Pronunciation of street name (Portland: shops, deal, dental)

[sayulita]

And Couch St.

[Squidlo]

HAHA! Yes, bring on the silly street names.


I agree on the pronunciation regardless of origin as Ma-Ca-Dam. Lived in Portland forever and really never heard any variation from it. Couch = Cooch Glisan = Gleeson. I am sure there are more.

I lived in San Antonio until recently. 4 or 5 major road pronunciations would leave you scratching your head.

[Minervah]

And it's "Willamette" d*mn it! Not Willmete (will-met) which is in Illinois.

I have always heard Glisan pronounced as "glisten" as in the stars glisten in the sky.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by Minervah

I have always heard Glisan pronounced as "glisten" as in the stars glisten in the sky.

Well, now. Glisan is a special case. The man for whom it was named (Rodney Glisan) ... the family pronounces it "glisten." But the street, it's always been Glee-son. But there's always been a bit of controversy about it.

[Squidlo]

A lot of news casters in the South will say Willa-Metty river or Willa-Metty Valley. Always get a giggle when I hear it. Honestly, the the "correct" pronunciation will be what the "locals" use. = ) It doesn't even have to make sense.

[Bayarea4]

Non-Portlander here, but my husband was born and raised in PDX and I've spend some time there. I believe the correct pronunciation of Couch Street is "Cooch."

[urbanlife78]

I often times just say Couch like it is spelled because it is easier in giving directions to someone without having to explain the way people pronounce it and how it is spelled. Besides, I think that one might be one of the more stupid ways I have seen an area pronounce a street.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Don't forget Flavel St. in SE Portland.
I have heard long time Portlanders and natives pronounce it as both Fluh--Vell (with emphasis on the Fluh) and Flay--Vell (with emphasis on the Vell).

Also check this out:
Cafe Unknown

Interesting article on "Willamette".
Explore that website. It contains a lot of very interesting Portland history.

And BTW, Naito Parkway is pronounced "Front Street", Cesar Chavez Blvd is pronounced "39th Avenue", and MLK is pronounced "Union Avenue".

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

I often times just say Couch like it is spelled because it is easier in giving directions to someone without having to explain the way people pronounce it and how it is spelled. Besides, I think that one might be one of the more stupid ways I have seen an area pronounce a street.

When street names are personal names, how can it be called stupid?

Besides ... just equate the "cou" to "you" ... unless you pronounce that YOW, because to do otherwise would be stupid.

[Bayarea4]

I assumed urban meant that "cooch" is a stupid name because of that word's vulgar associations (coochie dancers, etc.) and not that it's stupid to pronounce a name correctly.