Australian City Names

Now that you know about Mooloolaba and can say its name correctly, it’s time to tackle other Australian  city names that, according to locals, are often mispronounced by those of us “from away.”

Tomorrow the Viking Sky will dock in Cairns but, as in Bah Hahbah (on the coast of Maine,) the “r” is silent; it’s “CANS.”

Ditto Melbourne, which is correctly pronounced “MEL-ben” or even “MEL-burn; it’s the “o” this time that goes missing. 

Adelaide drops its “d” to become “AA-uh-laid.”

Canberra is “CAN-bra.

Brisbane is “BRIZ-bn”

A laid-back and friendly sort, Australians usually do not correct visitors who mispronounce their city names or, if they do, it’s generally in a light-hearted way.  But they also appreciate our efforts to say the names as they do and see it as a sign of respect.  Cans it is!