Trivia: Mispronounced station names

[nw1]

The first pronunciation is correct - the second one is for the one in the borough of Bromley

I used to live not far from another Plaistow, in West Sussex. To this day I am not 100% sure of the pronunciation!

It was in the middle of nowhere, only accessible by several miles of country lanes - an uncommonly sparsely-populated area for the southeast of England - and ironically I have only visited as an adult, when I lived out of the area. So I still don't know if it's Playstow or Plarstow!

(Interestingly it was the terminus of semi-regular bus services from Guildford in the 80s, formerly Alder Valley and latterly Tillingbourne).

I’ve never heard anything but the correct pronunciation of Worplesdon, and I know the place very well.

I haven't either, but someone who has never heard it pronounced would probably say Wurplesdon. When I first moved to the south I probably thought it was that, for a short time, until someone pronounced it.

Godalming often gets pronounced God-al-Ming, rather than the correct Goddleming.

I've heard God-AL-ming as well, but only in jest. I might possibly have thought it was pronounced that way when I first saw it on a road sign, aged 7. Moving to the adjacent station, I've only ever heard Farncum except an affected-posh recorded announcement at Woking in 1991 for the semi-fast services which pronounced it "FARNcooooooombe" in an over-exaggerated way.

Leigh in Kent always catches me out.

Was lucky that the first time I'd heard of the place was via a railway announcement, so I've known that one for a long time.

 

[StretfordEnd96]

I know Slaithwaite has already been mentioned but also on the same line - Mossley is always pronounced locally as "Mozz-leh" with enthesis on on the "zz" rather than "ss" in "Moss-leigh" (as it's pronounced down the tannoy on the trains themselves)

 

[Mikey C]

Greenwich in London, which isn't pronounced GREEN-WITCH!

However there's no local consensus how to pronounce it.
GRENitch
GRENidge
GRINitch
GRINidge
Are all variants. The first syllable is the one emphasised, but can sound more like Grin than Gren. The second can sound more like idge than itch.

I'm a GRENidge man myself

 

[317666]

Another one I've just remembered is Manorbier on the Pembroke Dock branch. Pronounced as 'manor beer' in English, but I've heard a few try and pronounce it as 'man-OR-bee-ay' as though it's French!

 

[D6130]

Another one I've just remembered is Manorbier on the Pembroke Dock branch. Pronounced as 'manor beer' in English, but I've heard a few try and pronounce it as 'man-OR-bee-ay' as though it's French!

Perhaps the name was originally French?....after all, it has a Norman castle.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Perhaps the name was originally French?....after all, it has a Norman castle.

The place name of Manorbier apparently means the Manor of Pyr (Pyr being a 6th century Welsh abbot). The etymology is somewhat doubtful, though.

 

[Caboose Class]

Kingston upon Hull for you Southerners - Ul for us Northerners.

 

[172007]

At which point when a person from another nation, let say England, missprounces a place name in say Scotland incorrectly and gets laughed at or crisiticised can the reaction be regarded as borderline if not actual racism? It's is not their fault that for cultural reasons and ignorance that a place like Kirkaldy is pronounced so differently to its spelling as seen from another culture's perspective.

English are culturaly different to Scots as we historically have English rather than Scots Gaelic as our language (Important in place names as many are millenia in the making) and also we are ethnically different with a majority from Anglo-Saxon heritage rather than Celtic again leading to different approaches to place name pronunciation.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

At which point when a person from another nation, let say England, missprounces a place name in say Scotland incorrectly and gets laughed at or crisiticised can the reaction be regarded as borderline if not actual racism? It's is not their fault that for cultural reasons and ignorance that a place like Kirkaldy is pronounced so differently to its spelling as seen from another culture's perspective.

Do you mean Kirkcaldy?

 

[Turtle]

Greenwich in London, which isn't pronounced GREEN-WITCH!

However there's no local consensus how to pronounce it.
GRENitch
GRENidge
GRINitch
GRINidge
Are all variants. The first syllable is the one emphasised, but can sound more like Grin than Gren. The second can sound more like idge than itch.

I'm a GRENidge man myself

Interesting. I moved to Greenwich for 12 years and understood that the "correct" pronunciation was GRENidge. However most of the locals pronounced it GRINidge.

 

[PeterC]

'Re the Marley-bone/Marry-le-bon situation, I thought for many years that the latter pronounciation was the correct one. I'm now given to believe that it's actually another Shrewsbury situation whereby both pronounciations are correct.

From posts that I have seen elsewhere the former was originally the Buckinghamshire pronunciation used by travellers using the station while the latter was used by natives of the parish. That could of course be total rubbish as it comes from unvalidated Internet sources.

These days I would say that both are acceptable.

 

[AM9]

'Re the Marley-bone/Marry-le-bon situation, I thought for many years that the latter pronounciation was the correct one. I'm now given to believe that it's actually another Shrewsbury situation whereby both pronounciations are correct.

I've all ways pronounced it as "Shrows bury". From what I've heard, it depends from which side of the river the person comes.

 

[urbophile]

A couple of Merseyside ones besides the M'gull/ Mag-hull one already quoted. Halewood is pronounced as if it were two separate words (ie equal stress on both syllables), not HALEwood as sometimes heard. Whereas Sandhills, I think, should be stressed on the first syllable though I have heard announcements implying it's two words. There is perhaps less of a consensus about this.

 

[Calthrop]

I've all ways pronounced it as "Shrows bury". From what I've heard, it depends from which side of the river the person comes.

My parents were from the Chester area, about thirty miles away; when they had occasion to speak of "the S-town", they said "Shrows-bury". (Just to confuse matters, I was once acquainted with a native of Shrewsbury who said that some of the inhabitants -- tending to be (please forgive the condescencion) from the less-cultured element -- called it "Shoos-bury", without the "r" !)

 

[AM9]

My parents were from the Chester area, about thirty miles away; when they had occasion to speak of "the S-town", they said "Shrows-bury". (Just to confuse matters, I was once acquainted with a native of Shrewsbury who said that some of the inhabitants -- tending to be (please forgive the condescencion) from the less-cultured element -- called it "Shoos-bury", without the "r" !)

I think I know the geography of the area well enough, but I heard that the left bank includes what is known as 'the loop' which has a slightly different demographic to the adjacent housing areas on the right bank, i.e. south Shrewsbury.

 

[prod_pep]

A couple of Merseyside ones besides the M'gull/ Mag-hull one already quoted. Halewood is pronounced as if it were two separate words (ie equal stress on both syllables), not HALEwood as sometimes heard. Whereas Sandhills, I think, should be stressed on the first syllable though I have heard announcements implying it's two words. There is perhaps less of a consensus about this.

Indeed there doesn't seem to be a consensus about Sandhills, but I would pronounce it with second syllable stress (and Moorfields too). In my experience it's somewhat more common than first syllable stress and sounds better to my ears. I'd give second syllable stress to Gillmoss, Clubmoor, Rainhill and Tuebrook (historically spelt Tue Brook) as well, all of which are also variable.

As for Shrewsbury, the 'shrows' pronunciation is historically correct so it gets my vote, as does 'Marry-li-b'n' for Marylebone.

 

[urbophile]

My parents were from the Chester area, about thirty miles away; when they had occasion to speak of "the S-town", they said "Shrows-bury". (Just to confuse matters, I was once acquainted with a native of Shrewsbury who said that some of the inhabitants -- tending to be (please forgive the condescencion) from the less-cultured element -- called it "Shoos-bury", without the "r" !)

There is a long-established youth club in the Everton area of Liverpool, founded by Shrewsbury School, which is generally known as 'the Shewsy' (pronounced Shoozie).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

At which point when a person from another nation, let say England, missprounces a place name in say Scotland incorrectly and gets laughed at or crisiticised can the reaction be regarded as borderline if not actual racism? It's is not their fault that for cultural reasons and ignorance that a place like Kirkaldy is pronounced so differently to its spelling as seen from another culture's perspective.

English are culturaly different to Scots as we historically have English rather than Scots Gaelic as our language (Important in place names as many are millenia in the making) and also we are ethnically different with a majority from Anglo-Saxon heritage rather than Celtic again leading to different approaches to place name pronunciation.

No. That would be daft. Almost as daft as the "is sarcasm a form of bullying?" thread from the other week.

When actual, real, harmful prejudice exists we shouldn't be inventing new and fictional forms of it to get distracted by.

 

[AY1975]

Do you mean Kirkcaldy?

My understanding has always been that Kirkcaldy is pronounced "Kirkoddy".

I've also heard at least one announcer pronounce Droitwich Spa as Drewtwich Spa.

See also this thread from 2017: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/trivia-place-names-that-youre-not-sure-how-to-pronounce.149178/

 

[Mcr Warrior]

My understanding has always been that Kirkcaldy is pronounced "Kirkoddy".

Yep. Either that or "Kirk-caw-dee". The "L" certainly isn't ever enunciated. Other than by clueless folk.

 

[greyman42]

I'm betting theres not many English people that get Milngavie right!

There are similar problems with Bearsden and Glenrothes.

 

[Mat17]

I've all ways pronounced it as "Shrows bury". From what I've heard, it depends from which side of the river the person comes.

I've always pronounced it 'Shroosbury' -as in the furry little animal.

 

[JackWhite]

Greenwich in London, which isn't pronounced GREEN-WITCH!

However there's no local consensus how to pronounce it.
GRENitch
GRENidge
GRINitch
GRINidge
Are all variants. The first syllable is the one emphasised, but can sound more like Grin than Gren. The second can sound more like idge than itch.

I'm a GRENidge man myself

Hahah, this is a great representation of our beautiful locals and language overall. I'd personally pronounce it like GRENitch

 

[Mikey C]

Interesting. I moved to Greenwich for 12 years and understood that the "correct" pronunciation was GRENidge. However most of the locals pronounced it GRINidge.

Hahah, this is a great representation of our beautiful locals and language overall. I'd personally pronounce it like GRENitch

This article asked the question, with 739 replies! My version came 3rd

How do you pronounce the word Greenwich?
Grin-itch 11%
Grin-idge 31%
Gren-itch 34%
Gren-idge 22%

How should Greenwich be pronounced?

THE place name Greenwich is an easy one to spell, but it seems there are multiple ways to say it.

www.newsshopper.co.uk

 

[JackWhite]

This article asked the question, with 739 replies! My version came 3rd

How should Greenwich be pronounced?

THE place name Greenwich is an easy one to spell, but it seems there are multiple ways to say it.

www.newsshopper.co.uk

You are a rare piece I would say!

 

[172007]

My understanding has always been that Kirkcaldy is pronounced "Kirkoddy".

I've also heard at least one announcer pronounce Droitwich Spa as Drewtwich Spa.

See also this thread from 2017: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/trivia-place-names-that-youre-not-sure-how-to-pronounce.149178/

Drewtwich Spa is said by some colleagues, its not a deliberately different pronunciation but a different accent. Some areas around Worcester have quote a country/rural accent that is someway towards Gloucesterahire accent.

 

[RH Liner]

Kingston upon Hull for you Southerners - Ul for us Northerners.

Ah yes, the Yorkshire Litany.
Priest: From Ull, Ell and Alifax
People: Good Lord, deliver us.

Meanwhile, back in my native Notts, Uckna for Hucknall.

 

[urbophile]

Ah yes, the Yorkshire Litany.
Priest: From Ull, Ell and Alifax
People: Good Lord, deliver us.

Meanwhile, back in my native Notts, Uckna for Hucknall.

Or even Ull, Elland, Alifax.

 

[Caboose Class]

Other often mispronounced station names in West Yorkshire Metroland include:-

Sowerby Bridge = So-bee Bridge
Guiseley = Guys-ly (not Geezly)
Batley = Batla
Brockholes = Brockles

And as for over in Lankisher…God forbid!

 

[Mordac]

At which point when a person from another nation, let say England, missprounces a place name in say Scotland incorrectly and gets laughed at or crisiticised can the reaction be regarded as borderline if not actual racism? It's is not their fault that for cultural reasons and ignorance that a place like Kirkaldy is pronounced so differently to its spelling as seen from another culture's perspective.

English are culturaly different to Scots as we historically have English rather than Scots Gaelic as our language (Important in place names as many are millenia in the making) and also we are ethnically different with a majority from Anglo-Saxon heritage rather than Celtic again leading to different approaches to place name pronunciation.

Most of Scotland is not historically Gaelic speaking.