Here's a guide to pronunciations in Virginia news

Some tips on pronouncers:

-- a long "o'' is OH, not OW (bowtie boh tye)

-- long "a'' is AY

-- long "e'' is EE

-- long "i'' is EYE

-- long "u'' is YOO

-- use a "j'' for a "j'' sound, not a "g''

-- a "k'' is used for a hard "k'' sound, not a "c''

PEOPLE in NEWS:

Nat Abeles (AY'-bulz), Monticello Association President

Abdurahman Alamoudi (abb-dur-RAH'-man ah-lah-MOO'-dee)

Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar (ahb-DEL'-hahl-eem hah-SAHN' ahb-DEL'-rahz-eek AHSH'-kahr)

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali (AHK'-med OH'-mar ah-BOO' ah-LEE')

John Avoli (ah-VOHL'-ee), Staunton mayor

Soliman Biheiri (bee-HEER"ee)

Ramzi Binalshibh (Bin-all-SHEE'-bee)

Ed Brazle (BRAZZ'-ul) Va. Beach Emergency Services

Judge Leonie Brinkema (LAY'-eh-nee BRINK'-eh-mah), federal judge in Alexandria

Louis Camilleri (KAMM'-eh-LAYR'-ee), chairman & CEO, Altria

Michael Capellas (kah-PELL'-ahs), MCI ceo

Nicholas Chabraja (cheh-BRY'-eh), Gen. Dynamics chairman & CEO

Sen. John Chichester (CHIH'-chess-ter)

Seung-Hui Cho (sung wee joh) Va. Tech gunman

Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites (DEH'-vuh-lyts)

Dennis Dohnal (DAH'-nal), federal magistrate in Richmond

Don Egle (EGG'-el), JMU spokesman

David Ekern (ECK'-ern), VDOT commissioner

Adm. Edmund Giambastiani Jr. (jee-um-BAHS'-tee-AH'-nee)

Retired Adm. Harold Gehman (GAY'-man)

SCOVA Chief Justice Leroy Hassell (hass-SELL')

Wassef Ali Hassoun (hah-SOON') Marine accused of deserting post in Iraq

Fred Heblich (HEBB'-lick), prominent defense attorney

Diane Helentjaris (hell-un-JARR'us) Director, Lord Fairfax Health Dist.

Sen. Ed Houck (howk)

Del. Johnny Joannou (joh-ANN'-uh)

Walter Kucharski (koo-CHARR'-skee) state auditor

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LASH'-KARR eh-TYE'-bah)

Daniel LeBlanc (leh-BLAHNK'), senior Kaine adviser

Rom Lipcius (romm LIPP'-skuss) VIMS researcher

Bishop Paul Loverde (luh-VAYR'-dee)

Henricus Lulofs (hen-REE'-kehs LOO'-loffs), NWS meteorologist

Michael Luttig (LOOT'-ihg), 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge

Mattaponi Indian Tribe (MATT'-ah-poh-NYE')

Steven Micas (MEE'-kuss), Chesterfield County attorney

Raymond Morrogh (MOR'-oh), Fairfax ass't prosecutor

Zacarias Moussaoui (zak-uh-REE'-uhs moo-SOW'-ee)

Mark Owczarski (oh-ZAHR'-skee), Va. Tech spokesman

Peter Odighizuwa (oh-dig-ih-ZOO'-uh)

Del. Bobby Orrock (OHR'-ock)

Pete Piringer (PEER'-ihn-jer) Montgomery County, Md. Fire and Rescue spokesman

Sen. Nick Rerras (RAYR'-uhs)

Roseann Runte (RUNN'-tuh), ODU prez

Larry Sabato (SAH'-bah-toh)

Phil Shucet (shoo-KETT'), former VDOT commissioner

Jens Soering (yens SOHR'-ing) convicted double murderer

Charles Steger (STEE'-gur), president Virginia Tech

Sen. Ken Stolle (STAH'-lee)

Dr. Robert Stroube (STROO'-bee), state health commissioner

Mike Szymanczyk (suh-MANN'-zick), CEO of Philip Morris

Loren Swartzendruber (SWAHRT'-zen-DROO'-ber), Eastern Mennonite University president

Steven Taubenkibel (TAW'-ben-kih-bul), Metro spokesman

Jonathan Thacher (THACK'-er) FFax judge in sniper trial

Mike Tranghese (tran-GEE'-see), Big East commissioner

Eugene Trani (TRAH'-nee), VCU prez

Paul Trible (TRIH'-bul), president of Christopher Newport University

Del. Mitch Van Yahres (YAYR'-ees)

Don Wolthius (WOHL'-thee-us), Asst. U.S. Attorney, Western District

Jeanne Zeidler (ZYD'{like wide'} ler), Williamsburg mayor

Richard Zuercher (ZURR'-ker), Dominion Va. Power spokesman

PLACES:

Accomac (town) Accomack (county) (ACK'-ah-MACK')

Amissville (AY'-miss-vill)

Aquia Harbor (ah-KWYE'-ah)

Ararat (AYR'-ah-rat)

Basye (BAY'-see)

Botetourt (BAHT'-uh-tott)

Buchanan County (buck-ANN'-un)

Buena Vista (BYOO'-nah VISS'-tah)

Crozet (kroh-ZAY')

Fauquier (faw-KEER')

Fluvanna (floo-VANN'-ah)

Ft. Belvoir (BELL'-vwar)

Ft. Eustis (YOOS'-tiss)

Galax (GAY'-lax)

Giles (JYLES) County

Gloucester (GLOSS'-ter)

Gore (gohr)

Goshen (GOH'-shen)

Grottoes (GRAH'-tohs)

Haysi (hay-SYE')

Iaeger (YAY'-ger)

Jarratt (JAYR'-att)

Kilmarnock (kill-MARR'-nock)

Louisa (loh-WEE'-sah)

Luray (loo-ray)

McGaheysville (mick-GACK'-ees-vill)

Moneta (moh-NEE'-tah)

Nottoway (NAH'-toh-way)

Occoquan (AH'-koh-kwahn).

Onancock (oh-NANN'-kock)

Powhatan (POW'-hah-tan)

Pulaski (pyoo-LASS'-kee)

Sussex (SUSS'-ex)

Saluda (sah-LOO'-dah)

Smyth (smith)

Swoope (swohp) or (swope)

Staunton (STANN'-tun)

Tappahannock (TAPP'-ah-HANN'-ock)

Tazewell (TAZZ'-well)

Toano (toh-ANN'-oh)

Wythe (with)

Wytheville (WITH-vill)

THINGS:

USS Bataan (buh-TANN')

USS Kearsarge (KEER-sarj)

USS Ponce (pahn-SAY')