17 Places That No One Can Spell Right
No matter how worldly you are, it is impossible to get the spelling correct of everywhere on the globe. Geographical spelling often gets overlooked in school as they try to make sure everyone has the hang of your vs. you’re and other more common words. However, it’s still surprising how often people misspell and mispronounce common places that they frequently refer to on the map. I’m not even going to touch places with Chinese or Slavic names because that’s beyond the reach of most Americans, but here is a list of 17 places that we really ought to learn how to spell:
1. Colosseum vs. Coliseum
These two words are more or less interchangeable, but whatever you do, don’t include an extra L (no one likes an L at the Colosseum!). If you want to be technical, reserve “Colosseum” for the spelling of the Roman monument, and use the alternate spelling for all other imitations of the Roman Colosseum.
2. Philippines
How many L’s, how many P’s? Maybe it’s easiest to remember this one as an anglicized name: Philip Pines.
3. Mediterranean Sea
While it’s tempting to put in an extra t or d, the only repeat letter is the r. For a Latin nerd like myself, this is easiest to remember through its roots: medi-middle, and terra-earth, which describe how it is a sea near the middle of the earth, between three continents
4. Caribbean Sea
How badly do you want to B in the Caribbean? So badly you need an extra B (and resist that extra r!).
5. Peloponnesian Peninsula
This tongue twister of a peninsula used to be the center of the classical world and even had a war named after it between Athens and Sparta. If you take any ancient European history class, you better remember to spell it correctly!
6. Morocco
Double letters are sure a doozy, so take note of the two c’s and single r in this North African country’s name
7. Colombia vs. Columbia
Colombians have for a long time been upset with Americans’ tendency to not only misspell their country’s name but also pronounce it indirectly as we refer to them as “Columbians.” Only in North America does Columbia, as in the District of Columbia or Columbia River, get a u like the name of Columbus.
8. Johannesburg
There are two tricky parts to South Africa’s largest city: the two n’s, which can be remembered because it’s not pronounced like “Hanes,” and the “burg” as in “burger” (sorry, that’s the best I’ve got!)
9. River Thames (pronounced “tems”)
This river in Southern England wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for its pronunciation, which rhymes with gems rather than “James”
10. Versailles (pronounced ver-sigh)
The home of one of France’s most extravagant palaces and several treaties troubles Americans the same way many French names do. Just be used to the “ille” that might as well be treated as silent to English speakers.
11. Stonehenge
THERE ARE NO HEDGES IN STONEHENGE.
12. Marseille (pronounced mar-say)
Similar to Versailles, the “ille” is a lot for English speakers to handle, both in their speech and their spelling.
13. Machu Picchu
Most tourists will be inclined to spell “Picchu” with a single c like the name of the baby Pikachu pokémon, but remember that Machu Picchu is not a macho creature invented by a Japanese game company, but rather a wonder of the world somehow crafted by the Incans.
14. Cincinnati
This Ohio city named after a famous Roman farmer suffers the same double letter difficulty of many of the places on this list. Latin rarely used consecutive t’s though, so make sure that n is the only letter that is repeated back to back.
15. Ottawa
This Canadian city often fools spellers who want to put in an extra o. Just think of this Ontarian province less in the lines of “O Canada” and more with how Canadians always say “eh” (a). (I’m doing my best with these, seriously!)
16. Connecticut
Connecticut joins a list of words like Wednesday that are spelled in a way that seems just wrong based on how they are pronounced. Still, Connecticut is a good place to make a connections.
17. Albuquerque
This New Mexico city’s quirky spelling will befuddle almost anyone outside of the southwest United States. Its most notable feature is its repetition of “que,” something that really is surprising when considering how it is pronounced.
Thanks for reading!!! What other places do you have trouble spelling? What tricks do you have for these places. Start a thread in the comments below!
