Language quiz

Here is a recording of me saying the names of five places in England. Each is spelt in a way that doesn’t match the pronunciation. Can you work out which places they are?

August 26th, 2007 in English, Language, Quiz questions

Comments (9)

José San MartinAugust 26th, 2007 at 3:20 pm

The second one would be “Worcestershire” ?

José San MartinAugust 26th, 2007 at 3:23 pm

By the way, the third sounds like “Kirchner”, but I think he’s no English city!

MikeAugust 26th, 2007 at 10:10 pm

I think the last one is Suffolk, but I could be wrong.

PaoAugust 27th, 2007 at 2:14 am

haha funny one Jose. I do think Kirchner was not said earlier. He is definitely no English town.

Joseph StaleknightAugust 27th, 2007 at 2:44 am

…
Wolfsleaugh
Worchestershire
Chemleaugh
Suffolk

Jonathan KAugust 27th, 2007 at 5:10 am

My guess-I’m pretty sure on all of them but the first one.

Heysham, Lancashire
Worcestershire
Woolfardisworthy, Devon
Cholmondeley, Cheshire
Suffolk

GuidoAugust 27th, 2007 at 2:13 pm

The last one is Southwark, not Suffolk

DavidAugust 27th, 2007 at 7:34 pm

Here’s what they sound like to me. I decided to just guess instead of cheating and looking up UK placenames. :)

- Heathshire
- Worcestershire (this one way easy, based on the pronunciation of the sauce)
- Woolsey
- Shalney
- South Ark

SimonAugust 27th, 2007 at 8:28 pm

Here are the answers:

1. Heysham, Lancashire – /’hi:ʃəm/
2. Worcestershire – /’wʊstɚʃə/
3. Woolfardisworthy, Devon – /’wʊlzi/
4. Cholmondeley, Cheshire — /’tʃʌmli/
5. Southwark, Greater London — /’sʌðək/ or /’sʌvək/