Narrative:

Descending via DRMMM1 arrival we contacted atl approach with our ATC assigned speed of 310 kts and clearance to cross drmmm at 13000'. Approach told us after what we perceived he had said as raiin slow to 250 kts. The first officer read back the restriction as raiin after a short confirmation discussion between ourselves. After passing drmmm ATC asked to confirm we were slowing to 250 kts. We told them we thought he had said raiin and ATC said slow to 250 kts now.there is no phonetic correctness to pronunciation of intersections. Center in our descent I believe pronounced drmmm as 'drum' while the approach controllers were pronouncing the same intersection as 'dream'. I believe drum would be appropriate for literal translation of this intersection since no vowel exists between right and M. So when we were told to slow at 'dream' we mistook it for the next closest pronunciation on the STAR as raiin. It doesn't help matters here when all the arrivals are notamed to disregard all altitudes and air speeds on the chart they will be assigned by ATC. This takes all the predictability and fore planning out of the arrival briefing and with arbitrary interpretation of the pronunciation of the intersections leaves open a myriad of possible problems. Also with the intersection depicted on the STAR as 280kts there was also no thought given to the possibility of being that slow at that point. It's almost to the point where all intersections need in small print under the intersection of how all of us are to pronounce the intersection ATC and pilots alike.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 flight crew reported missing a speed restriction on the DRMMM1 arrival into ATL when they misunderstood a Controller's pronunciation of DRMMM intersection.

Narrative: Descending via DRMMM1 arrival we contacted ATL approach with our ATC assigned speed of 310 kts and clearance to cross DRMMM at 13000'. Approach told us after what we perceived he had said as RAIIN slow to 250 kts. The first officer read back the restriction as RAIIN after a short confirmation discussion between ourselves. After passing DRMMM ATC asked to confirm we were slowing to 250 kts. We told them we thought he had said RAIIN and ATC said slow to 250 kts now.There is no phonetic correctness to pronunciation of intersections. Center in our descent I believe pronounced DRMMM as 'Drum' while the approach controllers were pronouncing the same intersection as 'Dream'. I believe Drum would be appropriate for literal translation of this intersection since no vowel exists between R and M. So when we were told to slow at 'Dream' we mistook it for the next closest pronunciation on the STAR as RAIIN. It doesn't help matters here when all the arrivals are NOTAMed to disregard all altitudes and air speeds on the chart they will be assigned by ATC. This takes all the predictability and fore planning out of the arrival briefing and with arbitrary interpretation of the pronunciation of the intersections leaves open a myriad of possible problems. Also with the intersection depicted on the STAR as 280kts there was also no thought given to the possibility of being that slow at that point. It's almost to the point where all intersections need in small print under the intersection of how all of us are to pronounce the intersection ATC and pilots alike.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.