Oregon placenames for Californians

This document is intended to be a pronunciation guide for Californians who wish to properly pronounce Oregon placenames.

If you're not from California, your mileage may vary.

The Æ / æ Sound

The letters Æ and æ represent the vowel sound from the word "cat", as it is commonly pronounced in California.

Albany: ALL-buh-nee
Buena Vista: BYOO-nuh VISS-tuh
Chemeketa: chuh-MEH-kuh-tuh
Chiloquin: CHILL-uh-quin
Clackamas: CLÆK-uh-muss
Clatskanie: CLÆT-skuh-nye
Estacada: ess-tuh-KAY-duh
Heceta: HECK-uh-tuh
Imnaha: ihm-NAH-hah
Irrigon: EAR-uh-gun
Lake Oswego: LAKE oss-WEE-go
Madras: MÆD-russ
Malheur: MÆL-hyer
Minam: MY-num
Neskowin: NESS-kuh-win (historically: neh-SKOW-in -- but that's not very common anymore)
Noti: NO-tie
Santiam: SÆ-nee-æm
Tanasbourne: TÆ-nuss-born
Telocaset: tel-uh-KASS-it
The Dalles: thuh DÆLZ
Tigard: TIE-gurd
Tygh Valley: TIE væ-lee
Umatilla: yoo-muh-TILL-uh
Wallowa: wuh-LÆ-wuh
Wasco: WAH-skoh
Yachats: YAW-hots