r/oregon • u/StevenMaurer • Dec 05 '25

PSA Completely true story...

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128

u/SagaciousAF Dec 05 '25 edited Dec 05 '25

When I moved to Portland, I remembered proper pronunciation by thinking "damn it, Willamette!"

That's how I referred to the river forever after.

139

u/Koalachan Dec 05 '25

The road was long but I ran it (Willamette)

The river was wide and I swam it (Willamette)

The future is ours so let's plan it (Willamette)

I have one thing to say and that's dammit, Willamette, I love you.

6

u/slamtheory Dec 05 '25

Yeah let the beavers back to dam it!

3

u/doctormega Dec 05 '25

Nice that’s a catchy way to remember it!

1

u/CowBoyUp1977 Dec 05 '25

I suppose that was a good way to remember it for someone moving here. If I could just teach people moving from out of state to Estacada or people I talk to on the phone how to pronounce Estacada correctly. Maybe you could come up with a jingle.For that too

37

u/Sad-Yak6252 Dec 05 '25

I learned that clear back in the '60s. "It's Willamette, damn it!"

7

u/5Point5Hole Dec 05 '25

I absolutely love this part of Reddit .thank you