I had the reverse problem when listening to the excellent "the fall of Rome" podcast. At some point, the american host starts to talk extensively about a city port in the South of France named something like "Awol".

I was confused, thinking : "I lived close to the area he is describing for 3 years as a student, and never heard of that city. Maybe it's like in Marseille where the port was re discovered in the 80s inland, many hundred meters from the sea." After more than an hour of listening I realised he was simply saying "Arles" with an American accent.

It is a very famous Roman city with beautiful ruins where I went several times, so I might just be dumb.

What do you mean ? IT IS obviously the only correct way to write o.