Results: Most Difficult-to-Pronounce Town in Every State (Part One)
Published on 02/23/2021
The English language is tricky enough without all those U.S. town and city names that aren't even derived from English. Before you butcher another pronunciation, this handy guide will show you how to say the trickiest town names just like a local.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Alabama: Loachapoka - If you can pronounce "Loachapoka" on the first try, then I owe you a "draught" (pronounced "draft" and rhymes with "laughed") of beer. But seriously, if you've got issues pronouncing the name of this tiny town in Lee County, I'll guess it's because you aren't from there—seeing as it has a population of fewer than 200 people at last count. Loachapoka is pronounced LOW-cha-POH-Kah. Have you ever visited this town?
Yes
4%
99 votes
No
96%
2301 votes
2.
2.
Alaska: Nunathloogagamiutbingoi Dunes - This tiny unincorporated municipality extends for three miles along the southeast coast of Nunivak Island, Alaska, which is part of the Bethel census area of the State of Alaska. The name has been referred to as "unpronounceable and unexplained," and no hint as to its proper pronunciation is offered even in Donald Orth's Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, which is the leading text on Alaska Place Names. Hey, at least it's not Unalaska, Alaska, which although easy to pronounce, wouldn't exactly roll off the tongue if you happened to be from there and were trying to explain your background ("Hello, my name is John, and I'm Unalaskan.") Have you ever visited this town?
Yes
3%
77 votes
No
97%
2323 votes
3.
3.
Arizona: Sonoita - Here's a prime example of the problem Americans face when they find it challenging to pronounce the names of cities and towns that have origins in other languages. From the looks of it, Sonoita, Arizona would appear to originate from the Spanish language (which in fact, is true), which might lead you to pronounce it as So-no-EE-ta. Nope. The locals pronounce it as Suh-NOY-ta. Have you ever visited this town?
Yes
5%
127 votes
No
95%
2273 votes
4.
4.
Arkansas: Ouachita - Ouachita, Arkansas, refers to a lake, river, mountain range, and a county in the State of Arkansas (which is pronounced ARE-kan-saw, in case you were tempted to pronounce it like "Kansas"). OK, so it's not a municipality exactly, but it's known as the most mispronounced place-name in Arkansas. The correct pronunciation is WASH-ee-tah, which will come in handy if you're planning a trip to the hot springs in Ouachita County, Arkansas. Have you ever visited this town?
Yes
5%
125 votes
No
95%
2275 votes
5.
5.
California: Zzyzx - The unincorporated municipality of Zzyzx is in San Bernardino County, California. It's pronounced ZY (rhymes with EYE) – Zicks. Before 1944, Zzyzx was known as Soda Springs. Then along came this guy: Curtis Howe Springer, a self-proclaimed doctor and preacher, who founded the Zyzzx Mineral Springs Resort (he wanted it to be the very last word in the English language). Although Springer is known by the American Medical A**ociation as the "King of Quacks," his name for the place stuck. Have you ever visited this town?
Yes
5%
126 votes
No
95%
2274 votes
COMMENTS