Place names considered unusual: Difference between revisions
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Image:DildoNewfoundland.jpg|Sign pointing to [[Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador]] |
Image:DildoNewfoundland.jpg|Sign pointing to [[Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador]] |
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Image:Fucking.jpg|The village of [[Fucking, Austria]] |
Image:Fucking, Austria, street sign.jpg|The village of [[Fucking, Austria]] |
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Image:Zzyzxrd.350px.jpg|Sign to [[Zzyzx, California|Zzyzx]] Road, on [[Interstate 15]], California |
Image:Zzyzxrd.350px.jpg|Sign to [[Zzyzx, California|Zzyzx]] Road, on [[Interstate 15]], California |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 13:37, 15 April 2006
 | This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. |
There are many unusual place names throughout the world. The study of placenames is known as Toponymy. This article consists predominantly of place names that are unusual in English; but should include all place names that are unusual in the local language.
Types of placenames often seen as unusual include:
- Names suggesting matters sexual or scatological or insulting, usually unintentionally.
- Names with unorthodox spelling or sound.
- Names which are extremely short (e.g., one-letter names) or extremely long.
- Names that describe something that is commonly not a geographical location.
- calendar-related names
- numerical names
- Interrogative pronoun names
For places with names that match or resemble the name of another much better known place, see List of misleading place names.
Many place names that appear odd to English-speakers are from other languages. Often they are either meaningless or innocuous in their own tongue. The arguably best-known examples of this are the town of Condom, France, and the villages of Fucking, Austria and Twatt, Scotland.
Some parts of the world have been seen as places which are famous for a large number of unusual names such as Dorset [1] in England; Ireland [2]; Antarctica [3]; Alberta [4] and Newfoundland [5] in Canada, and also Canada itself[6]; and Arkansas [7], Texas [8], Kentucky [9] Minnesota [10] and Pennsylvania [11] in the United States.
List of unusual place names
While the nature of an "unusual" name is subjective, there are some placenames unusual enough to gain mention in reputable sources. Some such places even achieve fame or notoriety for their unusual name.
-
Sign pointing to Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador -
The village of Fucking, Austria -
Sign to Zzyzx Road, on Interstate 15, California
References
- ^ BBC placenames
- ^ Odd or Interesting Irish Place Names
- ^ partial list of Antarctic place names
- ^ University of calgary press "Alberta has its share of striking and unusual place names"
- ^ Newfoundland Placenames "Newfoundland has the most unusual collection of place names of any country in the world."
- ^ Canadian Place Names "There are a fair share of weird & unusual Canadian place names"
- ^ Arkansas's Colorful Names Amuse Some, Intrigue Others
- ^ Texas town names
- ^ From Red Hot to Monkey's Eyebrow. Unusual Kentucky Place Names (1997)
- ^ The Pocket Guide to Minnesota Place Names "how did these places get such unusual names"
- ^ Unusual Town Names of Lancaster County
- ^ "BUG - Backpackers Guide to Childers, Bundaberg and Town of 1770, Queensland, Australia". Destinations Guide. www.bugaustralia.com The backpackers’ ultimate guide. Retrieved 2006-02-14.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|accessyear=(help) - ^ Screech and Tell, The New York Times, September 25, 2005
- ^ The Register, Brits steal carloads of F**king Austrian roadsigns, 15 August 2005
- ^ Welcome to FUCKING, Austria 2005
- ^ Fucking at Everything2
- ^ Where is Fucking?
- ^ Snopes, Austria is home to a town called 'Fucking.
- ^ Hell, Michigan USA 48169
- ^ roadsideamerica.com, Hell, Michigan
- ^ The New York Times, What's the Name of That Lake? It's Hard to Say Nov. 20, 2004
- ^ History of Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg
- ^ Even locals can't agree on spelling of Lake Chargoggagoggmanch ... Nov 21, 2004, Times Argus
- ^ BBC, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales, 2000
- ^ A Small Town with a Big Name
- ^ Longest single word in the world
- ^ City of Truth or Consequences and Sierra County, New Mexico — How Hot Springs Became Truth or Consequences
- ^ ZZYZX by Ross Eckler
- ^ who is this ZZYZX guy anyway?
- ^ Zzyzx funny signs
See also
External links
- Visiting Strange Place Names
- Cheeky town and place names
- weird and funny place names
- What's in a name? You'd Be Surprised, By Arnie Greenberg
- unusual city names
- Odd and Unusual Place Names
- Unusual and unique Canadian place names
- A Place Called Peculiar: Stories About Unusual American Place-Names by Frank K. Gallant
- CNN news, Odd town names strike author's fancy (1998)
- Odd Name Places
- Unusual placenames around the world