January 21, 2025 | Jesse Singer

You’re Saying It Wrong: Commonly Mispronounced American Cities


How Do You Say It?

We don't want to make anyone feel bad, but we have to tell you that there are at least a few city names that you've been pronouncing wrong all these years. Check out our list to see which ones you've been mispronouncing and which ones you've been right on the money with. Starting with...

Louisville, Kentucky

You think you know how to pronounce Louisville, Kentucky? Well, unless you're from there, you're probably saying it wrong (and we aren't talking about the Kentucky part). It isn't Lewis or Louie, and even the "ville" is said more as if there was a "u" in there rather than an "i". You wanna say it right? It's pronounced: LOO-uh-vuhl.

Staying in Kentucky...

Skyscrapers of Louisville in USAMatt Ashworth, Pexels

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Auxier, Kentucky

You'd think that knowing the name of the family that this place is named after might help knowing how to pronounce it. But what if we told you that said family used multiple spellings of their name, from "Auxier" to "Axer," "Oxer," and "Auxer".—and pronounce it "ok-sur". Although you will hear locals say "ox-yer" as well.

Auxier Ridge Trail During DayThe Cut, Flickr

Worcester, Massachusetts

As hard to pronounce as Worcestershire Sauce is the town of Worcester, Massachusetts—and both confound many with their dropping of the "r" entirely. So, go with "WUSS-ter" for the town and "wu-stuh-shr" for the sauce.

Vibrant urban scene of Worcester City in Massachusetts captured from a high vantage pointWangkun Jia, Adobe Stock

Houston Street, New York City

Wait, isn't the street pronounced the same as the city in Texas? Well, obviously not, or it wouldn't be on our list, right? So, how do you say the street name? It's actually "HOW-stun"—as in: HOW was I supposed to know that? I'm STUNed.

1st Avenue and Houston Street, Lower East Side Manhattan, New YorkKen Lund, Flickr

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La Jolla, California

While the "La" part is pronounced just like you'd expect, for the "Jolla", you'll want to pretend the "J" is an "H" and those two L's are actually a "Y". Now saying "la-HOY-a" is pretty obvious, don't you think?

La Jolla Cove California Beach Pacific Ocean Dec 2011Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Nevada

The confusion with this one comes from that middle "a". To say it properly, you want to go with a short "a" sound rather than an elongated "ah" sound. Making it "nuh-VAD-uh", not "nuh-VAHD-uh".

Nevada Signage on an empty roadStephan Müller, Pexels

Acequia, Idaho

With a population of just over 120—most people have never heard of Acequia, let alone tried to pronounce it. But if you asked those 100+ folks that live there, they'd tell you it's pronounced "uh-SEEK-we-uh". Yes, for all you Spanish-linguists, that is the Spanish word for "irrigation ditch".

A river nearby Acequia, Idahoteofilo, Flickr

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New Orleans

For the few folks out there who still say it wrong—let us just tell you that New Orleans doesn't rhyme with "beans". But it does rhyme with "bins": "nu-OR-linz"

And, unless you want to make locals really angry, don't call it "Nawlins".

Crowded Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, USADomenico Convertini, Flickr

Basye, Virginia

If you say "bas-SAY," you're wrong, but you used to be right. That is the original pronunciation, whereas today they say, "BAS-see".

View south along Interstate 81 at Exit 273 (Virginia State Route 292)Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Willamette Valley, Oregon

While the tendency is to emphasize the "ette" at the end of Willamette, the proper pronunciation softens that ending to, "wil-LAM-et". 

And one more thing....

Vineyards in the Oregon wine regionDoug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Oregon

While we're in the state of Oregon, let's make sure we're pronouncing it properly as well. So, for all of us non-Oregonians: It’s "OR-uh-gun", not "or-uh-GAHN".

Vibrant urban scene of Portland, Oregon captured from a high vantage pointpngstudio, Adobe Stock

Cayuga, Indiana

Named after the Native American tribe that lived in New York State and was forced to migrate north and west, the name is pronounced "kye-OO-gah".

Businesses along Division Street in Cayuga, IndianaBrian Stansberry, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Cesar Chavez, Texas

Cesar Chavez was a farmer labor leader and famed civil rights activist, and it is he who the town of Cesar Chavez, Texas is named after. So if you know how to pronounce his name properly, then you know how to pronounce the town's name as well. For those that don't, it's: "SEH-sahr CHAH-vess".

Fall season color in downtown Austin skyline near Town LakeVuemobi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Duryea, Pennsylvania

Named after a Civil War general who owned land in the area, Duryea is of Irish origin and pronounced: "dur-ee-ay".

Aerial view of Duryea looking southwestVasiliy Meshko, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mount Rainier, Washington State

Did you know that Mount Rainier is the tallest peak in Washington State? Okay, that's one. Now, do you know how to actually pronounce the name of that tallest peaked mountain? If you said "ray-NEAR" then that's two for two. Or if you're French and said "REHN-yay", we'll give it to you also.

Mount Rainier from Clear Lake, WashingtonRon Clausen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Spokane, Washington State

Their tallest mountain isn't the only often mispronounced location in the state of Washington. There's also the beautiful city of Spokane that forces us to unlearn everything we were taught in grade one English class—specifically about what an "e" at the end of a word does to the vowel before the consonant. Spokane is pronounced, "spoh-KAN". As in, Can you believe it?

Sunny Day at West Central, Spokane, WA, USARoman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Mobile, Alabama

No, it's not pronounced "MO-buhl"—that's an adjective in regards to movement. And no it's not "MO-byle"—that's what the Brits call cell phones. If we're talking about the Gulf Coast city in Alabama, the only proper way to say it is "MO-beel". Or "mo-BEEL"(if you wanna emphasize that second syllable, that's up to you).

Downtown Skyline with Historic Fort Replica in Mobile, AlabamaJames Willamor, Flickr

Hahira, Georgia

What we can't tell you is how the town of Hahira, Georgia got its name. Some say it was chosen by the town's first postmaster, but that can't be confirmed. What can be confirmed, though, is how to pronounce the town's name. And that is: "hay-HI-ra". Were you close?

Hahira City Park on US41 in Hahira, Lowndes County, GeorgiaMjrmtg, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Iaeger, West Virginia

This town of 302 people has gone by different names in the past, including "WIlliamsburg" and "Forks on the River"—both much easier to pronounce than Iaeger. The current nomenclature comes from Colonel William GW Iaeger who, had he spelled his name like famed flying ace Chuck Yeager, would've made the town's name a breeze to read. That's right, Iaeger is pronounced "YAY-ger".

Iaeger West Virginia Street Scene during the dayCoal town guy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Aiea, Hawaii

Aiea is part of Honolulu—but while that city name is easy to say, Aiea is properly pronounced "ah-ee-ay-ah" or "eye-ay-ah". The Hawaiian language and all those vowels make it hard for all us non-islanders to pronounce a multitude of locations across the great state. Including...

An aerial view of Aiea neighborhood in OhauWirestock Creators, Shutterstock

Hilo, Hawaii

This city on the big island seems like a "hi", "lo" no-brainer. But it turns out that "hi" is actually a "hee", making Hilo, Hawaii actually "HEE-lo", Hawaii. And the "I" as "EE" thing continues with Likelike Highway—pronounced "LEE-keh-LEE-keh".

And speaking of Hawaii, but not Hawaii...

Hilo Bay With Downtown Hilo In The DistanceBilly McDonald, Shutterstock

Owyhee, Nevada

This tiny town in Nevada, about 225 miles northeast of Reno sits about 5,000 feet above sea level and is populated by fewer than 100 people. As for the name, Owyhee is an Anglicized version of Hawaii and is pronounced almost exactly the same way

View of central Owyhee, Nevada from the northFamartin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Karlsruhe, North Dakota

With a population of fewer than 100 people, the odds are you've never run into someone from Karlsruhe, North Dakota. But if you do, you could impress them by pronouncing the name of their town correctly: "karls-ROO".

A street in Karlsruhe, North DakotaAndrew Filer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Leipsic, Delaware

We were kinda hoping that the "sic" in the name would be pronounced as something other than the obvious—but no, it is pronounced "sick". As for that first part though, that is not as obvious. Named for the German city of Leipzig, "LIP-sick" is known for their delicious oysters and crabs (that shouldn't make your lips, or any other part of you, sick).

Waterfront View of Boats and Buildings in Leipsic, DelawarePatrick Nouhailler's…, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Leitersburg, Maryland

Given that Leitersburg is also of German origin, you might assume that the "ei" in the name would provide the same sound as the "ei" in our previous town of Leipsic. But alas no. In this case it isn't "liters burg" Maryland, but rather "lighters burg".

View north along Maryland State Route 60Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Ohiowa, Nebraska

Ohiowa is pronounced Ohio with a "wa" at the end, like in Iowa. And that is literally how the town got its name. You see, when the town was first established, there were settlers from both Ohio and Iowa who wanted to name it after the states from which they had arrived. Ohiowa was the compromise they came up with.

Downtown Streetscape of Ohiowa, NebraskaAmmodramus, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Ponshewaing, Michigan

There are some that say the town's name means "peaceful water," while others will tell you it means "winter home". But one thing they can all agree on is how to pronounce the name of this Michigan town. And that's like this: "PON-she-wang".

People on Rocks around Bay on Sea ShoreTaylor Hunt, Pexels

Port Hueneme, California

If you knew that the name derives from the Chumash word for "resting place" ("wene'mu")—then knowing that the first syllable in Hueneme is "wy" wouldn't seem shocking. But without that knowledge at hand, the "wy-nee-mee" pronunciation is going to surprise a whole lotta folks.

Wooden bridge over the sea, in Port Hueneme, Oxnard, California, USA.Alfher, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Quechee, Vermont

Once you get this one right, you'll be good to go for Quechee State Park, the Quechee Gorge and probably the Ottauquechee River as well. While the first part has just one "e" and the second has two, they are both pronounced the same: "kwee-chee".

Quechee Gorge Bridge Over Vermont's Scenic GorgeEyeheartbrain, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Qui-nai-elt Village, Washington

You might think that having the dashes in there would be helpful in separating the individual sounds needed to pronounce the name correctly. But that might not really be the case when you learn the proper way to say Qui-nai-elt is, "kwi-nail".

Misty Sunset Over Lake Quinault in WashingtonAdbar, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Quonochontaug, Rhode Island

Rhode Island is a state replete with hard to pronounce names, including Quonochontaug—which means "black fish", and is pronounced: "KWAHN-ah-kahn-tawg". Although, don't feel bad if you have a hard time with this one—so do many of the locals.

A few boats sit in the Quonochontaug pondJack Ieronimo, Shutterstock

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Mackinac Island, Michigan

This one seems pretty easy at first glance. But there's no way you're pronouncing this one correctly unless you know that it's a silent "c" at the end of Mackinac—making the proper pronunciation, a very surprising: "MACK-i-naw".

A Winter Day in Downtown Mackinac IslandMary McGuire, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons


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