A Guide to Oregon Pronounciation

Oar-eh-GAWN.

It’s a sound that makes both native and long-time residents cringe.

Visitors and new residents to this area struggle with some of the names for our counties, cities, rivers, and streets. It’s easy to tell an out-off-towner when you hear them say “Willa-met” instead of “wil-LAM-mut”. It’s understandable. Many titles come from Native American roots, and therefore, don’t roll off the tongue easily.

In the spirit of helping Oregon newbies fit in better, I present “A Guide to Oregon Pronounciation”, including audio clips to play in your headphones and repeat out loud–just like in high school French class.

Click the small player icon to hear the clip.

Oregon — ORY-gun [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/08/oregon.mp3]

Counties

Willamette — will-LAM-mut [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/10/willamette.mp3]
Multnomah — mult-NO-meh [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/10/multnomah.mp3]
Clackamas — clacka-muss [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/10/clackamas1.mp3]

Cities and Towns

Tualatin — too-WHAL-a-tin [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/10/tualatin.mp3]
Aloha — a-LOW-uh [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/10/aloha1.mp3]
Tigard — TIE-gurd [audio://repdx.com/files/2009/11/tigard.mp3]
Hubbard — hub-ERD [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/hubbard.mp3]
Lake Oswego — oss-WEE-go [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/lake_oswego.mp3]
Estacada — ess-ta-CAY-dah [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/estacada.mp3]
Molalla — muh-LAW-lah [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/molalla.mp3]
Mulino — muh-LINE-oh [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/mulino.mp3]
Gervais — jer-VISS [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/gervais.mp3]
The Dalles – like the pals [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/the_dalles.mp3]

Streets

Couch — coo-tsch [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/couch.mp3]
Nicolai — NICK-o-lye [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/nicolai.mp3]
Yeon — YEE-on [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/yeon.mp3]
Glisan — GLEE-sun [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/glisan.mp3]

(There is some controversy as whether it should be pronounced “glisten”.)

And of course, the local family chain of pubs, restaurants, hotels, and theaters.
McMenamins — MICK-mena-minz [audio:http://repdx.com/files/2009/11/mcmenamins.mp3]

I’m sure I missed some. Leave a comment. I am glad I don’t have to pronounce some of the locations in Washington State. Quillayute or Puyallup, anyone?

Photo by dave77459. Used under Creative Commons license.

January 12, 2007 · Filed Under Diversions

Comments

7 Responses to “A Guide to Oregon Pronounciation”

  1. jf.sellsius on January 17th, 2007 3:54 pm

    Love this post. As a New YAWKer who drinks COUGHee, I often get a chuckle from my friends down south who buy IN-surance and call the PO-leece when there’s trouble.

    And what about ordering sandwiches? In NY you order a Hero, down south a PoBoy, in Philly a Hoagie, in New England a Grinder

  2. Ron on January 17th, 2007 6:10 pm

    Our provincialism is less linguistic in nature. I think you’d be more scorned for choosing a domestic beer here in the land of microbrews.

  3. Terri Lejeune on February 3rd, 2007 5:15 am

    I am perusing real estate blogs, as we are starting one next month. I love this article. I am working with some web people in California who pronounced Lake Oswego “Lake Os-way-go”. Also, weighing in on the Glisan topic, according to the Oregonian Rose Festival clues for the coin hunt a couple years back, the pronunciation was originally glisten. Thanks for the good read.

  4. oliviacw on February 9th, 2007 1:17 am

    I grew up in Washington, just north of pew-AL-up, if you please. (And quill-ah-yoot, I think.)

  5. Nancy on September 22nd, 2007 3:57 pm

    Would you let people know it’s WID-MER beer…NOT Wid-mere?
    Thanks!

  6. Ron Ares on September 22nd, 2007 9:17 pm

    Nancy,

    Excellent correction! Wid-mur for sure. I think it might be high-time for a second pass at this guide. Widmer, Pittock, and Groening are sure to make the list.

  7. Robert Johnson on February 6th, 2010 3:52 am

    Thanks for making the audio and posting this.
    The written stress (in caps) doesn’t currently match with the audio on a couple of them. (Hubbard and Gervais)

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