Comments on: Silly place names in the Pacific Northwest http://www.xyre.org/2008/03/12/silly-place-names-in-the-pacific-northwest/ Ancient writings, current events, and my other whims Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:55:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Alexa http://www.xyre.org/2008/03/12/silly-place-names-in-the-pacific-northwest/#comment-175 Alexa Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:00:55 +0000 http://www.xyre.org/2008/03/12/silly-place-names-in-the-pacific-northwest/#comment-175 Oregon itself makes a pretty good shibboleth, since non-natives like to pronounce it OreGON, but as the bumper sticker says, it's ORygun. But here's a few more that I'd add: Irrigon, OR (According to my trusty Geographic Place Names of Oregon, the name is a combination of "Irrigation" and "Oregon". I have also heard the rumor that the correct pronunciation is IrriGON, thereby guaranteeing that nobody but a local, um, Irrigonian?, can pronounce it correctly, but I can't confirm that rumor.) Tualatin, OR (pronounced tu-AH-la-tin, not tu-a-LAT-in) Tigard, OR (tai-gard, not tiggard) Umatilla, OR (YUmatilla) Yakima, WA (YAK-i-ma) Yachats, OR (ya-hahts) Halfway, Drain, Zigzag, and Boring, OR, Yelm, WA and Eureka and Weed, CA are also pretty silly names, but hardly hard to pronounce. That said, I still think South Dildo, Newfoundland is the silliest place name ever. Oregon itself makes a pretty good shibboleth, since non-natives like to pronounce it OreGON, but as the bumper sticker says, it’s ORygun.

But here’s a few more that I’d add:
Irrigon, OR (According to my trusty Geographic Place Names of Oregon, the name is a combination of “Irrigation” and “Oregon”. I have also heard the rumor that the correct pronunciation is IrriGON, thereby guaranteeing that nobody but a local, um, Irrigonian?, can pronounce it correctly, but I can’t confirm that rumor.)
Tualatin, OR (pronounced tu-AH-la-tin, not tu-a-LAT-in)
Tigard, OR (tai-gard, not tiggard)
Umatilla, OR (YUmatilla)
Yakima, WA (YAK-i-ma)
Yachats, OR (ya-hahts)

Halfway, Drain, Zigzag, and Boring, OR, Yelm, WA and Eureka and Weed, CA are also pretty silly names, but hardly hard to pronounce.

That said, I still think South Dildo, Newfoundland is the silliest place name ever.

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