A Conversation for Pronouncing British Placenames
Ely
laconian Started conversation Mar 8, 2008
>>That's Ely in Cambridgeshire, not Ely in Wales, which is pronounced 'elly'.<<
I'm pretty sure the Welsh Ely is also pronounced 'ee-lee'.
Ely
Icy North Posted Mar 9, 2008
Thanks Iaconian. 
I think I've now heard both since I wrote the article - is it a creeping Anglicisation of an old Welsh name, do you think?
Icy
Ely
laconian Posted Mar 9, 2008
The Welsh name is 'Trelai', from 'Tref' (town) and 'Elai' (the river called Ely in English). I would think 'Elai' is pronounced 'ell-eye', so actually 'Elly' is closer to the mark as an Anglicisation. Interesting .
Ely
Icy North Posted Mar 9, 2008
Hmm, yes - that sounds closer.
I'll get the footnote changed to reflect that. I hate to see a good Welsh name get Anglicised. 
Ely
Icy North Posted Mar 10, 2008
Would you agree with this footnote change?
That's Ely in Cambridgeshire, but Ely in Wales is also pronounced 'ell-eye', from its Welsh name Trelai.
Ely
laconian Posted Mar 10, 2008
Yes I think that's 
, but I'm not really an expert. I'm not from the area but I do know my Welsh pronunciations .
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