(no subject)

[camwyn]

Things I found out today: it is possible to go a year and a half in a given geographical area without ever hearing the name of one of its more landmark bridges spoken aloud, at least if you don't have a car and therefore don't listen to shadow traffic reports.

Apparently living in areas with high concentrations of Middle Eastern residents has skewed my expectations somewhat, because 'Zakim' is not, in fact, pronounced 'zaah-KEEM'. It's pronounced 'ZAY-kum', and is in fact a Jewish surname.

I'mma go facepalm now.

Comments

[genarti]

If it helps, I've lived in this area for six years, and didn't realize that either. *facepalming also* It's the big white bridge, you know, that one, where 93 meets 1!

[attractivegeekery]

My favorite thing about that bridge is how it's like driving through a dinosaur's ribcage. It makes me think of the Flintstones every time I go over it.

[kyrielle]

*grins* Oops.

The one that got me for a while was "Couch Street" in Portland. I GREW UP in the Portland metro area, and I never knew I was saying that wrong (yep, like the furniture!) until I was in my late 20s.

The 'ou' is said 'oo' and I won't type it out phonetically since spelled that way it's a whole other word.

Gotta wonder what non-locals think of the occasional mention of it on the traffic reports.

[batyatoon]

If you'd told me it was a Jewish surname I would've guessed zah-KEEM too.

I wonder what the etymology of it is.

[camwyn]

It shows up on both rosters of Russian immigrants and residents of part of Poland. One of the towns in the area of Poland that has 'Zakim' and 'Zakjejm' on its list is named Zakroczym; Wiki says it comes from an old Polish word, 'zakrot', meaning river crossing. It's possible that it may have been a place-related surname.

'Course if that's the case then 'Zakim Bridge' basically means 'Bridge Bridge'.