You might think there are not many place names in Northamptonshire that can possibly be pronounced incorrectly.
However, you would be surprised how people from out of the area perceive some villages and towns in our county.
From Cogenhoe to Towcester, there are some places that really just get out-of-towners’ heads spinning.
And for those who live locally, there are also some places that we pronounce in ways that just do not make sense. Dusson, Wellingbru…
Here’s 13 place names in Northamptonshire that are mispronounced in one way or another.
9. Duston
For one reason or another ‘Duston’ is pronounced ‘Dusson’ by locals. Anyone not from around here can definitely be forgiven for not getting that correct. Photo: Google
10. Great Houghton
The ‘H’ in ‘Houghton’ seems to disappear among residents. Villagers call it ‘Great Ou-ten’ rather than ‘Great How-ton’. Photo: Google
11. Kettering
Whether it is our accent or just the way we say it, we all know there is not an ‘e’ in the pronunciation of ‘Kettering’. It is ‘Ket-rin’ rather than ‘Ket-er-ing’ - although it probably should be ‘Ket-er-ring’. Photo: Google
12. Wellingborough/Irthlingborough
Similarly, the ‘borough’ of ‘Wellingborough’ and ‘Irthlingborough’ is always pronounced ‘bru’, so ‘Wellingborough’ is ‘Welling-bru’. We make no excuses for it… Photo: Google