. Altrincham

6. Alresford

7. Alverdiscott

8. Aslackby

9. Averham

10. Aveton Gifford

11. Barham

12. Barholm

13. Barnoldswick

14. Barugh

15. Great Barugh and Little Barugh

16. Beauchamp Roding

17. Beauchief

18. Beaudesert

19. Beaulieu

20. Beaminster

21. Bellingham

22. Belvoir

23. Berkeley

24. Berkshire

25. Berwick-upon-Tweed

25. Bicester

26. Bideford

27. Billericay

28. Blackley

29. Blidworth

30. Bosham

31. Bozeat

32. Bradley

33. Brant Broughton

34. Brewood

35. Bridestowe

36. Brougham

37. Burgh by Sands

38. Bylaugh

39. Caldmore

40. Cambois

41. River Cherwell

42. Cheshunt

43. Cheylesmore

44. Chideock

45. Cholmondeley

46. Cholmondeston

47. Cirencester

48. Claughton

49. Claughton on Brock

50. Cleobury Mortimer

51. Cogenhoe

52. Congresbury

53. Costessey

54. Cowbit

55. Cowden

56. Cowpen

57. Croxton Kerrial

58. Cruwys Morchard

59. Daventry

60. De Beauvoir Town

61. Derby

62. Dodworth

63. Durham

64. Edensor

65. Edenham

66. Elsecar

67. Ely

68. Esher

69. Eton

70. Euxton

71. Ewell

72. Eyam

73. Eynsham

74. Farcet

75. Folkingham

76. Fowey

77. Frome

78. Gateacre

79. Gillingham, Dorset

80. Gloucester

81. Godmanchester

82. Gotham

83. Greysouthen

84. Groby

85. Guildford

86. Happisburgh

87. Haverholme

88. Little Hautbois

89. Haverhill

90. Heather

91. Herstmonceux

92. Hessle

93. High Wycombe

94. Holborn

95. Holnicote

96. Holywell

97. Hough-on-the-Hill

98. Hougham

99. Houghton-le-Spring

100. Hunstanton

101. Ide

102. Isleworth

103. Islip

104. Keadby

105. Keighley

106. Kirkby

107. Laughton

108. Launceston

109. Leamington Spa

110. Leasingham

111. Leicester

112. Leigh

113. Leominster

114. Liskeard

115. Loose

116. Loughborough

117. Lostwithiel

118. Ludgvan

119. Lympne

120. Magdalen Hill

121. Manea

122. Marholm

123. Marlborough

124. Marylebone

125. Masham

126. Meols

127. Meols Cop

128. Meopham

129. Mousehole

130. Mytholmroyd

131. River Nene

132. Norwich

133. Olney

134. Osbournby

135. Ovingham

135. Plaistow

136. Portesham

137. Postwick

138. Poxwell

139. Prideaux Castle

140. Prinknash

141. Prudhoe

142. Puncknowle

143. Quadring

144. Quernmore

145. Rainworth

146. Ratlinghope

147. Rievaulx

148. Ruislip

149. St. Ive

150. St. Teath

151. Salisbury

152. Shrewsbury

153. Shaftesbury

154. Slaithwaite

1

55. South Elmsall

156. Southwark

157. Southwell

158. Sproxton

159. Staithes

160. Stawell

161. Steyning

161. Stiffkey

162. Stivichall

163. Stroxton

164. Tacolneston

165. Teignmouth

166. Teston

167. River Thames

168. Threekingham

169. Tideswell

170. Tintwistle

171. Todmorden

172. Torpenhow

173. Trewoon

174. Trottiscliffe

175. Ulgham

176. Warwick

177. Wavertree

178. Market Weighton

179. Welwyn

180. Wesham

181. Whittingham

182. Widecombe

183. Wisbech

184. Witham

185. East/West Woodhay

186. Woolfardisworthy

187. Worcester

188. Worstead

189. Wrotham

190. Wybunbury

191. Wycombe

192. Wymondham

193. Wytham

194. Yeavering

195. Yeaton

196. Zouch

197. Ashby-de-la-Zouch





Laurence is a British expat living in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a contributor for BBC America and has written for Anglotopia and Smitten by Britain . Having graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in English Language and Creative Writing, Laurence runs this blog, Lost In The Pond , charting the endless cultural and linguistic differences between Britain and The United States.





Please follow Laurence by clicking on any of the icons below.

– (PronouncedBERTH /ˈɛɡbərθ/)– (PronouncedBR'A /ˈɔːlbrə/)– (PronouncedICK/ˈænɪk/)– (PronouncedTREP /ˈɔːltrəp/)– (Pronounced-TRING-EM /ˈɔːltrɪŋəm/)– (Pronounced-FUDor-FUD /ɒlsfʉd/ or /ɔːlsfʉd/)– (Pronounced-KOTor-KOT/ɒlskɒt/ or /ɔːlskɒt/)– (PronouncedZEL-BEE /ˈeɪzəlbi/)– (Pronounced-R'M /ˈɛərəm/)– (PronouncedERD /ˈɔːtən.ˈdʒɪfərd/)– (Pronounced'M /ˈbærəm/)– (Pronounced'M /ˈbærəm/)– (Pronounced locally asLIK /ˈbɑrlɪk/)– (Pronounced/ˈbɑrk/)– (Pronounced– /ˈbɑrf/)– (PronouncedAM /biːtʃəm/)– (PronouncedIFF /ˈbiːtʃɪf/)– (PronouncedZA /ˈbɛlzər/)– (PronouncedLEE /ˈbjuːli/)– (PronouncedINSTER /ˈbɛm.ɨnstər/)– (Pronounced-IN-J'M /ˈbɛlɪndʒəm/)– (PronouncedVER /ˈbiːvər/)– (PronouncedLEE /ˈbɑrkli/)– (PronouncedSH'A /ˈbɑrkʃər/)– (PronouncedICK /ˈbɛrɪk/)– (PronouncedSTER /ˈbɪstər/)– (PronouncedIFFERD /ˈbɪdɪfərd/)– (Pronounced BILLAEE/ˌbɪləˈrɪki/)– (PronouncedLY /ˈbleɪkli/)– (PronouncedETH/ˈblɪd.əθ/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈbɒzəm/)– (PronouncedZHET /ˈboʊʒət/)– (PronouncedLEE /ˈbreɪdli/)– (PronouncedON /ˈbræntˌbruːtən/)– (Pronounced/ˈbruːd/)– (PronouncedSTOW /ˈbrɪdɪstoʊ/)– (Pronounced/ˈbruːm/)– (Pronounced/ˈbrʌf/)– (PronouncedLA /biːlə/)– (PronouncedER /ˈkɑːmər/)– (PronouncedUSS /ˈkæməs/)– (Pronounced/ˈtʃɑrwɛl/)– (PronouncedUNT /ˈtʃɛzənt/)– (PronouncedMORE /ˈtʃɑːlzmɔr/)– (PronouncedECK /ˈtʃɪdək/)– (PronouncedLEE /ˈtʃʌmli/)– (PronouncedSTUN /ˈtʃʌmstən/)– (PronouncedRENTER orTER /ˈsaɪrənˌsɛstər/ or /ˈsɪsɨˌtər/)– (PronouncedTUN /ˈklæftən/)– (PronouncedTUN /ˈklaɪtən/)– (PronouncedERY /ˈklɪbəri/)– (PronouncedNO /ˈkʊknoʊ/)– (PronouncedBREE /kɒŋzbriː/)– (PronouncedEE /kɒsi/)– (PronouncedIT /kʊbɪt/)– (Pronounced/kaʊˈdɛn/ - unusual secondary stress)– (Pronounced COO/ˈkuːpɛn/)– (PronouncedSUNRREL /ˈkroʊsənˌkɛrɨl/)– (Pronounced/ˈkruːz/)– (PronouncedTREE orTREE /ˈdævəntri/ or /ˈdeɪntri/)– (Pronounced D'ER /də ˈbiːvər/)– (PronouncedBEE /ˈdɑrbi/)– (PronouncedERTH /ˈdɒdərθ/)– (PronouncedRUM /ˈdʌrəm/)– (PronouncedER /ˈɛnzər/)– (PronouncedNAM /ˈɛdnəm/)– (Pronounced ELSEE/ɛlsɪˈkɑr/)– (PronouncedLEE– /ˈiːli/)– (PronouncedSHER /ˈiːʃər/)– (PronouncedTUN /ˈiːtən/)– (PronouncedTUN /ˈɛkstən/)– (Pronounced/ˈjuːl/)– (Pronounced/ˈiːm/)– (PronouncedSHUM /ˈɛnʃəm/)– (PronouncedUT /ˈfæsʉt/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈfɒkɪŋəm/)– (Pronounced/ˈfɔɪ/)– (Pronounced/ˈfruːm/)– (PronouncedUCKER /ˈɡætəkər/)– (PronouncedUM /ˈɡɪlɪŋəm/)– (PronouncedTER /ˈɡlɒstər/)– (PronouncedER /ˈɡʌmstər/)– (PronouncedUM /ˈɡoʊtəm/)– (PronouncedSOON /ˈɡreɪsuːn/)– (PronouncedBEE /ˈɡruːbiː/)– (PronouncedFERD /ˈɡɪlfərd/)– (PronouncedBR'A /ˈheɪzbrə/)– (PronouncedREM /ævrəm/)– (PronouncedISS /ˈhɒbɪs/)– (PronouncedRILL /ˈhævrɪl/)– (PronouncedTHER /ˈhiːðər/)– (Pronounced HERSMUN/ˌhɜrsmənˈzuː/)– (PronouncedUL /ˈhɛzəl/)– (PronouncedEM/ˈwɪkəm/)– (PronouncedBEN /ˈhoʊbən/)– (PronouncedEE-COTT /ˈhʌnɨkɒt/)– (PronouncedEE-WELL /ˈhɒliwɛl/)– (PronouncedON-THE-HILL /ˈhɒf.ɒn.ðə.hɪl/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈhɒfəm/)– (PronouncedTON-LE-SPRING /ˈhoʊtən.lɨ.sprɪŋ/)– (PronouncedSTUN /ˈhʌnstən/)– (Pronounced/iːd/)– (PronouncedULWERTH /ˈaɪzəlwərθ/)– (PronouncedLIP /ˈaɪzlɪp/)– (PronouncedBEE /ˈkɪdbi/)– (PronouncedLEE /ˈkiːθli/)– (PronouncedBEE /ˈkɜrbi/)– (PronouncedTUN /ˈlaʊtən/)– (PronouncedSEN /ˈlɔːnsən/)(PronouncedINGTON/ˈlɛmɪŋtən/)– (PronouncedINGEM /ˈlɛzɪŋəm/)– (PronouncedTER /ˈlɛstər/)– (Pronounced/ˈlaɪ/)– (PronouncedSTER /ˈlɛmstər/)– (Pronounced LI/lɪˈskɑrd/)– (Pronounced/ˈluːz/)– (Pronounced/ˈlʌfbrə/– (Pronounced LOSSEEL /lɒsˈwɪθiːəl/)– (PronouncedUN /ˈlʌdʒən/)– (Pronounced/ˈlɪm/)– (Pronounced/ˈmɔːn/)– (PronouncedNEE /ˈmeɪniː/)– (PronouncedRREM /ˈmærəm/)– (PronouncedBR'A /ˈmɔːlbrə/)– (PronouncedLEE-BUNLA-BUN /ˈmɑrlɪbən/, or /ˈmærɪlɨbən/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈmæsəm/)– (Pronounced/ˈmɛlz/)– (Pronounced/ˈmiːlz/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈmɛpəm/)– (PronouncedUL /ˈmaʊzəl/)– (Pronounced MYTHEM/ˌmaɪðəmˈrɔɪd/)– (Pronounced/ˈnɛn/)– (PronouncedRRITCH /ˈnɒrɨdʒ/)– (PronouncedNEE or-L-NEE /ˈɔːniː/ or /ˈoʊlniː/)– (PronouncedUNBEE /ˈɒzənbi/)– (PronouncedIN-JEM /ˈɒvɪndʒəm/)– (PronouncedSTAU /ˈplɑːstaʊ/)– (PronouncedEM orISHEM orSEM /ˈpɒsəm/ or /ˈpɔərtɨʃəm/ or /ˈpɔərtsəm/)– (PronouncedECK /ˈpɔːzɨk/)– (PronouncedSWELL /ˈpoʊkswɛl/)– (PronouncedUX /ˈprɪdəks/)– (PronouncedESH /ˈprɪnɨʃ/)– (Pronounced'AH /ˈprʌdə/)– (PronouncedUL /ˈpʌnəl/)– (PronouncedDRING /ˈkweɪdrɪŋ/)– (PronouncedMER/kwɔərmər/)– (PronouncedETH /ˈrɛnəθ/)– (PronouncedSHUP /ˈrætʃʌp/)– (Pronounced-OH /riːvoʊ/)– (PronouncedLIP /ˈraɪslɪp/)– (Pronounced S'NT/səntˈiːv/)– (Pronounced S'NT/ˈtɛθ/)– (PronouncedBREE/ˈsɒlzbri/, ˈ)– (Pronounced SBREEBRE/ˈʃroʊzbri/ or /ˈʃruːzbri/)– (PronouncedBREEBREE /ˈʃɑːftsbri/,or /ˈʃæfsbri/)– (PronouncedWITTWITT /ˈslæwɪt/, /ˈslæθwɪt/)– (Pronounced SOWTHUL /saʊθ.ˈɛmsəl/)– (PronouncedERK /ˈsʌðərk/)– (PronouncedELL /ˈsʌðəl/)– (PronouncedSEN /ˈsproʊsən/)– (Pronounced/ˈstɪərz/)– (Pronounced/ˈstɒl/)– (PronouncedING /ˈstɛniŋ/)– (PronouncedKY /ˈstjuːkiː/)– (PronouncedCHAL – /ˈstaɪtʃəl/)– (PronouncedSEN /ˈstrɔːsən/)– (PronouncedALSTEN /ˈtækəlstən/)– (PronouncedMUTH /ˈtɪnməθ/)– (PronouncedSEN /ˈtiːsən/)– (Pronounced/ˈtɛmz/)– (Pronounced/ˈθrɛkɪŋɡəm/)– (PronouncedZEL /ˈtɪdsəl/)– (PronouncedEL /ˈtɪnsəl/)– (PronouncedMERDEN /ˈtɒdmərdən/)– (PronouncedTREH-/ˈtɔərpənhaʊ/)– (PronouncedUN /ˈtruːən/)– (PronouncedLEE /ˈtrɒzli/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈʌfəm/)– (PronouncedRIK /ˈwɒrɨk/)– (PronouncedTREE /ˈwɔːtri/ note: usage is obsolete)– (PronouncedUN /ˈwiːtən/)– (PronouncedEN /ˈwɛlɨn/)– (PronouncedAM /ˈwəsəm/)IN'– /ˈwɪtɪnˌdʒəm/)– (PronouncedCUM /ˈwɪdɨkəm/)– (PronouncedBEETSH /ˈwɪzbiːtʃ/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈwɪtəm/)– (PronouncedDEE /ˈwʊdi/)– (Pronounced-ZEE or-ZEREE /ˈwʊlzi/ or /ˈwʊlzəri/)– (PronouncedTER /ˈwʊstər/)– (PronouncedSTED /ˈwʊstɛd/)– (PronouncedEM /ˈruːtəm/)– (PronouncedBREE /ˈwɪnbri/)– (PronouncedEM/ˈwɪkəm/)– (PronouncedDEM /ˈwɪndəm/)– (PronouncedTEM /ˈwaɪtəm/)– (PronouncedERING /ˈjɛvəriŋ/)– (PronouncedEN /ˈjɛtən/)– (Pronounced/ˈzɒtʃ/)– (PronouncedDILL'-ZOOCH /ˌdɪlæˈzuːʃ/)