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AIBU?

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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:
Chemenger · 04/06/2025 09:03

The US pronunciation might not be the original, local pronunciation. Lots of places in the US share names with British places or other European places but are pronounced differently. Elgin in Scotland has a “g” like in beg while in the US is has the same sound as the g in gin, for example.

Agix · 04/06/2025 09:01

It's hard to say without knowing the actual name of the road. You might be pronouncing it incorrectly for all we know.

DappledThings · 04/06/2025 08:59

It's not entirely clear cut with place names. Is it only a US place name or also used otherwise? I used to live near a St Louis Road. The US city is pronounced St Lewis but that doesn't mean someone here should call it St Lewis Road.

If it's Arkansas and they are saying it as it looks rather than Arkansaw that would be more annoying.

Can't answer properly without the real example.

Spidey66 · 04/06/2025 08:59

There was a council estate near where I used to live with a block called Arkansas House. I bet that had similar problems.