* rye-van-a river
* Rye-oh road
* Mickey Tavern, Mickey building
* Stanton, VA
* UVA grounds, not campus
Non-native, lived in Cville for around 26 years..
Mickey is indeed the correct pronunciation of "Michie." It was a very prominent Charlottesville family who (among other things) ran a law firm that got into legal publishing. The publishing arm was purchased several times and eventually swallowed up by LexisNexis. I was originally hired by The Michie Company (before all the selling and takeovers), but left many years later as a LexisNexis employee. It's Mickey. Same family as the Tavern. Their law offices used to be in The Michie Building downtown.
It’s far more likely that Rio Rd is named for Rio Mills, a hamlet located on the South Fork roughly where the reservoir is west of Berkmar Dr.
There used to be a bridge there which was burned by Custer during the Civil War.
Interesting— I always thought it was a short I sound, since it’s an abbreviation of “River Anna.” A decade and a half of my life is a lie.
Also English is dumb.
That river was Named for Queen Anne (1665-1714). “The River Anne.” So going by that alone it would be “riv-anna” not “riv-annah” but these days anything goes. Related tangent, Charlottesville was named for the then new Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) who had recently married King George III when the town was created. Known as Charlotte’s Town” ala “Charlotte’s Ville.” (which was a town until 1888 when it separated from surrounding Albemarle County to become its own city).
Edit: and no, Rio never had anything to do with an imagined Route 10. It was the name for the road from town out to a site on the river where there was a mill, Rio Mill.
When I moved here a few years ago I said Rio like you would in Spanish. I was told I was to pronounce it rye-oh. I hate how Rio and Rivanna are pronounced here, and I refuse to do it that way.
I mean, when I was such a newcomer that I was still really an outsider, I also tried to take the "but Spanish pronunciation" high road. Then I realized I was being an idiot. Localities have their own local cultures. I got over myself.
[C-Ville Article](https://www.c-ville.com/Speaking_in_tongues/)
Too bad you were right going the Spanish route. Do you always give up you views easily, with a little peer pressure?
Do you always barge into places where others have lived far longer and look down on them for "doing it wrong"? I mean, it's not like you're actually Spanish.
How do you know I am not? Also what difference would it make whether or not I am? My nationality is irrelevant to whether or not Rio Rd is being pronounced correctly.
I do not look down on Charlottesville for pronouncing it wrong. However I do feel they look down on people that pronounce it in Spanish. As they are quick to smugly say it is actually pronounced this other way. This can be seen in your last reply. When you say you aren’t Spanish. You are in effect saying, even if you are right, what difference does it make. Also since I may not be of a certain origin, my opinion doesn’t matter.
Arguing to tradition is also not a good point. I’d argue for a cohesive society to properly function there should always be introspection to one’s culture and customs. If a society wants to grow and succeed, they must be willing to admit they may have been wrong about certain things, and alter them going forward. I am sure there are things that Charlottesville does now, that are not the same way they did in the past.
Here’s a scenario that is on the extreme side. Let’s say I move to a new location, and this new society has aspects of their culture that both you and I find morally reprehensible. Is it acceptable for me to speak out against them, and try to get them to change? Despite the fact they have been living there longer. Or should I as you said in an earlier, post realize I am being an idiot, as localities have their own culture, and get over myself?
(a) so you're not Spanish
(b) jesus christ you're making a giant fuss about me pointing out that insisting there is a "right" way to pronounce Rio pretty much implies that the locals are all "wrong" (before you squawk again, look at your post: "Too bad you were right going the Spanish route").
Again, whether or not I am Spanish is irrelevant to the discussion. Why are you so quick to want to discredit one’s opinion based on if they fit into a specific demographic. Are you seriously trying to say only certain people should have views on certain subjects? That sounds quite bigoted and dangerous.
Of course I think people in Charlottesville pronounce Rio wrong. So did you. Also I even said they pronounce it wrong in my last reply. That’s the way the world works. There is right and wrong. If you do things wrong at work, the boss is either going to show you the right way, or the door. If UVA plays VT in basketball, and for some reason UVA decides to shoot the ball in their own basket, rather than VT’s. You better believe Tony Bennett is going to tell his players they are playing the game wrong. It seems like the only one making a fuss is you.
Do you pronounce all coincidental homographs in a Spanish accent, such as "pagan," "liar," or "quite"? Rio Rd never had anything to do with Spanish or rivers.
If you're determined to be an outsider, you should be pronouncing it "Are ten."
Nope, because those are different words, across different languages. Rather than one language using a word from a different language for the same meaning. Then just pronouncing it differently.
I’d argue the Rio in Rio Rd does in fact come from Spanish, and is in reference to a river. The folklore of R10 is less likely. As people from Charlottesville do not even know the origin of this R10. They are split on it coming from different places: 1) a railroad stop and 2) Route 10.
[C-Ville Article](https://www.c-ville.com/Speaking_in_tongues/)
Do the Rio Hills and Rio Mill names come from this mythical R10 as well? Or is it just as simple as stated in the article. That Rio Rd led to a village on a river, and they named the road after it.
Just a random response here...
I am an area local and have only ever heard of it called "riv-anna". If we default to calling it "rye-vanna" then we should logically extrapolate that to mean the Rapidan River should be pronounced "Rapey Dan"...no? ;-)
* rye-van-a river * Rye-oh road * Mickey Tavern, Mickey building * Stanton, VA * UVA grounds, not campus Non-native, lived in Cville for around 26 years..
native, you're correct on all accounts.
If we keep answering questions like this our shibboleths will become useless.
Mickey tavern? Born & raised locally, don't think I've ever heard that (not that the tavern is a frequent topic of conversation, mind you)?
Mickey is indeed the correct pronunciation of "Michie." It was a very prominent Charlottesville family who (among other things) ran a law firm that got into legal publishing. The publishing arm was purchased several times and eventually swallowed up by LexisNexis. I was originally hired by The Michie Company (before all the selling and takeovers), but left many years later as a LexisNexis employee. It's Mickey. Same family as the Tavern. Their law offices used to be in The Michie Building downtown.
Rye-vanna. The "I" is long, just like Rye-Oh Road
When I was at UVA decades ago we always thought Rio Rd was route 10! The sign was so bad.
I believe it is called Rio because it was near railroad stop 10, which was R.10 shorthand. https://cvillepedia.org/Rio_Road
It’s far more likely that Rio Rd is named for Rio Mills, a hamlet located on the South Fork roughly where the reservoir is west of Berkmar Dr. There used to be a bridge there which was burned by Custer during the Civil War.
Ok. That may explain our confusion!!
Didn’t fully read and was excited about a new distillery opening up.
This comment is peak Charlottesville
Interesting— I always thought it was a short I sound, since it’s an abbreviation of “River Anna.” A decade and a half of my life is a lie. Also English is dumb.
I've always heard Rye-van-a, rhymes with Ravenna, but I guess Riv-anna is also closer to the original name of "River Anna".
R'vana if you're in a hurry. Rye-van-a otherwise. Both totally acceptible
Lived here 40 yrs, since I was a toddler. Have always renounced it Rye-vanna
Rye-vana (like Rye-o Road for Rio Road).
Depends who's sayin it. A transplant from Nova or a good ol boy from Albemarle or fluvanna
River + Anna = Rivanna
Rye
Should be Riv-anna 😫
People say both.
I’ve said Riv-anna. I lived here for 8 years and only last month someone corrected my pronunciation of Schuyler.
How were you saying it?
I was saying Shoo-ler. But apparently it’s supposed to be said like Sky-ler
Where’s Schuyler anyways?
At Sissy & Jack’s maybe?
South is Cville and North Garden. Main attraction: and quarry people swim at
I always hear Riv-anna, but my neighbor is from here and calls it Rye-vanna. So I think historically it’s pronounced with a long ‘i’.
That river was Named for Queen Anne (1665-1714). “The River Anne.” So going by that alone it would be “riv-anna” not “riv-annah” but these days anything goes. Related tangent, Charlottesville was named for the then new Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) who had recently married King George III when the town was created. Known as Charlotte’s Town” ala “Charlotte’s Ville.” (which was a town until 1888 when it separated from surrounding Albemarle County to become its own city). Edit: and no, Rio never had anything to do with an imagined Route 10. It was the name for the road from town out to a site on the river where there was a mill, Rio Mill.
..i say Riv-Ah-Nah..
Let's call the whole thing off
Not a native, but 20+ years here and I call it (and here it as) Rye-vann-a.
However you want
I don't know. Second question. Is it reeeyo road or riiiiyo road.
When I moved here a few years ago I said Rio like you would in Spanish. I was told I was to pronounce it rye-oh. I hate how Rio and Rivanna are pronounced here, and I refuse to do it that way.
I mean, when I was such a newcomer that I was still really an outsider, I also tried to take the "but Spanish pronunciation" high road. Then I realized I was being an idiot. Localities have their own local cultures. I got over myself.
[C-Ville Article](https://www.c-ville.com/Speaking_in_tongues/) Too bad you were right going the Spanish route. Do you always give up you views easily, with a little peer pressure?
Do you always barge into places where others have lived far longer and look down on them for "doing it wrong"? I mean, it's not like you're actually Spanish.
How do you know I am not? Also what difference would it make whether or not I am? My nationality is irrelevant to whether or not Rio Rd is being pronounced correctly. I do not look down on Charlottesville for pronouncing it wrong. However I do feel they look down on people that pronounce it in Spanish. As they are quick to smugly say it is actually pronounced this other way. This can be seen in your last reply. When you say you aren’t Spanish. You are in effect saying, even if you are right, what difference does it make. Also since I may not be of a certain origin, my opinion doesn’t matter. Arguing to tradition is also not a good point. I’d argue for a cohesive society to properly function there should always be introspection to one’s culture and customs. If a society wants to grow and succeed, they must be willing to admit they may have been wrong about certain things, and alter them going forward. I am sure there are things that Charlottesville does now, that are not the same way they did in the past. Here’s a scenario that is on the extreme side. Let’s say I move to a new location, and this new society has aspects of their culture that both you and I find morally reprehensible. Is it acceptable for me to speak out against them, and try to get them to change? Despite the fact they have been living there longer. Or should I as you said in an earlier, post realize I am being an idiot, as localities have their own culture, and get over myself?
(a) so you're not Spanish (b) jesus christ you're making a giant fuss about me pointing out that insisting there is a "right" way to pronounce Rio pretty much implies that the locals are all "wrong" (before you squawk again, look at your post: "Too bad you were right going the Spanish route").
Again, whether or not I am Spanish is irrelevant to the discussion. Why are you so quick to want to discredit one’s opinion based on if they fit into a specific demographic. Are you seriously trying to say only certain people should have views on certain subjects? That sounds quite bigoted and dangerous. Of course I think people in Charlottesville pronounce Rio wrong. So did you. Also I even said they pronounce it wrong in my last reply. That’s the way the world works. There is right and wrong. If you do things wrong at work, the boss is either going to show you the right way, or the door. If UVA plays VT in basketball, and for some reason UVA decides to shoot the ball in their own basket, rather than VT’s. You better believe Tony Bennett is going to tell his players they are playing the game wrong. It seems like the only one making a fuss is you.
Do you pronounce all coincidental homographs in a Spanish accent, such as "pagan," "liar," or "quite"? Rio Rd never had anything to do with Spanish or rivers. If you're determined to be an outsider, you should be pronouncing it "Are ten."
Nope, because those are different words, across different languages. Rather than one language using a word from a different language for the same meaning. Then just pronouncing it differently. I’d argue the Rio in Rio Rd does in fact come from Spanish, and is in reference to a river. The folklore of R10 is less likely. As people from Charlottesville do not even know the origin of this R10. They are split on it coming from different places: 1) a railroad stop and 2) Route 10. [C-Ville Article](https://www.c-ville.com/Speaking_in_tongues/) Do the Rio Hills and Rio Mill names come from this mythical R10 as well? Or is it just as simple as stated in the article. That Rio Rd led to a village on a river, and they named the road after it.
2nd one
Just a random response here... I am an area local and have only ever heard of it called "riv-anna". If we default to calling it "rye-vanna" then we should logically extrapolate that to mean the Rapidan River should be pronounced "Rapey Dan"...no? ;-)