How to Pronounce "River Thames"

It's "Tems," Not "Thames"

Phonetic: /ˈrɪvər tɛmz/ → "RIV-er TEHMZ"

Breakdown

• River: Standard — RIV-er (rhymes with "giver").
• Thames: TEMZ (rhymes with "gems," "stems"). Silent 'h', 'a' = short 'e', 'th' = 't'.

Why?

Old English Temese → Middle English Temse → spelling Latinized to Thames (false Greek link), but pronunciation stayed Tems. Locals never said "Thames" with a 'th'.

Common Mistakes

• "Thayms" (with voiced TH) — wrong.
• "Tames" (long A) — wrong.
• "Temz" (correct).

Say it like a Londoner: "I'm walkin' along the Temz."