Cities and countries whose spelling hides a very different sound.
WorcesterWUSS-ter
English city — swallows most of its own letters.
EdinburghED-in-bruh
The "burgh" ending is soft, not "burg".
Yosemiteyoh-SEM-ih-tee
Four syllables — not "YO-zeh-mite".
CannesKAHN
French — the S is silent.
QatarKUT-ter or ka-TAR
Both are widely used; avoid "guh-TAR".
Ibizaih-BEE-thuh
Spanish Z often gets a soft "th" sound.
ReykjavikRAY-kya-vik
Icelandic capital — the J acts like a Y.
SichuanSEH-chwahn
Chinese province — not "sit-chew-an".
MyanmarMYAHN-mar
Two clear syllables, not "my-AN-mar".
Xi'anSHEE-AHN
Two distinct syllables in this Chinese city.
Copenhagenkoh-pen-HAY-gen
Danish capital, stress on the third syllable.
Marseillemar-SAY
French port city — silent final letters.
AucklandAWK-lund
New Zealand city, not "OCK-land".
Nairobiny-ROH-bee
Kenyan capital — stress the second syllable.
LouisvilleLOO-ee-vil
Kentucky city — not "loo-EES-ville".