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To pronounce this street correctly

429 replies

wherethestreetshaveasillyname · 04/06/2025 08:56

I just moved into small business premises locally and people have been asking for the address.

Now the street shares the name with a North American location that’s semi well-known in the UK - to avoid outing myself, let’s call it Illinois Street (it’s similar).

But every time I pronounce it (ill-ih-NOY street), I get blank looks. Then, when I describe the location, I get “ah you mean ill-ih-nwahh street!” and a raised ‘are you a bit stupid’ eyebrow.

What should I do?

A)keep saying it correctly

B) say it like everyone else seems to- but then look weird when I encounter someone who says it correctly

C) do as I am currently and long-windedly doing and say “oh it’s on Illinois Street, or, ill-i-nwa street as people seem to pronounce it round here.

(this is life-and-death and not at all lighthearted btw)

OP posts:
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SarfLondonLad · 25/06/2025 14:22

PersephoneSmith · 25/06/2025 13:59

lol, yes I can imagine how Sret-ley went down in Streetley.
They're dead posh, there :)

Not if you come from Goring!

SarfLondonLad · 25/06/2025 14:17

I used to live near a Chevening Road in South London.

The place in Kent it is named for is pronounced Cheev-en-ing.

All the locals called the road Shev-ning Road.

Stick with the way the locals say it.

PersephoneSmith · 25/06/2025 13:59

quantumbutterfly · 25/06/2025 11:44

If you're from Reading you'll understand why I got laughed at for pronouncing Streatley as I would pronounce Streatham. (also for spelling High Wycombe as High Wickham because I'd only heard it spoken not seen it written.)

I imagine Isleworth is ripe for mispronunciation.

lol, yes I can imagine how Sret-ley went down in Streetley.
They're dead posh, there :)

quantumbutterfly · 25/06/2025 11:44

PersephoneSmith · 04/06/2025 15:46

I live in Reading in Berkshire, can you imagine what would happen OP if you moved here and started saying you have moved to Reeding in Burkshire?

Use the local pronunciation!

If you're from Reading you'll understand why I got laughed at for pronouncing Streatley as I would pronounce Streatham. (also for spelling High Wycombe as High Wickham because I'd only heard it spoken not seen it written.)

I imagine Isleworth is ripe for mispronunciation.

Butchyrestingface · 09/06/2025 11:24

maddening · 09/06/2025 11:20

My favourite mispronounced street is Cockburn Street in Edinburgh

The district Château du Lait in Glasgow is frequently mispronounced by bumpkin visitor types.

maddening · 09/06/2025 11:20

My favourite mispronounced street is Cockburn Street in Edinburgh

CourageConsort · 09/06/2025 11:17

HiRen · 08/06/2025 21:00

That’s properly made me lol - Gants Hill à la française is just too on point (en point?)!! Brilliant 😅

I was a green-as-grass new Londoner, and in fairness, I'd never actually been to Gants Hill or had any reason to hear it said aloud, having never ventured out that far on the Central Line. Grin

HiRen · 08/06/2025 21:00

CourageConsort · 04/06/2025 09:41

Yes, but in Oxford there's also a Magdalen St pronounced as spelled, with the church of St Mary Magdalene on it. Just to mix things up...

(I definitely pronounced Theydon Bois as Bwozz when I first lived in London. And probably also said a French-style Gants Hill...)

That’s properly made me lol - Gants Hill à la française is just too on point (en point?)!! Brilliant 😅

Cosycover · 08/06/2025 20:35

Des Moines Street?

Tuebrook · 08/06/2025 20:22

@DH001 ,the name isn't Illinois, it's similar.

DH001 · 08/06/2025 19:22

AI says there is no street in the UK called Illinois St... but send them a PIN or give them a postcode and a local landmark... not exactly something to be getting yourself all worked up about is it?

Janlara · 08/06/2025 14:53

SpikyHatePotato · 04/06/2025 09:24

Theydon Bois (boys not bwah) and Havering atte Bower (atty)

.... and not far away, Raphael Park pronounced ray-fall. Bonkers.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/06/2025 08:16

Coco1379 · 07/06/2025 22:05

We’ve got some funnies in Norfolk
Happisburgh pronounced Haysbru
Cley pronounced Clie
Wymondham pronounced Windham

Stiffkey pronounced Stookey.

Coco1379 · 07/06/2025 22:05

We’ve got some funnies in Norfolk
Happisburgh pronounced Haysbru
Cley pronounced Clie
Wymondham pronounced Windham

Coco1379 · 07/06/2025 21:59

Google it. You can listen to the pronounciation of any word.

Tanjamaltija · 07/06/2025 21:18

C, but say the local one first, and add 'whichever you prefer'.

GarethBFS · 07/06/2025 19:09

Sometimes the local tradition is so longstanding that really that’s what the street is called, regardless of how the word is pronounced elsewhere. Belvoir Castle is an ancient example - the English couldn't pronounce the French sounds so called it “Beaver”. Here in Belfast, Stormont is often mispronounced “Stormount” - but there’s a “Stormount Street” (as per the street sign) where the mispronunciation is now the official title.

SALaw · 07/06/2025 10:48

It surely depends. You could live on Notre Dame Road. Are you pronouncing it like the French or the Americans? Illinois looks French and so maybe there is a French pronunciation which might be the correct one?

Ilikeadrink14 · 07/06/2025 10:35

Tuebrook · 06/06/2025 20:11

Your reply is gibberish.

And yours is rude and offensive!

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 07/06/2025 10:31

IzzyHandsIsMySpiritAnimal · 06/06/2025 23:33

I think I know how to say that one. Isn't the name something to do with churches? Some years ago my phone had a bit of an issue with maps and thought I was in Eglwyswrw when I was in Aberystwyth.

Eglwys is church, yes.

IzzyHandsIsMySpiritAnimal · 06/06/2025 23:33

Echobowels · 05/06/2025 23:17

Eglwyswrw? 😁

I think I know how to say that one. Isn't the name something to do with churches? Some years ago my phone had a bit of an issue with maps and thought I was in Eglwyswrw when I was in Aberystwyth.

TheNightingalesStarling · 06/06/2025 20:52

FlorbelaEspanca · 06/06/2025 18:21

Interesting, but old names are often preserved for slightly sentimental purposes. The Romans called Doncaster Danum; the town today has a Danum Hotel. And consider a) the origin and b) the spelling of surnames like Pomfret, Darby, Lester. Also, it is well known that Brighthelmstone became Brighton; less so that Wyrardisbury became Wraysbury.

Danum is very common for businesses, clubs, sports etc in Doncaster!

mathanxiety · 06/06/2025 20:50

TaTuirseOrm · 04/06/2025 09:20

Agree with PP, just because Illinois is pronounced one way in the US doesn't mean its the same everywhere.
Magdelene is pronounced Mawdullin in Cambridge (or is it Oxford? My knowledge comes from University Challenge, & I can't remember) but where I'm from it's pronounced Mag-dell-en. Both are right in their own area.

That's only true if there is more than one Illinois. The Illinois in Gloucestershire, for instance.

That being said, I'd pronounce it the way the locals mispronounce it, just fornthensake of clarity.

Tuebrook · 06/06/2025 20:11

Your reply is gibberish.

FlorbelaEspanca · 06/06/2025 19:58

Tuebrook · 06/06/2025 19:40

It certainly isn't pronounced like that. It's pronounced (roughly) 'Unnis Mone'
@FlorbelaEspanca .

[ˌənɨs ˈmoːn];

Edited

Sure: I had really only previously heard a BBC newsreader's pronunciation (when Keith Best got into his little difficulty with BT shares). It was clear to me that the vowel in the second word is a monophthong, but I couldn't convey that in ordinary spelling and was reluctant to use IPA on here; I'm glad you're not. The central vowels of the first word are just the sort that an anglophone newsreader wouldn't quite get I fear.