How do you pronounce Willamette?

[Japhy_Ryder]

Help Oregonians! I'm moving out there, and want to make sure I don't look like some yokel from back east (which I am). As I understand, you pronounce Oregon like OR-uh-gun. But I've seen Willamette pronunciations like:
Wil-AM-it
Wil-AH-mit
Wil-a-MET
WIL-a-mit

So how can I make myself look like a local on my first day there?

[ibegurpard]

1. It's WillAMit dammit!

Just remember the rhyme and you'll have it right.
:toast:

[Xandor]

6. And make sure you pronounce...

...Eugene as you-GENE, and not YOU-gene, which is often done by Easterners!

[meegbear]

8. And it EN-velope ...

not ON-velope.

[Jerseycoa]

10. Like encore, entree, entrepreneur

Source: Dictionary.com

(French enveloppe, from envelopper, to envelop, from Old French envoloper. See envelop.)

Usage Note: The word envelope was borrowed into English from French during the early 18th century, and the first syllable acquired the pronunciation (on) as an approximation to the nasalized French pronunciation. Gradually the word has become anglicized further and is now most commonly pronounced (env-lop). The earlier pronunciation is still considered acceptable, however. A recent survey reveals that the (on-) pronunciation for the word envelope is used by 30 percent of the Usage Panel and is recognized as an acceptable variant by about 20 percent of those Panelists who normally use the (en-) pronunciation. Other similar words borrowed from French in the modern period include envoy (17th century), encore, ennui, ensemble, entree (18th century), entourage, and entrepreneur (19th century). Most retain their pseudo-French pronunciations, with the exception of envoy, which, like envelope, is mainly pronounced with (en) now.

[phaseolus]

2. I'm fairly certain it's #1

...but keep in mind I've never been there. Yet there *is* a Willamette Paper company that I know pronounces its name Wil-AM-it.

[jono]

3. I've always said Wil-AM-it.

Whatever you do, don't say Or-uh-gone! It's Or-uh-gun! :)

[GregW]

4. Wi-lammit

(sitting at the south end of the Willamette Valley as I type this)

[Dudley_DUright]

5. I don't live there, but I have visited the valley

which has some very nice wineries. I believe the first option is the correct one.

[SOteric]

7. Wi-LAM-mit

[Japhy_Ryder]

9. Thanks everyone!

I can't wait until I make my first crossing of the Wi-LAM-it early next year!