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This is a set of lists of English personal and place names having spellings that are counterintuitive to their pronunciation because the spelling does not accord with conventional pronunciation associations. Many of these are degenerations in the pronunciation of names that originated in other languages. Sometimes a well-known namesake with the same spelling has a markedly different pronunciation. These are known as heterophonic names or heterophones (unlike heterographs, which are written differently but pronounced the same).
Excluded are the numerous spellings which fail to make the pronunciation obvious without actually being at odds with convention: for example, the pronunciation /skəˈnɛktədi/ [1] [2] of Schenectady is not immediately obvious, but neither is it counterintuitive.
See Help:IPA/English for guides to the IPA symbols used, and variations depending on dialect. [n 1]
Boldened names indicate place names where only one part is pronounced irregularly, italicized pronunciations are uncommon. Exonyms are listed among examples.
Name element | Pronunciation | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Respelling | IPA | ||
-ane | ahn | /ɑːn/ | Mostly in Irish placenames |
-borough | b(ə)rə | /bəˈrə/ | |
-burgh | b(ə)rə | /bəˈrə/ | |
-bury | b(ə)r-ee | /bəˈri/ | |
-cambe | kəm | /kəm/ | |
-cester | stər | /stər/ | |
-c(o)omb(e) | kəm | /kəm/ | |
-ford | fərd | /fərd/ | |
-ham [n 2] | əm | /əm/ | Stokenham, Devon, England, is /stoʊkənˈhæm/ ; |
-holm(e) | hohm; like home | /hoʊm/ | |
-mouth | məth | /məθ/ | |
-quay | kee | /kiː/ | |
-shire | shər | /ʃər/ | |
-wich | ich, ij | /ɪtʃ/ , /ɪdʒ/ | American or Canadian localities named Greenwich and Norwich have - /wɪtʃ/ instead [n 3] |
-wick [n 4] | ik | /ɪk/ | |
Innis- | IN-ish | /ˈɪnɪʃ/ | Mostly in Irish placenames |
This list does not include place names in the United Kingdom or the United States, or places following spelling conventions of non-English languages. For UK place names, see List of irregularly spelled places in the United Kingdom. For US place names, see List of irregularly spelled places in the United States.
This list includes territories of the United Kingdom and the United States not wholly annexed into either country.
Bold names are common; so, while not intuitive, they are among the most well-used. Names in italics are names of non-English origin common among English speakers and only irregular in English pronunciation.
Name | Pronunciation | Notability | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Respelling | IPA | |||
Alicia Silverstone | ə-lee-SEE-ə | /əliˈsiː.ə/ | American actor | According to her; mainly regular outside North America |
Anna Faris | like Ana | /ˈɑːnə/ | American actor and comedian | Pronunciation mainly regular outside the US and Canada |
Chone Figgins | like Shawn | /ˈʃɔːn/ | American baseball player | Shortened from DeChone |
Chynna Phillips | like China | /ˈtʃaɪnə/ | American singer and actor | |
Colin Powell | KOH-lin | /ˈkoʊlɪn/ | American politician | |
Dav Pilkey | like Dave | /deɪv/ | American author and illustrator | |
Diane Arbus | like Deanne | /diːˈæn/ | American photographer | Regular for other holders |
Dwyane Wade | like Dwayne | /dweɪn/ | American basketball player | |
Elle Reeve | like Ellie | /ɛliː/ | American journalist | |
Ian Eagle | EYE-ən | /ˈaɪən/ | American sports announcer | |
Ian Ziering | EYE-ən | /ˈaɪən/ | American actor | |
Jäd Saxton | like Jade | /dʒeɪd/ | American actor and voice actor | |
Jeanne Moos | like Jeannie | /ˈdʒiːniː/ | American journalist | |
Joel Anthony | joh-EL | /dʒoʊˈɛl/ | Canadian basketball player | Regular for other holders |
Joni Eareckson Tada | like Johnny | /ˈdʒɑːniː/ | American author, radio host, and artist | |
Jrue Holiday | like Drew | /druː/ | American basketball player | |
Kiki Cuyler | KY-ky | /ˈkaɪkaɪ/ | American baseball player and coach | |
MaliVai Washington | MAL-ə-vee-ə | /ˈmæləviːə/ | American tennis player | |
Marÿke Hendrikse | mə-RAY-kə | /məˈreɪkə/ | Bahamian-Canadian actor and voice actor | |
Michellie Jones | mih-KEE-lee | /mɪˈkiːli/ | Australian triathlete | |
Mikki Moore | MY-kee | /ˈmaɪki/ | American basketball player | |
Monta Ellis | MON-tay | /ˈmɒnteɪ/ | American basketball player | |
Ramon Sessions | rah-MAHN | /rɑːˈmɑːn/ | American basketball player | Regular outside the US and Canada |
Sachia Vickery | like Sasha | /ˈsɑːʃə/ | American tennis player | |
Shanna Moakler | like Shayna | /ˈʃeɪnə/ | American model and actor | Pronunciation mainly regular outside the US |
Wynonna Judd | wy-NOH-nə | /waɪˈnoʊnə/ | American country singer | |
Zoe Lofgren | ZOH | /zoʊ/ | American politician and lawyer | Regular for other holders |
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