You’re Saying It Wrong: Commonly Mispronounced Texas Cities

How Do You Say It?

Everything's bigger in Texas–and that might also include the size of the list of city names that we're all saying wrong. We're pretty sure we're all okay with our pronunciation of "Dallas" and "San Antonio"—but how are you with these...

Amarillo

While the original Spanish pronunciation is “Ah-mah-ree-yoh”—so many employees of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway pronounced it wrong, that the "Am-uh-rill-oh" version became the norm.

Evening view of the old downtown of Amarillo Kit Leong, Shutterstock

Nacogdoches

The oldest town in Texas has one of the hardest names to pronounce. You might hear the locals referring to it as "Nack-ah-DOW-chess"—and since they're from there, we assume that's an acceptable pronunciation. However, officially, the proper way to say the town's name is: "Na-kuh-DOW-chuhs".

Nacogdoches Downtown Historic District Rwminix, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bowie

It's important to point out that the city of Bowie, Texas was named after Texan hero Jim Bowie and not Rock icon David Bowie. This is important because, while David Bowie's name is pronounced "Bow-ee", Jim Bowie—and the town—is properly spoken as "BOO-ee".

North Mason Street in Bowie, Texas (United States) Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Balmorhea

Established in 1906, Balmorhea took its name from the three landowners who established the town: Balcom, Morrow, and Rhea. The proper way to say it is “Bal-more-ay"—not, "Bal-more-hee-uh,” (which honestly sounds a little too much like the town ate some bad sushi anyway—if you know what we mean).

The Balmorhea State Park swimming pool near Balmorhea Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kuykendahl Road

Supposedly, there is some debate even among locals as to how to say the name of this street in Houston. While it appears that "Koy-ken-doll", or "Coo-ken-dall" are the most likely candidates, the truth—it is argued—is actually: "Kerr-ken-doll".

Kuykendahl road traffic light and sign Freddy Cedeno, Shutterstock

Waxahachie

Some say that the town's name means "cow" or "buffalo" in an unspecified Native American language. But while the name's origin might be debatable, the proper pronunciation isn't. It is: "Walks-uh-hatch-ee".

Ellis County Courthouse, Waxahachie, Texas Nicolas Henderson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Boerne

Founded by Germans, the town was named after German author and satirist Ludwig Börne—and changed to "Boerne" when the town was platted in 1852. As for how you say it: "Burn-ee"

The Historic Kendall County Courthouse in Boerne, Texas 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Manor

Put "Wayne" in front of it and it's pronounced "Ma-ner". But put "Texas" after it and this small town located just east of Austin is pronounced "MAY-ner".

Old commercial buildings in downtown Manor, Texas Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mexia

Don't be fooled into thinking this is an easy one just because it looks somewhat similar to "Mexico". The proper pronunciation is actually, "Muh – hay – uh". But don't feel bad if you've been saying it wrong all this time. The name is so often mispronounced that the town's motto is: "A great place to live, no matter how you pronounce it".

Distribution building in Mexia, Texas Matthew Rutledge, Flickr

New Braunfels

Pronounced "New BRAWN-fulls"—This city near San Antonio has a population of over 110,000 people (according to the 2023 census) and is home to Texas' oldest dancehall, Gruene Hall, and Texas' oldest bakery, Naeglin's Bakery.

Portion of the Comal River at Landa Park New Braunfels Jonmallard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bexar County

With a population of 2,009,324 (according to the 2020 census), Bexar County is the 16th-most populous county in the country and the fourth-most populated in Texas. It also has a silent "x"—which means, yup, it is pronounced "BAIR".

Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Humble

The motto of this city, located in the Houston metropolitan area, is: "Where people make a difference". But you know what doesn't make a difference? The "H" in the city's name. In fact, to pronounce it properly, you need to pretend it isn't even there: "Uhm-bull"—as in, Uhmmmm, where did the "H" go?

Downtown Humble with the humble cafe in the distance DanielCD, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dumas

We know what you're thinking and...No, that's not how it's pronounced. The city of "DOO-muss" is situated about 40 miles north of Amarillo.

The public library in Refugio, Texas. Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Refugio

Best known as the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, Refugio is also known miscorrectly by many as "Ref-oo-gee-o". That's strike one. Pronounce it as "Rufio" and that's strike two. Before you strike out, how about we just tell you it's: "Rif-YOOR-ee-oh".

Downtown Dumas located in Texas Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Leakey

Unlike a leaky faucet, the small city of Leakey, Texas isn't dripping and isn't pronounced "Lee-Kee". Named after a pioneer from Tennessee, John H Leakey, the proper pronunciation is, "LAY-key".

Leakey Independent School District office in Texas Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Gruene

Yellow and blue make green. But in this Texas town, they might say that yellow and blue make Gruene. Pronounced "Green", Gruene is now a district within the city limits of a previously mentioned city on our list...New Braunfels.

Gruene Store in the Gruene Historic District Texas Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Quitaque

There is some disagreement as to how the name came about, but not on how to pronounce it properly. But, you do have two choices. Both "Kitty-Quay" and "KIT-a-kway" seem to be acceptable.

Downtown Quitaque, Texas viewed from the east. Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Burnet

Do you know who the first (provisional) president of the Republic of Texas was? David Gouverneur Burnet. If you know him, then you know how to pronounce the name of this Texas town. For the rest of us, it's "Bur-knit".

Downtown Burnet, Texas during daytime Billy Hathorn, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Study Butte

According to the 2020 census, Study Butte has a population of 200 people. And they might be the only 200 people who say the name of the town properly: "STEW-dee BEWT".

Study Butte Distance Marker, Big Bend National Park, Texas William Silver, Shutterstock

Iraan

No, the town's name isn't a misspelling of the Middle Eastern country, but rather a combining of the names Ira and Ann Yates—the owners of the ranch land the town was built on. The name is pronounced, "Eye-ruh-ANN".

Sunset over Iraan, Texas, United States Matthew Dillon, Flickr

Marathon

Although it's spelled the same as the long-distance race, Marathon, Texas is pronounced somewhat differently. Replace the "o" with an "i" in your mind and you got this one: "Mara-thin".

Welcome Sign in Marathon, Texas WhisperToMe, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Buda

Originally, the town was called Du Pre. But when they discovered another Texas town already using that name, they opted to switch it out for a new moniker. They went with Buda—and took its pronunciation cues from the Spanish word for widow, "viuda". Which means you say it: "BYOO-duh".

Historic Downtown Buda, Texas Liveon001 Travis Witt, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Manchaca

The "ch" sounds like "sh" and the "a" at the end is silent. Located in Travis County, just 10 miles from Austin is.... "MAN-shack", Texas.

Manchaca Post Office in Texas WhisperToMe, Wikimedia Commons

Pecos

In 2012, Forbes called Pecos ("PAY-cuss"), Texas the second-fastest growing small town in the United States.

3rd street, Pecos Texas during the daytime Matthew Rutledge (rutlo), CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pflugerville

It would probably be more surprising if the "P" wasn't silent. But it is—and the rest of the name goes as you would expect: "FLU-gur-ville".

The East Main Street Historic District in Pflugerville, Texas. Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Llano

The "Deer" capital of Texas has 3,325 residents and the highest density of white-tailed deer in the country. It's also pronounced “LAN-oh", not "LAWN-oh"—for all you Star Wars fans, just think Lando Calrissian.

Llano County Courthouse in Llano, Texas Aualliso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Guadalupe

Guadalupe is a county in Texas named after the famed Guadalupe river. It's also the name of a street in almost every town in the state as well (all named after the river, of course). So, what is the proper way to say it? Well, rather than think in English and see the "e" at the end as silent, you need to put on your Spanish hat and say: "Gua – dah – loo – pay".

A bluff on the Guadalupe River in Guadalupe River State Park. Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Palestine

So as not to be confused with the West Asian State of Palestine—locals here refer to their hometown as "PAHL-uh-steen".

Aerial view of downtown Palestine Texas, looking northeast Rolypolyman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Waco

Those who were around in 1993 during the time of the siege of Waco are probably very familiar with the proper pronunciation of the name—given how it was in the news constantly. However, for the rest of you it's pronounced, "WAY-ko".

Austin Avenue in downtown Waco, Texas Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pedernales

This is an interesting one. Because, while it seems like the proper pronunciation is how it looks ("PED-er-NAL-ess"), locals have taken to saying "PURR-den-NAL-ess" (a pronunciation that supposedly goes back to LBJ).

Pedernales River in Pedernales Falls State Park, Texas Adavyd, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Elgin

Although the second part of the name is spelled just like the stuff you mix with tonic, it's actually pronounced a little differently: "El-jen".

Main street of the small town of Elgin, Texas Barna Tanko, Shutterstock

Bigfoot

No, they didn't name the town after the legendary hairy Sasquatch–but rather Texas Ranger, William Alexander Anderson “Bigfoot” Wallace. You'll also find the Bigfoot Wallace Museum there as well. And it's pronounced, "Big-fuht".

Bigfoot Wallace Museum in Bigfoot, Texas Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Goldthwaite

There's no gold rush here folks. In fact, the rush would be to get rid of the "d" when saying the town's name—properly pronounced as: "GOALTH-wait".

A sunny day in Goldthwaite, Texas Nicolas Henderson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Cool

This town in Parker County has one of the coolest names ever—but it actually wasn't the community's first choice. Initially, the area was called "Tile City", then "Fiddlers Ridge". Then finally, in 1942, the people gathered to decide upon an official name and one member of the crowd called out, “Why not ‘Cool’ because it’s cooler here than any other place in the county?”

We don't know if that story is true or not—but we love it. And we know it isn't hard to pronounce, but it was too "Kool" to not mention.

Green Highway Sign of Cool In Texas Barboufatte, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons