Lima (Ohio) pronunciation? (Cincinnati, Dayton, Sandusky: school district, office, county)

[HuskerDu]

This has been a discussion at my office recently and I wondered what people here think. Is Lima, Ohio pronounced "Leema" or "Lyma" like the bean???

[Crew Chief]

I've always thought it was pronounced like the bean. But then it took me awhile to learn that Russia, OH (NW of Dayton about 50 miles) is pronounced "R00SH-ie"...

[CortlandGirl79]

Yes it's Lyma like the bean. Just like Vienna in Trumbull county doesn't sound like the country, but sounds like Vyenna.

[Ohiogirl81]

You don't say "leema" beans, do you? LOL

My personal favorite is Bellefontaine. That kills out-of-staters, many of whom are unable to swallow vowels with as much panache.

[ImaMichigander]

I'll admit this Michigander thinks that Ohio has some pretty screwed up pronunciations.

Yes, Lima, like the bean. Certainly not Lima, like Peru. Apparently the city Berlin, is not said like that of Germany, but instead BER-lin.

And then there is directionality. Upper Sandusky is south of and no where near Sandusky, right?

You crazy Ohioans.... And is it "Ohi O ans" or "Ohi-ens"???

As I've said I am a Michigander, definately not a MIchiganian.

[yayoi]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

Yes it's Lyma like the bean. Just like Vienna in Trumbull county doesn't sound like the country, but sounds like Vyenna.

Really? I had no idea. I always pronounced Vienna the same way it's pronounced for the city in Austria.

Another weird pronunciation is Cheviot (think chevy). People in Cincinnati say it Chi-viot while others say Che-viot.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by ImaMichigander

And then there is directionality. Upper Sandusky is south of and no where near Sandusky, right?

But that's because it's upriver from Sandusky, and on the Sandusky River. Or so I've been told.

Makes as much sense as anything else!

People in Cincinnati say it Chi-viot while others say Che-viot

Not "Chev-WAH"?

[yayoi]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

But that's because it's upriver from Sandusky, and on the Sandusky River. Or so I've been told.

Makes as much sense as anything else!


Not "Chev-WAH"?

Chev-wah?! Must be those French speakers. They don't know how to pronounce anything.

[Ohiogirl81]

I know! Those silly French say "Vair-seye" instead of "Vur-sales". *shakes head*

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

But that's because it's upriver from Sandusky, and on the Sandusky River. Or so I've been told.

Makes as much sense as anything else!

Yep, if you were in Sandusky bay, you'd have to travel upriver to get to Upper Sandusky (or simply referred to as "Upper" by the locals).

Originally Posted by ImaMichigander

I'll admit this Michigander thinks that Ohio has some pretty screwed up pronunciations.

Yes, Lima, like the bean. Certainly not Lima, like Peru. Apparently the city Berlin, is not said like that of Germany, but instead BER-lin.

There's also the Berlin-Milan School District, but it's pronounced BER-lin MY-lin. Not Ber-LIN, ME-lahn.

Originally Posted by HuskerDu

This has been a discussion at my office recently and I wondered what people here think. Is Lima, Ohio pronounced "Leema" or "Lyma" like the bean???

It's not just your average bean town.