It might be the Queen’s English, but the West Midlands is home to plenty of places with names that are frequently entirely mispronounced. We’re here to helpWalsall Spiritualist Church on Caldmore Road(Image: Bond Wolfe)

The English language is quite a marvel, especially when you add a dash of West Midlands idiosyncrasy to the mix, which can lead to some pronunciation pitfalls.

This might explain why so many places in our beloved region have names that are often completely mispronounced.

So, we thought we’d lend a hand and guide visitors to Birmingham and the Black Country by clarifying how to pronounce certain regional place names.

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There’s no shortage of them – and if you come across any more, feel free to share them on our Facebook page.

1. Smethwick

When pronouncing it, use ‘th’ as in ‘the’ rather than ‘hath’. And disregard the ‘w’.

2. Caldmore

This one is a bit tricky. You might as well ignore the letters. It is pronounced ‘Karma’. Don’t ask why.

3. Great Wyrley

This looks like you’d say “Great wirely” but in practice, its “Great whirly”.

4. Wilnecote

New KFC in Ninian Way, Wilnecote.(Image: Brian John Brown)

There are plenty of tricky names around the Tamworth area, and this is one of them. You need to ignore the central ‘E’ – it’s not ‘Wilnercutt’, it’s ‘Wilncutt’.

5. Tettenhall

This one is a bit of a challenge. Colloquially, it’s ‘Tetnul’.

It’s probably supposed to be ‘Tetenul’.

6. Wednesbury

It’s ‘Wensbree’. So difficult to pronounce that the Ikea there is referred to as ‘Birmingham’.

7. Rowley Regis

It’s ‘row’ as in argue, rather than ‘row’ as in boat race.

8. Knowle

There are a few people out there who pronounce the ‘K’. That’s frowned upon on the posh side of Solihull. They also insist that the ‘O’ in Solihull has the correct vowel sound – think the word ‘so’, not the beer ‘Sol’.

9. Wythall

Becketts Farm in Wythall is opening it sunflower fields for free in 2024Becketts Farm in Wythall is opening it sunflower fields for free in 2024(Image: PA)

That Y muddles things up. It’s Withall.

10. Alcester

This one often gets butchered. It’s Ullster – not Alsesster.

11. Alvechurch

Here, the E is superfluous. It’s Alvchurch, not Alverchurch.

12. Weoley Castle

Ignore that O – it’s pronounced like the wheelie you did on a bike back in your youth.

13. Cradley Heath

Some locals might dispute this, but it’s Craydley Heath, not Craddley Heath.

14. Walsall

Park Street, Walsall town centre, pictured September 2024

Locally, the first L isn’t pronounced. So it’s said more like the Polish capital, Warsaw.

15. Billesley

Despite appearances, there aren’t three syllables – it’s not Bill Es Lee, it’s Billslee.

16. Aldridge

Think all – not (you can call me) Al.

17. Bordesley Green

You can skip a syllable here. It’s Bordsley Green, not Bordersly Green.

18. Moseley

You need to get that vowel sound right. it’s Mowsley, not Mossley.

19. Coleshill

Mostly, it’s pronounced as it’s written but there are also plenty who call it Coesill.

20. Worcestershire

It’s Wusster. Americans really struggle with this one.

21. Walmley

Travellers have arrived at Rectory Park on Thursday night, and are believed to be the same group who have been in Walmley, Castle Vale and Pype Hayes ParkTravellers have arrived at Rectory Park on Thursday night, and are believed to be the same group who have been in Walmley, Castle Vale and Pype Hayes Park

This Sutton Coldfield suburb might seem to be said like calmly with a W, but in practice it is more like warmly.

22. Minworth

This one actually causes some local disagreements – it may be that it’s pronounced “Minuth”, much like some thing Curdworth is pronounced “Cuduth”.

23. Nechells

People often say ‘Neeshells’ and ‘Netchels’. It’s actually ‘Neechels’.