To pronounce this street correctly

[wherethestreetshaveasillyname]

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)

I have a surname that is spelled the same as a reasonably well known British town where one of the letters is silent (think Chiswick), but we pronounce the silent letter in our name (so ChisWick) and it makes people very very angry.

If you say it as the locals do more often than not you will be the same as others so I would do that.

Personally I think the common/local pronunciation is correct even if there is another well known place with a different pronunciation.

I’d just pronounce it how everyone else is.

There’s an area in my county that could be pronounced either of two ways (thing Reading for example). After twenty years of living here I’m still none the wiser as both pronunciations get used (so I guess no one really knows).

I had to register something with LA in Towcester (I’m from the south) and said to the man on the phone Tow-chester and he laughed and said it’s TOASTER?!

Place names are like the locals when in Rome etc. I went to a castle Menzies pronounced Mingus apparently. There are lots of regional dialects also Gaelic and Welsh must play a part. I have to mentally correct myself every time. I once had a flat share on Cockburn st pronounced Co’burn, I see words as I say them so struggle with alternative pronunciations.

I have the same, but opposite 'wick' problem. My name doesn't pronounce the W, and neither does the corresponding place name, but people still manage to mangle the pronunciation!

"Illinois" originates from Native American languages, so yes, people should pronounce it correctly. Correct the supercilious twats next time.

But are you sure you're pronouncing it correctly? There are tons of places in the USA that are pronounced differently than the 'original' place it was named after.

@wherethestreetshaveasillyname apparently in scotland, there is a street "blackness" say avenue. the locals pronounce it with accent on the ness part by extending it but in a story the accent would be on the black and the ness would be pronounce niss!

When in Rome. Eg ”Beecham” Place in Chelsea; not Beauchamp à la française!
but without the actual example, hard to be sure

I used to work as a teenager near Beauchamp Place in Knightsbridge and called it like you’d expect. Someone then told me it was Beecham, I was ‘shooketh’.

We have a street near me called Orleans Road.

I never know whether to say Or-leans, or Auuu-lins.

So I don’t know, sorry. It’s awkward.

I can’t believe I just posted about this the same time you did 😁

Strachan - Straaan
Finzean - Fingan

Remember accent will play a part in pronunciations as well, even if over time the local accent has dulled

It’s a Native American - French mashup so there’s no correct Native American way to say it, it’s a hybrid colonial American word.

Whatever the local UK pronunciation is it will have developed organically - why on earth do you think the locals are being pompous by using it?!

I must confess I don't understand the pronunciation of "Magdalene" and "Caius" colleges when the words 'maudlin' and 'keys' already existed. Nor do I understand why Menzies is mingus when the letter g is there for the use of and has appeared in Scottish names and place names.
That's said, I'd say the names the way everyone else did if I was somewhere they were frequently used.

@wherethestreetshaveasillyname what about Worcester?

Because they're not local to Illinois and being pompous by looking at OP like she's dumb. Did you miss that?

Tootie and Mr Neely the iceman thrashed that out in the movie.

similar to -shire placenames.
England and Scotland pronounce them very differently

Yes, if you move next to Notre Dame cathedral you pronounce it like the French surely and not the Americans!

I went to school with a boy with the surname Beauchamp pronounced Beecham! Very confusing.

Is it Des Moines?

I think you have to go with the locals, I live in Norfolk which has all manner of strangely pronounced locations (Wymondham and Happisburgh anyone?).

On the Isle of Wight there is Niton and Knighton. I would have pronounced them Nitton and Nighton.

But they are pronounced Nighton and Kaynighton.

It irrationally irritated me at first, but now I just go with the flow.

British people routinely correct me on the pronunciation of my home city so no advice I’m afraid but I feel your pain.