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Walters0bchak241 t1_jec77sq wrote

Lay? Nah. I did start pronouncing Decatur as Day Kah Tour. Like a fancy dragonborn.

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fanrva t1_jec781k wrote

Lee. I could be wrong, but I’ve always seen it as the female form of the name Lee. Possibly because I grew up with a girl named Leigh.

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meskigski t1_jec8bcj wrote

I remember my first time on Leigh Street many moons ago... I pronounced it lay and was basically laughed out the room

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Horror-Antelope4256 t1_jec8n09 wrote

Leeeeeee. I have a neighbor who has lived on Leigh for like 50 years, she says leeeeee

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weirdbri t1_jec9a7j wrote

Like Sean Connery: Leash Treat

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WontArnett t1_jecaghk wrote

I new a dude named Leigh. He was a douche bag.

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rabit_stroker t1_jecceez wrote

If you're prignally from RIC you'd know its Lasagna

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dspencer97 t1_jeccvji wrote

I’d understand if you asked about Powhite or Jahnke, but Leigh is fairly easy to grasp to me.

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memorex00 t1_jecl41x wrote

What are ya a-doin'? everyone know it’s done called lee street. Give me ayy break.

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JackieBlue1970 t1_jecr6xt wrote

Native born Richmonder here. We pronounced it Lee. Parham is pronounced “Pair-‘em” and Powhite is pronounced Po-White, at least from the 1940s. There was never any controversy about the pronunciations until the 1980s, making the alternates a newish phenomenon. Coincidentally, the 1980s is when growth seemed to really take off in the area and lots of people moved from other places. Probably where the pronunciation conflict stems from. Of course, perhaps it was just not mentioned in the media at the time and, of course, no social media.

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Available-Reward-912 t1_jecrn4p wrote

😅 Cracking up, remembering a new to RVA TV reporter pronouncing The Fuqua School, while doing the snow closings.

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predicktable_x t1_jecrnhv wrote

Santa has a sleigh, so Leigh street is pronounced lay!

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rva-ModTeam t1_jecv7aa wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,510,320)

This content has been removed as it is considered rabble rousing, trolling, brigading, and/or inauthentic discourse. We encourage good-faith discussions from anyone, but we do not like jerks. If you're going to be the Jerk of the Year, please don't do that here.

Do not use alt or brand new throwaway accounts to manipulate votes, attack another user, avoid a previous ban or moderator action, or artificially-inflate comments with similar views.

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Squidward_2566 t1_jecvgxg wrote

I recently learned the correct way to say Decatur. For the longest time I was saying "deca-tour."

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spicychickenandranch t1_jed1rc8 wrote

I pronounce Parham as Par-ham idk why even tho I know it’s wrong. Powhite as Po-White and Jahnke as John-Key. I’m sure as hell might be downvoted but I’m not from here so 🤷🏻‍♀️

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healing_gourd t1_jedbtv2 wrote

Replying to WarbossWalton (#2,511,466)

Leigh comes from traditional English, sleigh comes from American English. Part of the reason English behaves stupidly is because we have massive groups separated by time and giant oceans all contributing to it, hah.

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connor8383 t1_jedzylk wrote

Replying to VA_Wineaux (#2,521,611)

NC native here, I’m also a UNC alum and duke named their business school the Fuqua school of business. The interactions I’ve had with their alums has led me to call it the fuckwad school of business instead.

In NC, there’s also a town called Fuquay-Varina. Pronounced “few-qway va-ree-nuh” but it makes you feel like you’re saying something dirty every time

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The_Kentwood_Farms t1_jee5vsp wrote

I called it "Lay" when I first moved down here, until I was ridiculed enough to start calling it "Lee". "Hen-ree-co" was another one I got wrong before being corrected.

−1

McGurganatorZX t1_jee5w5e wrote

I typically use "Lee" but I've def heard both and I'm all for both

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jennbo t1_jeego4q wrote

lol the downvotes on this thread for pronunciation like someone's said a problematic slur or something

−1

a_cycle_addict t1_jeeknnf wrote

I read it as lay. I try to say it as Lee.

But like sleigh and neigh

0

ceededcrotch t1_jeelc3u wrote

i lived in Charlottesville for a couple of years and the one there to watch out for is rio road.

1

tt2ps t1_jeeuk6w wrote

Replying to crankybitch2022 (#2,521,725)

I had this same thought as I was scrolling down the responses. Family is from the Eagle Rock/Fincastle/Troutville area in Botetourt. Buchanan (town) is another one in that county that folks mispronounce.

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Pizzabeercigs t1_jefc9wb wrote

Richmond has a Lee Ave, so when pronouncing Leigh St as Lee, you should really specify if it is Ave or Street.

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JustineLeah t1_jefmxl4 wrote

Leigh is pronounced as Lee. It’s the feminine version.

0

ploymahloy t1_jegxobr wrote

If anyone tells you it’s “lay” street they have brain damage and eat ketchup straight from the bottle.

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Technical_Way_6041 t1_jeh1j34 wrote

“Lay” street. I also over enunciate the ending T in Three Chopt. Just to stir the pot.

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throddlerx2 t1_jeh4il6 wrote

Replying to VA_Wineaux (#2,522,133)

And the name Varina is from Varina Davis - First Lady of the Confederacy. She does have a pretty grave at Hollywood Cemetery! There is also a town called Regina, VA (with a long I), where the airborne Ebola outbreak happened. The funny thing is when I was teaching my Bio students about the Ebola outbreak in Regina, they giggled at the name. I reminded them that they were in Varina high school. 🤣

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