American Reacts to Why are British place names so hard to pronounce?

Original Video: • Why are British place ...
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Map Men! These guys are awesome!😄
Help out an American from the Northeast (New England). I want to learn as much as I can about the history of other countries so that I can better piece together World History. This always makes it easier for me to have an informed opinion on current events around the world!
Having a diverse perspective is crucial to what I want to achieve here so please don't hold back! I want to learn about all I can! Keep recommending and PLEAESE join my Discord :) ( / discord )
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#British
#Names
#American
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#JayForeman
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#History
#AmericanReacts
#Reaction
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

[@terjoe6643]

The Danes are from Denmark and the Norwegians are from Norway. The Vikings collectively came from the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

[@A_Name_]

Not quite correct. The Danes came from the island Copenhagen is on can remember the name sorry. The jutes and angles came from mainland Denmark. The Frisians and Saxons from the south west of there. Norway and Sweden are strait forward though.

[@terjoe6643]

@@A_Name_ I agree and I'm aware of some of that but l was referring to how we presently view the Kingdom of Denmark, the general area from which the "Danes" emerged. I also know, only because of a little memory trick (think New Zealand) that the island Copenhagen is situated on is Zealand. This then reminds me that New Zealand is not named after Zealand but an area in Holland as it was the Dutch who landed first in New Zealand from Europe. It all has to be linked somewhere in the darkness of time l imagine.

[@setonix9151]

I stay for the ads because Jay Foreman's ads are quite entertaining

[@Jimmy_Jones]

Same with Ryan George

[@richardgreenwood3355]

Yeah. Doesn't mean I'm interested in the products but they do good ads! I'm worried that one day advertisers will realise that online advertising achieves nothing, and THEN who will fund KZbin!

[@smockboy]

Yup, I think Jay Foreman's and the Internet Historian's ads are probably the only ads I never skip.

[@dave_h_8742]

Shure are, Ye Har 🧢🐎🗽

[@happyspanners]

Simon Roper is a good channel for linguistics, etymology and history. Especially about Anglo-Saxon history and words.

[@grapeman63]

That's exactly what I was going to write. You could also try Langfocus as well.

"The Danes from Norway"... Me, a Swede: 🤣

[@kristena9285]

The Anglo-Saxons called all of them Danes.. (that was the polite name for them..).

@@kristena9285 I know, I know.But let me have a bit of fun at my Scandinavian brothers' expense ;)

[@dave_h_8742]

@ You and Norway, lol what are you like 😉 (See Germany and Holland, Britain and France)

[@mch-gaming1437]

@@kristena9285 It also doesn't help that the second invasions in the 1010s were Danes from Denmark who were also the rulers of Norway

[@KbIPbIL0]

LMAO DANES FROM NORWAY

[@KernowWarrior]

I watched the add at the end and I 100% agree with your advertising decision.

[@ssokolow]

My favourite of their videos so far are their "Unfinished London" series. There's just something about the character of those videos that especially appeals to me.

[@tonycasey3183]

One of the best things about Jay Foreman's channel is that he actually puts some effort into making the ads as entertaining as the content.

[@maureenjones7222]

See connor? We take the piss out of everyone in a well meaning way! x

[@michaelmclachlan1650]

Indeed, the greatest insults are directed at friends as strangers may take offence.

[@andrewmoss3681]

It's a sign of friendship & acceptance over here.

[@dave_h_8742]

All right bol-locks how ya doing ? Arm punch in manly gesture of friendship but not in a ghay way 😉

[@jackpatrick4462]

I can't imagine Frome being the most mispronounced name in Britain.. We've a town in Scotland spelt Milngavie, that's actually pronounced Mil-guy, there's no way anyone would get that not being local or finding out previously.

[@catrionamackenzie4933]

Same with Avoch in the Highlands near me, tourists always pronounce that wrong.

[@gman7346]

I'm from North Wales and have been to Milngavie Hockey Club and can confirm nearly everything is unpronouncable. Do ya ken?

[@lred1383]

it's probably just not pronounced as much in total, to be fair

[@willmartin4474]

Dont worry Connor im English and we struggle with some places too, and we live here 😉

[@raylightbown4968]

I emphatically agree, Will. I was born in Lancashire (so I know how to say Goosnargh [goozner]). I studied in Aberdeen and got accustomed to Gaelic spelling and pronunciation. I have also lived in the Midlands, Bristol and Plymouth (so I'm OK with Frome [froom] and Mousehole [mouzel]. I have visited Ballina in Ireland (which I thought might be [baleena] but was [bally nah]. I and the rest of Brits still find places in other parts of Britain difficult to pronounce.

[@magdalenahrg]

So you don't attack tourist for pronouncing names of the city wrong. Sorry for bad english.

[@raylightbown4968]

@@magdalenahrg There will be some people, not many, who are unkind and make people who can't pronounce feel stupid. Most people, I believe, would simply use the correct pronunciation in a reply or comment. Some might say, "Sorry. That is one of our difficult place names. The correct way to say it is ..........."

[@tmarritt]

Shrewsbury can't even decide in their own town

[@williambailey344]

@@raylightbown4968 wow I too would have said Baleena and definitely not bally nah.

[@andrewshaw1571]

My favourite part about llanfair is that for however long it might be, due to the double l beginning, it only takes one syllable for most people having a pop at it to pronounce it wrong.

[@dave_h_8742]

LFPG for short

[@Rhianalanthula]

My mum always called it Llanfairpwll, as that's what she heard it being called when she lived in Colwyn Bay and worked in a bank in Abergele in the 60s. She even managed the ll pronunciation really well considering she was from Staffordshire. She moved away in the 70s after marrying my dad. Although he was from North Wales, he was working in Bristol. They moved to Anglesey in 2002. Although LlanfairPG is also on the Isle, everyone just called it LlanfairPG. Even the sign posts.

[@oufc90]

Enjoyed this video mate and others too. You cracked me up a couple of times here, and always good to learn! Jay Foreman and map men are great too

[@markthomas2577]

yeah, I was watching the ad at the end !

[@AhsokaTanoTheWhite]

Yes I was watching! Finally an American reacting to Jay Foreman videos. They are amazing.

[@mtop6812]

I always watch until the end whenever possible. Thank you for your time good Sir 👊

[@jinxvrs]

With regard to Welsh place names, you will need to learn that although both English and Welsh use Latin letters, their alphabets are very different - for instance in Welsh the letter "f" equals the English "v" and good luck with "ll". Also, in Welsh "y" is always a vowel and "w" can be used as a vowel (similar to "oo" in English - as in "too" not "took"). As for Gaelic names, they're even more complicated for an English speaker.

[@mwdyceffylgwaith2168]

D'you want to try and explain the 'ch' letter for them all? :P

[@jinxvrs]

@@mwdyceffylgwaith2168 You first.....I'm not even starting on mutations....

[@evilcommunistpicklerick3175]

The W with a circumflex makes the oo in too sound, whereas the regular W is the oo in took, people just don't use accents for some reason

[@jinxvrs]

@@evilcommunistpicklerick3175 There is also a difference in pronunciation between North & South Wales (and some different words) - for me "cwm" is "koom" (tomb) - I'm from Mid Wales, Cwm Ystwyth & Cwm Elan are definitely "koom" as opposed to ""Pobol y Cwm"

[@lunapuella2611]

I loved your reaction, but your reaction to their American accent was the cherry on top 🤣

[@warrengday]

Glad you found this funny channel, this video is one of their best, but most of the stuff is good and funny. Early videos are just Jay talking about London.

[@ClassicWorld19]

Yep! I, too, was watching the ad at the end. I like your reactions and I, for one, don't mind the pausing because you are explaining your thoughts. Also, sometimes it helps to go back on things and listen again as there's a lot to take in on some videos! :)

[@freudsigmund72]

Same here

[@michaelkenner3289]

They don't even need videos for their ads. If they put them out separately I'd still just watch them for their sense of humour.

[@rosemaryharwood2032]

I watched to the end and you are great and hope you are keeping well love xxxx

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

I'm always watching videos completely through. And I would expect reactors to do so too (although I wouldn't necessarily dislike or stop watching them).

[@doegywhail728]

If you want to know what British Netflix has you'll have to get surf shark, won't you. I'll take my commission in pancakes thanks.

[@ryanhuckstep]

I was with you til the end! I've met Jay a couple of times, genuinely nice guy. He did a whole series on Unfinished London which I think you'd like, it's on his channel way back I think. Enjoy your reactions mate!

[@dave_h_8742]

Underrated vlogger love his stuff

[@0hMax]

I'm from Hereford, which doesn't make much sense until you remember that the Welsh for "old road" is henffordd. Henffordd ---> Hereford.

[@grapeman63]

Pronounced Hare-rer-fud, not Hear-ford like De Niro pronounces it in the film "Ronin". He completely ruins an otherwise very good film!

[@dave_h_8742]

@@grapeman63 😂 There are three looking from the bridge to the right btw. Can't remember what colour the doors are.

[@grapeman63]

@@dave_h_8742 😄😄 I'm surprised that Sean Bean didn't coach him on how to say it!

[@lengyrotron4329]

Excellent Link. Keep on keeping on.

[@terryoconnor5262]

I would love to see more of Jay foreman on your channel

[@maudeboggins9834]

I love your videos, I do not get upset I think you have a great sense of humor.

[@spacemooasmr9699]

👀 here to the end, nice work! From Manchester, England👍🏻

[@Richard_Jones]

Map men have the best Ads, also the best content, so its a win, win, win.

[@mentaldavethefirst]

As soon as you said you would be good I immediately imagined Fast Show 'ooh Suits You Sir' haha

[@jinxvrs]

Which is actually "Suit you, sir, suit you". - no last "s" on suit

[@dave_h_8742]

@@jinxvrs Ooh, Ooh 😉

[@Gazmeizster_Wongatron]

You are too cute. Love how you started stanning for them barely twenty seconds into the video. Jay Foreman is one of the best KZbinrs out there - I never miss an episode of Map Men! The attention to detail, or rather random details, they include is insane! And they make the only sponsor ads that I actually like watching! 😂

[@chrismackett9044]

We live near Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, which is pronounced ‘Wisbeach’. Many visitors assume that it is pronounced ‘Wisbeck’.

[@markorollo.]

i only know that because its mentioned in one of my favourite films, 'still crazy' with Billy Connolly.

[@nickjeffery536]

"I'll try not to pause the video"... Proceeds to pause it every ten seconds...

[@wessexman6458]

Yes right to the end

[@jayt8124]

Love watching ads that creators put effort into making them entertaining, like Map Men and Ryan George

[@terjoe6643]

Netflix limits much of its content in relation to the world region it's being viewed for licensing reasons.

[@nicholasjones7312]

I like Mapmen’s home made adverts 🤣

[@cokeferret]

Advert at the end made me laugh sooo much!

[@1Anime4you]

"the Danes from Norway" 😂

[@iancossey105]

He's actually not wrong. You should see his previous reaction video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXXcmKaAed-YfdE The OG Danes lived in what we now think of as Sweden too once: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danes_(Germanic_tribe)

[@MARKSTRINGFELLOW1]

Map men is brilliant

[@samshouse2311]

Very good, Like the see your reaction to Irish names

[@Andyp12]

It's funny, but I work in IT and I'm up in Staffordshire, yet I cover parts of London, including Southwark and it amuses me even now that I get people ringing me up for support, who live in Southwark, who mispronounce their own borough as "South-Walk".

[@wellingboroughanddistrictu3a]

The one that never comes up in these sorts of videos is a small village near where I live in Northamptonshire. It's spelt Cogenhoe but pronounced Cooknow. During the war, one method used to identify possible German spies was to get them to pronounce a number of English place names. If they got more than a certain number wrong, they were held for further questioning Get 16 out of 20 right, pass friend, all's well.

[@allanirvine7304]

Awesome video subbed x

[@nickjeffery536]

UK Netflix is different because it won't play any film or show unless you have a cup of tea and comment on the weather first...

[@Mugtree]

Watched to the end. Their adds are the best

[@david22591]

What surprises me about this video is that they didn't mention Happisburgh in England. Pronounced "Hayz-boro".

[@josefschiltz2192]

Awesome!

[@shelleyjackson8793]

Yes I watched the ad at the end - and Towcester is pronounced like the bread toaster 😁

[@paulmiddleton8699]

I was born in a small city called Chichester it still has it's Roman walls and is over 900 years old it still has bits of Roman flooring under the cathedral.

[@Spiklething]

I was born there too! I think that’s a huge coincidence as (when I wrote this) there’s only been just over 2000 views.

[@mericet39]

Love you reaction to him doing an American accent!

[@newmie01]

You sir have just got a sub for being a good lad!

[@JTRipper42]

"The Danes from Norway". That was funny! LOL!

[@andrewmoss3681]

My personal favorite place in England to mess with pronunciation is, Loughbrough. As to Netflix, they rotate films & documentaries between various regions so they can seem to keep bringing new things. As an example, you could watch the series, Full Metal Alchemist, Brotherhood in the US at the moment. But it was taken down off UK Netflix a couple of months ago.

[@Chloraflora]

Lufbra!

[@ianhudson2193]

You have to realise Jay Foreman does a classic line of piss take videos!!😄😄

[@michael_177]

McJibbin reacting to a jay foreman video? Yo i'll buy the whole fu*kin' pack homie. Gimme that sh-- Yo that's a sick map for the corner of the vid, nice one. I found a map made in 1821 the other day online, quite high resolution. It shows whatever the map maker defined as 'barbaric', 'savage', 'half civilised', 'civilised', and 'enlightened' along with their type of government at the time. Want me to send on discord?

[@RighAlban]

Here's a couple of Scottish place names that catch folk out. Strathaven, pronounced Strayven. Milngavie, pronounced mulguy.

[@sonicdeathmonkey12]

Hawick always catches me out!

[@dave_h_8742]

Try the Mountains they are worse

[@RighAlban]

@@dave_h_8742 I just let people roll with it instead of correct them as it brings joy to the next one of my countrymen they meet.

[@shelleyjackson8793]

Finally my home town Towcester gets a mention!

[@nicholasjones7312]

I like how you highlighted in the thumbnail and intro that placename in my home country 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@davidabercrombie5427]

i watched right to the end. i dont know the exact reason but theres quite a lot of shows that dont match with US/UK netflix....but it sometimes applies to other streaming sites too like Amazon

[@alex6wow]

ye i was watching the ad at the end

[@shahmukesh2007]

4:47 - here you go. This is the start point. I saved your time.

[@nick7076]

I live in Bury, pronounced berry. My aunt lives in Euxton, pronounced Exton. Just over the hill in Yorkshire, pronounced Yorksher, there is Slaithwaite, pronounced slough-it as in plough it Then there is Belvoir, pronounced Beaver. The only rule is there are no rules

[@richardgreenwood3355]

It's funny I was just thinking about Bury. As a resident you'll correct me if I'm wrong, but don't some people call it 'Berry' and others 'Burry'? Maybe that more about people's accent rather than being a true difference in pronunciation?

[@nick7076]

@@richardgreenwood3355 there are indeed both pronunciations.

[@davepoole9520]

'American reacts'. There wasn't so much a reaction to the actual video but the look on your face when Jay was doing his 'American accent' during the advert at the end was an absolute classic! What in tarnation? He wasn't being dang tootin' serious dag nabbit!

[@davepb5798]

In the South West of England, there are hundreds of Celtic place names, especially Coombe (cwm) and Compton, and many more local place names with Pen etc

[@MillsyLM]

I always watch to the end of your videos, pausing and rewinding don't matter to me. How are you supposed to learn if you don't absorb what you're seeing and hearing, if it takes you 10 attempts to get it then hey it's all good. You're obviously genuinely interested and want to know as much as possible so you carry on doing whatever you need to do to understand and ignore the negative comments. A reaction channel is exactly what it says, if the people watching just expect to see a whole video all the way through without the reactor saying anything then they are probably in the wrong place. Keep going my friend.

[@markthomas2577]

Philology is the study of the history of languages

[@sonicdeathmonkey12]

Also etymology is the study of the history of words - might be the word he was thinking of.

[@DavetheNord]

watched to the end! hahaha

[@kernow9324]

I'm told locals pronounce Sherborne in Dorset as Shebbun. It's an easy way of knowing instantly whether someone is from outside the area.

[@fleshen]

Have been to New England a few times and you definitely have the closest to an English accent in the States

[@25dimensionsfrancis42]

You did very well mate.

[@jackcarter5101]

3:27 Leominster = 'Lemster' Bicester = 'Bister' Godmanchester = 'Gumster' Loughborough = 'Luffburra' Keighley = 'Keethlee' 14:12 Bedworth = 'Bedaff' Towcester = 'Toaster' Ely = 'Eely' Norwich = 'Norridge' Hunstanton = 'Hunston' Ynysybwl = 'Innissible'

[@andrewbowman4611]

Oddly, I've heard non-Brits get confused with Derby, where I live. The number of times I've had to say "it's dar-bee" is quite alarming.

[@jackcarter5101]

@@andrewbowman4611 Americans call the horse race a 'DIR-BEE' also

[@andrewbowman4611]

@@jackcarter5101 Yes, I know and it's bloody irritating, frankly! Thing is, English isn't a phonetic language and it sounds really weird when people pronounce certain words as such. The fact it's creeping into British English as well is a worry.

[@jackcarter5101]

@@andrewbowman4611 We're divided by a common language, and a great big ocean, thank Christ - Al Murray

[@kateshermon4900]

Port - is - Head is just up the road from me - well done, we struggle with them as well and we live here

[@mentaldavethefirst]

Represntin' Chester! Not just 'ending' in Chester. Pure and only 'Chester'!

[@jinxvrs]

Deva, or diva, as appropriate.

[@lindylou6864]

There used to be some Roman columns you could view in the basement of a ladieswear shop in Chester. Bet it’s a Starbucks now.

[@mentaldavethefirst]

@@lindylou6864 We are lucky to have only 1 Starbucks. About 50 Costa Coffee shops though!

[@construct3]

Yes I was watching when you asked me near the end to say so in the comments.

[@Aggie1950]

I'm still watching the ads at the end coz I love you Connor 😍

[@redsfanstan2012]

Was nearly watching at the end.

[@timholder6825]

South Shields, where I'm from was the Roman fort of Arbeia. The main supply port for Hadrian's Wall. Arbeia means, fort of the arabs. As the garrison there was mostly from Mesopotamia. Thru knocked down the old Victorian school I went to (Baring Street, so called because it runs directly north/south. Maritime legacy) to excavate the foundations. It's now not only amongst the best preserved Roman sites in the UK, but they've rebuilt sections of it, including the gatehouse, on the original foundations. It's a walk around, walk through museum. The artefacts in the museum are mostly excavated from the site. And they employ actors (committed enthusiasts) to dress as and take on the personas of Roman soldiers during the summer months. They patrol the walls, stand guard and you are encouraged to talk to them, as they remain in character as they tell you all the gen and history of the place.

[@richardgreenwood3355]

Full marks for getting Frome pretty much correct at the start. To be fair it's not just foreigners who can get the names wrong. It's just that British natives have had more time to hear these place names over the years, so that gives us a head-start. There will be many lesser known villages that almost ANYONE would get wrong the first time they saw them (for example Cholmondley and Wybunbury ..... "Chum-lee" and "Win-bree" respectively). There's a town not too far from me where even it's residents have never been able to agree on the correct pronunciation!

[@rikardottosson1272]

I stayed for the ad. The difference between netflixes is just the geofencing of content that the media companies attempt to enforce.

[@danwebster9496]

hahahaha great vid man

[@billybscotland7246]

Wasn’t sure this covered all the hardest places names to mention though, more of a history of place names. Check out Scottish or Welsh places names

[@kenny4141]

*Laughs in Milgavie*

[@ThatDamnPandaKai]

"The DANES from Norway." xD

[@leespike101]

one of those cjhaps was part of wit tank a realy funny comedy groop well worth a look perticulaly nellsons last words!

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Rolling the R: it's somehow like when you say a D, that's at least where your tongue needs to be, and then "fire" it like shots. (Somehow, more or less.)

[@timholder6825]

My father's from Brighton, Sussex (South Saxons, among the first groups of Saxons to arrive, subsequent groups moved north) and is Saxon (you had the Holder of the plough and the Leader of the oxen). My mother is from South Shields (originally shiels, not shields, referring to the fisherman's cottages on the south shore) Tyneside, as have her family for over a thousand years. Her name was Harle, directly Norwegian meaning Earl. So my dad's people, for all his aires and graces, was of Saxon peasant stock. My mother, who's family were humble coal miners, were Viking nobles.

[@warrengday]

I learnt to say Llanfair PG... from some videos on YT that teach it via a song.

[@barryeva9186]

I think a funny thing is how towns with same name are pronounced definitely in usa. As an Englishman now in USA, it gets me how in new londonthe river is Thames but in England it sounds as teams etc. To roll your rrr,s try ..around the rugged rock,the ragged rascal ran…

[@RighAlban]

As a Brit it annoys the life out me the way they pronounce Raleigh, Rawley.

[@kevinchestney9006]

We even argue over a rivers pronunciation. Where I live Peterborough the river Nene is pronounced Neen. 30 miles up the road in Northamptonshire it’s pronounced Nenn. It’s a local rivalry that’s been going on for centuries

[@michaelskoog9413]

Rolling rrrrrr's are easy. Press the tip of your tounge to your palate, just behind your front teeth and keep it there whilst exhaling. Add your vocal cords to the mix and you've got the perfect rolling r.

[@Rozco50]

I grew up near a village in Kent spelt Trottiscliffe but pronounced Trozz-lee.

[@ericrichard5176]

Rhode Island here as well

[@ProfessorBernardFuck]

I am from Alnwick, the pronounciation is further muddled by all other towns on the river Aln include the letter l in how they're spoken

[@kittyevans3868]

okay, so i'm a geordie (a resident of newcastle) and i will proudly say that it is newCAHstle rather than newCARstle

[@Zajuts149]

At 12:22, the word you're looking for is "etymology". it is the study of the origins of words and how they change over time. It is a branch of Linguistics.

[@ebantink4843]

The excellent map behind you is delightful. Please would you let me know its name and where to find it.

[@alistairmcclure493]

Watched right to the end Connor from sunny Scotland.

[@rohan1970b]

Not sure if you're still reading comments from a video this old, but yes, I saw the ad and to answer your question it has to do with each country having "exclusive" trade mark/copyrights that differ per country. I ran into this when I went to Britain and had to use my vpn to be able to watch my normal US stuff.

[@simonlockyear4653]

Also something they didn't mention is that Celtic and Scots (modern day Welsh etc) have different sounding letters. Example LL together in Welsh makes TH sound