Broadcast Pronunciation Guide
Here are pronunciations for selected Washington state place names.
The source is "Washington Names, a Pronunciation Guide of Washington StatePlace Names," compiled by Hugh A. Rundell and Val E. Limburg, Department of Communications, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Ahtanum, Yakima (uh-TEN'-uhm)
Alger, Skagit (AL'-jer)
Allyn, Mason (AL'-in)
Almira, Lincoln (al-MY'-ruh)
Anacortes, Skagit (A'-nuh-KOR'-tez)
Asotin County (uh-SOH'-tin)Bangor, Kitsap (BANG'-gawr)
Beaux Arts, King (boh-ZAHRT')
Bellevue, King (BEL'-vyoo)
Bingen, Klickitat (BIN'-jin)
Blewett Pass, Chelan (BLOO'-it)
Bogachiel Creek, Clallam (BOH'-guh-cheel)
Bothell, King (BAH'-thul)
Bow, Skagit (BOH)
Bremerton, Kitsap (BREM'-er-ton)
Burien, King (BER'-ee-uhn)Calispell Lake, Pend Oreille (KAL'-is-pel)
Camano, Island (kuh-MAY'-noh)
Camas, Clark (KAM'-uhs)
Carbanado, Pierce (cahr-buhn-AY'-doh)
Cashmere, Chelan (KASH'-mir)
Cathlemet, Wahkiakum (KATH'-LA'-muht)
Centralia, Lewis (sen-TRAY'-leeuh)
Chattaroy, Spokane (CHAT'-er-oy)
Chehalis, Lewis (chuh-HAY'-lis)
Chelan, Chelan (sheh-LAN')
Cheney, Spokane (CHEE'-nee)
Chewelah, Stevens (chuh-WEE'-luh)
Chimicum, Jefferson (CHI'-muh-kuhm)
Chinook Pass, Yakima (shi-NOOK')
Cle Elum, Kittitas (klee-EL'-uhm)
Colockum Creek, Chelan (koh-LAH'-kuhm)
Colville, Stevens (KAWL'-vil)
Conconully, Okanogan (KAHN'kah-NUHL'-lee)
Connell, Franklin (kah-NEL')
Copalis, Grays Harbor (koh-PAY'-lis)
Coulee City, Grant (KOO'-lee)
Coupeville, Island (KOOP'-vil)
Cowiche, Yakima (kow-ICH'-ee)
Cowlitz County (KOW'-litz)
Curlew Lake, Ferry (KER'-loo)
Cusick, Pend Oreille (KYOO-sik)Dabob Bay, Jefferson (DAY'-bahb)
Deming, Whatcom (DEM'ing)
Deschutes, Thurston (dez-SHOOTS')
Des Moines (duh-MOIN')
Diablo Dam, Whatcom (dee-AHB'-loh)
Dosewallips Creek, Jefferson (dohs-WAH'-lips)
Dungeness, Clallam (DUHN'-juh-nes)
DuPont, Pierce (doo-PAHNT)
Duvall, King (doo-VAWL')
Duwamish, King (doo-WAHM'-ish)Ediz Hook, Clallam (EE'-diz)
Elbe, Pierce (EL'-bee)
Elwha River, Clallam (EL'-whah)
Entiat, Chelan (EN'-tee-at)
Enumclaw, King (EE'-nuhm-klaw)
Ephrata, Grant (eh-FRAY'-tuh)
Everett, Snohomish (EV'-er-it)
Everson, Whatcom (EV'-er-suhn)
Gifford Pinchot National Forest (GIF'-ferd PIN'-choh)
Goodnoe, Klickitat (GOOD'-noh)
Guemes, Skagit (GWEE'-muhs)Hamma Hamma River, Mason (HA'-muh HA'-muh)
Hobart, King (HOH'bahrt)
Hoh, Jefferson (HOH)
Hoquiam, Grays Harbor (HOH'-kweeuhm)
Humptulips, Grays Harbor (HUMP'-too-lips)
Hyak, Kittitas (HY'-ak)
Illabot Creek, Skagit (il-A'-buht)
Ilwaco, Pacific (il-WAH'-koh)
Inchelium, Ferry (in-CHEE'-lee-uhm)
Interlaken, Pierce (IN'-ter-lahk-uhn)
Ione, Pend Oreille (eye-OHN')
Issaquah, King (IS'-uh-kwah)Juanita, King (waw-NEE'-tuh)
Kachess Lake, Kittitas (kuh-CHES')
Kahlotus, Franklin (kuh-LOH'-tuhs)
Kalalock, Jeffeson (KLAY'-lahk)
Kalama, Cowlitz (kuh-LAM'-uh)
Kapowsin, Pierce (kuh-POW'-suhn
Keechelus, Kittitas (KECH'-uh-luhs)
Kennewick, Benton (KEN'-uh-wik)
Kiona, Benton (KEE'-oh-nuh)
Kitsap County (KIT'-sap)
Kittitas County (KIT'-i-tas)
Klickitat, County (KLIK-i-tat)
La Push, Clallam (luh-POOSH')
Latah, Spokane (LAY'-tah)
Lilliwaup, Mason (LIL'-uh-wahp)
Lopez, San Juan (LOH'-pez)
Loup Loup Creek, Okanogan (LOOP'-loop)
Lummi Island, Whatcom (LUHM'-ee)
Lyman, Skagit (LY'-man)
Machias, Snohomish (muh-CHY'-us)
Makah Indian Reservation (muh-KAH')
Maltby, Snohomish (MALT'-be)
Manashtash Creek, Kittitas (MAN'-uhsh-tash)
Manzanita, Kitsap (MAN'-zuh-NEE'-tuh)
Marmot Lake, King (MAHR'-muht)
Mattawa, Gran (MAT'-uh-waw)
Mazama, Okanogan (muh-ZAH'-muh)
McNary Dam, Benton (muhk-NAIR'-ee)
Metaline, Pend Oreille (MET'-uh-leen)
Methow, Okanogan (MET'-how)
Moclips, Grays Harbor (MOH'-klips)
Monroe, Snohomis (muhn-ROH')
Mountlake Terrace, Snohomish (MOWNT'-lake)
Mukilteo, Snohomish (MUHK'-il-TEE'-oh)
Naches, Yakima (na-CHEEZ')
Nahcotta, Pacific (NAH'-KAH'-tuh)
Napavine, Lewis (NA'-puh-vyn)
Naselle, Pacific (nay-SEL')
Neah Bay, Clallam (NEE'-uh)
Nespelem, Okanogan (nes-PEE'-luhm)
Nisqually, Thurston (nis-KWAWL'-ee)
Nooksack River, Whatcom (NOOK'-sak)
Ocosta, Grays Harbor (oh-KAHS'-tuh)
Ohanapecosh, Rainier National Park (oh-HAN'-uh-puh-kahsh)
Ohop, Pierce (OH'-hahp)
Okanogan, County (oh-kuh-NAH'-gun)
Olalla, Kitsap (oh-LAL'-uh)
Omak, Okanogan (OH'-mak)
Onalaska, Lewis (ahn-uh-LAS'-kuh)
Orcas Island, San Juan (OR'-kuhs)
Oroville, Okanogan (OR'-vil)
Oso, Snohomish (OH'-soh)
Osoyoos Lake, Okanogan (oh-SOY'-yuhs)
Othello, Adams (oh-THEL'-oh)
Padilla Bay, Skagit (puh-DIL'-luh)
Palouse, Whitman (puh-LOOS')
Pasayten Creek, Okanogan (puh-SAY'-ten)
Pateros, Okanogan (puh-TAIR'-uhs)
Pe Ell, Lewis (pee-EL')
Pend Oreille, County (PAHN'-do-RAY')
Peshastin, Chelan (peh-SHAS'-tin)
Pilchuck, Snohomish (PIL'-chuhk)
Poulsbo, Kitsap (PAWLZ'-boh)
Puget Sound (PYOO'-juht)
Puyallup, Pierce (pyoo-AL'-uhp)
Pysht, Clallam (PISHT)
Queets, Jefferson (KWEETS)
Quilcene, Jefferson (KWIL'-seen)
Quillayute, Clallam (KWIL'-uh-yoot)
Quinault, Grays Harbor (kwin-AWLT')
Rainier, Thurston (ray-NIR')
Retsil, Kitsap (RET'-suhl)
Roche Harbor, San Juan (ROHSH)
Roesiger, Lake, Snohomish (RAW'-sig-er)
Rosario, San Juan (roh-ZAHR'-eeoh)
Roslyn, Kittitas (RAHZ'-lin)
Sacajawea State Park, Walla Walla (SAK'-uh-juh-WEE'-uh)
Samish, Skagit (SAM'-ish)
Sammamish, King (suh-MAM'-ish)
San de Fuca, Island (SAN'duh-FYOO'-kuh)
San Juan, County (San-WAHN')
Sappho, Clallam (SA'-foh)
Satsop Creek, Grays Harbor (SAT'-suhp)
Satus, Yakima (SAY'-tus)
Sauk, Skagit (SAWK)
Seattle, King (see-AT'-uhl)
Sedro Woolley, Skagit (SEE'-droh WOO'-lee)
Sehome, Whatcom (SEE'-hohm)
Sekiu, Clallam (SEE'-kyoo)
Selah, Yakima (SEE'-luh)
Semiamoo Bay, Whatcom (sem-ee-A'-moo)
Sequim, Clallam (SKWIM)
Similkameen Creek, Okanogan (si-MIL-kih-MEEN)
Siwash Creek, Okanogan (SY'-wash)
Skagit, County (SKA'-jit)
Skamania, County (skuh-MAY'-neeuh)
Skamokawa, Wahkiakum (skuh-MAH'-kuh-way)
Skokomish River, Mason (skoh-KOH'-mish)
Skookumchuck Creek, Thurston (SKOO'-kuhm-chuck)
Skykomish, King (sky'-KOH'-mish)
Snohomish, County (sno-HOH'-mish)
Snoqualmie, King (sno-KWAHL'-mee)
Sol Duc Hot Springs, Clallam (SAWL'-duhk)
Soleduck River, Clallam (SAWL'-duhk)
Spanaway, Pierce (SPAN'-uh-way)
Spieden Island, San Juan (SPEE'-den)
Spokane, County (spoh-KAN')
Squalicum Creek, Whatcom (SKWAW-li-koom)
Stehekin, Chelan (steh-HEE'-kin)
Steilacoom, Pierce (STIL'-uh-kuhm)
Steptoe Butte State Park, Whitman (STEP'-toh)
Stilliguamish River, Snohomish (STIL'-uh-GWAH'-mish)
Sucia Island, San Juan (SOO'-shuh)
Suiattle Pass, Chelan (soo-AT'-tuhl)
Sumas Creek, Whatcom (SOO'-mas)
Suquamish, Kitsap (soo-KWAH'-mish)
Swinomish, Skagit (SWIN'-oh-MISH')
Tacoma, Pierce (tuh-KOH'-muh)
Tahola, Grays Harbor (tuh-HOH'-luh)
Taneum Creek, Kittitas (TAN'-ee-uhm)
Tatoosh, Clallam (tuh-TOOSH')
Teanaway Creek, Kittitas (tee-AN'-uh-way)
Tekoa, Whitman (TEE'-koh)
Tenino, Thurston (ti-NY'-noh)
Tieton, Yakima (TY'-uh-tuhn)
Tillicum, Pierce (TIL'-i-kuhm)
Tonasket, Okanogan (tuhn-AS'-kuht)
Topppenish, Yakima (TAH'-puhn-ish)
Touchet, Walla Walla (TOO'-shee)
Toutle, Cowlitz (TOO'-tuhl)
Tukwila, King (tuhk-WILL'-luh)
Tulalip, Snohomish (too-LAY'-lip
Tyee, Skamania (ty-EE')
Umatilla National Forest (YOO'-muh-TIL'-uh)
Umptanum Creek, Kittitas (uhmp-TAN'-uhm)
Usk, Pend Oreille (UHSK)
Utsaladdy, Island (uht-suh-LAD'-ee)
Vader, Lewis (VAY'-der)
Vashon, King (VASH'-ahn)
Wahkiakum, County (wuh-KY'-uh-kuhm)
Walla Walla, County (WAH'-luh WAH'-luh)
Wallula, Walla Walla (wuh-LOO'-luh)
Wapato, Yakima (WAH'-puh-toh)
Washougal, Clark (waw-SHOO'-guhl)
Washtucna, Adams (wawsh-TUHK'-nuh)
Wenatchee, Chelan (wuh-NACH'-ee)
Whatcom, County (WHAHT'-kuhm)
Whidbey Island, Island (WHID'-bee)
Whitman, County (WHIT'-man)
Willapa Bay, Pacific (WILL'-uh-puh)
Winona, Kitsap (wy-NOH'-nuh)
Wynooche Creek, Grays Harbor (wy-NOO'-chee)
Yacolt, Clark (YA'-kawlt)
Yakima, County (YAK'-i-maw)
Zillah, Yakima (ZIL'-uh)
In addition, the AP has compiled the following list. To contribute a pronunciation to this page send e-mail to Doug Esser, broadcast editor
Abdel Ghani (ab-DEL' GHA'-nee)
Abdelmajid Dahoumane (ab-del-mah-JEED' da-hoo-MAHN'-ee)
Acaley (AK'-uh-lee)
Ahmed Ressam (AH'-med res-AHM')
Ahtanum (uh-TEN'-uhm)
Alava (ah-LAH'-vah)
Altose (AL'-tohs)
Anatone (AN'-a-tone)
Anousith Wilkaikul (ah-NEW'-sit vee-ly-COON')
Asmundson (OZ'-mund-son)
Atif Rafay (ah-TEEF' ruh-FAY')
Attorney General Christine Gregoire (GREG'-wahr) AWACS (AY'-wax)
B-J Garbe (GAR'-be)
Ballasiotes (bal-uh-SHOW'-tus)
Baranyi (buh-RON'-ee)
Belluzzo (bell-OO'-zoh)
Bezos (BEE'-zohs)
Bihler (BEE'-ler)
Bingen (BIN'-jin)
Blilie (BLY'-lee)
Bobbe (BOB'-ee)
Bogachiel (boh-guh-SHEEL')
Bombardier (bom-BAR'-de-ay)
Calambokidis (cal-um-BOH'-kee-dis)
Camas (CAM'-as)
Cancelmi (can-SEL'-me
Carlyon (car-LY'-on
Catalano (COT'-uh-LAWN'-oh)
Cecka (SEEK'-ah)
Chetwynd (CHET'-wind)
Chihuly (shuh-HOO'-lee)
Colville (CALL'-vill)
Conte (CON'-tee)
Coughenour (COON'-our)
Cullinan (CULL'-in-nan)
Daishowa (dy-SHOW'-uh)
Deccio (DEE'-see-oh)
Des Moines (duh-MOIN')
Devereux (DEV'-or-oh)
Dickau (DICK'-ow)
Drago (DRAW'-go)
Eikum (EY'-kum)
Enderle (EN'-der-lee)
Eyman (EY'-man)
Fuca (FEW'-kuh)
Gehrke (GER'-kee)
geoduck (GOO'-ee-duck)
geoducks (GOO'-ee-ducks)
Gerry (Gary) Alexande
Gil Meche (MESH)
Goedeke (geh-deh-kee)
Gottlieb (GOTT'-leeb)
Groening (GREEN'-ing)
Guemes (GWAY'-mus)
Guillen (GEE'-yen)
Gus Melonas (mel-OWN'-us)
Haouari (Ha-OH-ree)
Hiroshi Yamauchi (her-OSH'-ee yah-mah-OOCH'-ee)
Ibanez (ih-BAHN'-yez)
Ichiro Suzuki (EECH'-er-oh soo-ZOO'-kee)
Javier (hah-vee-AIR')
Joachim Kempin (YOCK'-em KEMP'-in)
Joe Szwaja (SHWAH'-yuh)
Joel Pineiro (jo-EL' pin-AIR'-oh)
Kalakala (kuh-LOCK'-uh-luh)
Kazuhiro Sasaki (kah-zuh-HEER'-oh sah-SOCK'-ee)
Kerlikowske (ker-lih-KOW'-skee)
Kinkele (KINK'-el)
Kitzhaber (KITZ'-hob-er)
Kootenai (KOOT'-nee)
Kotzebue (KOT'-seh-byoo
Kreidler (CRYD'-ler)
Ladenburg (LAD'-en-burg)
Latah (LAY'-taw)
Leemah Carneh (LEE'-muh CAR'-nay)
Leichner (Like'-ner) Leschi (LEH'-shy)
Letourneau (leh-TOHR'-noh)
Linux (LINN'-ux)
Makah (muh-KAH')
Maleng (MAY'-leng)
Marques Tuiasosopo (MARK'-us TOO'-ee-AH'-so-SO'-poh)
Matsushita (mat-SOOSH'-tah
Matt Mieske (MEE'-skee)
Mattheis (MATH-is)
McInnerney (MAK'-in-ERN'-ee)
meningococcal (men-in-jo-COCK'-ul)
Meydenbauer (MAY'-den-BOW'-ur)
Mincio Donciev (MIN'-choh DON'-chev)
Mohambedou Ould Slahi (mahk-MOOD' oold slah-HEE')
Mokhtar (mahk-tar)
Mulally (muh-LALL'-ee)
Mumia Abu-Jamal (moo-MEE'-ah ah-BOO' juh-MAHL)
Myron Kjos (kuh-JOHS')
Nathan Myhrvold (MEER-vold)
Neukom (NOOK'-em)
Niehaus (NEE'-hows)
Niemi (NEE'-me)
Olchefske (ol-CHEF'-skee)
Olerud (OL'-rood)
Olumide Oyedeji (oh-LOO'-muh-day oh-yuh-DEJ'-ee)
Osama bin Laden (oh-SAH'-muh bin-LAH'-din)
Oxrieder (ox-RY'-der)
Paciorek (puh-CHOR'-ick)
Pasado (puh-SOD'-oh)
Pearsall-Stipek (PEER'-sall STIP'-ick)
Pechman (PECK'-man)
Pelekoudas (PELL'-uh-KOO'-dus)
Pergola (PER'-guh-luh)
Pflaumer (FLOM'-er)
Pineiro (pin-AIR'-oh
Piniella (pin-ELL'-uh)
Port Hueneme (wy-NEE'-mee)
Prielipp (PREE-lip)
Przekwas (pur-ZEEK'-was)
Puerto Vallarta (PWEHR'-toh vah-YAHR'-tah)
Quasim (kwah-SEEM')
Rashard (ruh-SHARD')
Reichbauer (RYK'-bow-er)
Reichert (RY'-kert)
Rian Lindell (RY'-an lin-DELL')
Rick Neuheisel (noo-HY'-sell)
Rieke (REE'-kee)
Roby (ROB'-ee)
Rosenbach (ROHS'-en-bah)
Ruckelshaus (RUCK'-els-HOWS')
Sehlin (seh-LEEN)
Sele (SEE'-lee)
Semmelle (suh-'MELL)
Shalikashvili (SHAL'-ee-kash-VEE'-lee)
Sheila Strelhe (STRAY'-lee)
Shilshole (shil-shohl)
Shinpoch (SHIN'-poh)
Stangl (STANG'-ell)
Steinbrueck (STYN'-breck)
Stelle (stell)
Suffia (soo-FEE'-ah)
Tahuya (tuh-HOO'-yah)
Thibaudeau (TIB'-uh-doh)
Toews (TAYS)
Tsunami (soo-NAHM'-ee)
Tuiasosopo (TOO-ee-AH'-so-SO'-poh)
Tulalip (too-LAY'-lip)
Ujjal Dosanjh (OO'-jahl doe-SANJ')
Urquhart (URK'-hart)
Valle (valley)
Vili Fualaau (VEE'-lee foo-LAH'-oh)
WASL (WAH'-sul)
Wathne (WAT-knee)
Wiester (WEEST'-er)
Willapa (WIL'-uh-puh)
Wolkowyski (wolk-uh-WHIS'-key)
Zy'Nyia Nobles (zuh-NY'-uh NOH'-bols)
