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ESCC LRC LibGuides

ESVA Place Name Guide: Pronunciation Guide

This guide will teach you about the origins of some place names on the Shore, as well as how to pronounce several of the trickier ones!

 

Place Name Eye Dialect Spelling Google Pronunciation International Phonetic Alphabet
Accomack ak-uh-mack a-kə-mak /ˈæ.kə.mæk/
Miona my-own-uh mī-ō-nə /maɪ.ˈoʊ.nə/
Saxis sack-sis sak.səs /ˈsæk.səs/
Chincoteague shink-uh-tig SHiNGk-ə-tig /ˈʃɪŋk.ə.tɪg/
Onancock uh-nan-cock ə-nan-käk /ə.ˈnæŋ.kɑk/
Onley own-lee ōn-lē /ˈoʊn.li/
Pungoteague pun-guh-tig pən-gə-tig /ˈpʌŋ.gə.tɪg/
Wachapreague watch-uh-prig wäCH-ə-prig /ˈwɑt͡ʃ.ə.pɹɪg/
Tangier tan-jeer tan-jir /tæn.ˈdʒɪɹ/
Chesconessex chess-kuh-ness-icks CHes-kə-nes-əks /ˌt͡ʃɛs.kə.ˈnɛs.əks/
Northampton north-amp-tin nôrTH-amp-tən /nɔɹθ.ˈæmp.tən/
Occohannock ock-uh-hah-nuck äk-ə--nək /ˌɑk.ə.ˈhɑ.nək/
Nassawadox nass-uh-wah-ducks nas-ə--dəks /ˌnæs.ə.ˈwɑ.dəks/
Machipongo match-uh-pun-go maCH-ə-pəNG /ˌmæt͡ʃ.ə.ˈpʌŋ.goʊ/
Cheriton chair-uh-din CHer-ə-dən /ˈt͡ʃɛəɹ.ə.dən/
Kiptopeke kip-tuh-peek kip-tə-pēk /ˈkɪp.tə.pik/

 

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