Jace Lamonica
Some city names roll off the tongue effortlessly. Others? They trick even the most well-traveled Americans. Ever confidently said “Louisville” at a bar, only to be met with a smirk from a local? So embarrassing! It turns out that many U.S. city names aren’t pronounced the way they look. Silent letters, regional quirks, and old linguistic influences all play a part. Let’s fix those.
Louisville, Kentucky
“LOO-ee-ville”? Nope. Try Again. Nothing gives away an outsider faster than stretching out the syllables in Louisville. Kentuckians will spot you from a mile away if you pronounce it as a fancy French town. The trick? Keep it lazy. Slur it a little. “Luhvul” is the gold standard. However, “LOO-uh-vul” will get a pass.
Boise, Idaho
At first glance, “Boise” looks like it should rhyme with “noisy,” but that’s where most people slip up. The correct pronunciation? “BOY-see”—a clean, two-syllable sound. People from Idaho won’t make a scene correcting you. Although saying it wrong enough times might attract polite yet exasperated nods.
Spokane, Washington
This one might feel counterintuitive. There’s an “e” at the end, so naturally, it should be “Spo-KANE,”? Nope. Spokane keeps it simple: “Spo-CAN.” First try saying, “You CAN do it!” Now, apply that same “CAN” to Spokane. Don’t let the extra vowel trick you into overcomplicating things.
Des Moines, Iowa
Forget the “S.” If you’re used to pronouncing every letter in a word, this might take some getting used to. The right way to say it is to drop the final “s” sound entirely—just “Duh-MOIN” or “Duh-Mo-A,” in case you want to sound a little too French. This pattern isn’t unusual; many words of French origin in English do the same.
Helena, Montana
“Hell-EE-na” or “HELL-a-na”? Say it the first way, and you might get a side-eye. Albeit you are not wrong, the locals would still prefer “HELL-a-na”—emphasis on the “HELL.” Oddly enough, if this were a person’s name, you’d be right to say “Hel-EE-na.” But it’s a city, and it follows its own rules.
Mobile, Alabama
The word “mobile” is familiar, but this city doesn’t follow the same pronunciation as the device you’re probably reading this on. Instead of “MOH-bile,” the correct way is “MOH-beel.” It’s a softer, smoother pronunciation that stands out if you’ve never heard it before. But once you say it a few times, it sticks.
Cairo, Illinois
Ever noticed how U.S. cities borrow names from all over the world? From Berlin and Maryland to Athens and Georgia, plenty of places take inspiration from Europe. However, they rarely sound the same. Cairo, Illinois? Forget the Egyptian “KAI-roh” – it’s “KAY-ro” here. America keeps things unique, even when recycling names!
Puyallup, Washington
Yes, a tongue twister! We were all confused the first time. Many butcher it as “Poo-YALL-up” or “Pyoo-YALL-up.” But the locals call it “pew-AL-up.” Try saying “Pew!” like you just smelled something bad, then “AL-up” as if you’re giving someone a boost. Then, piece it together like a Seattle native.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Just leave half the letters, and you’ll get it right. If English spelling is a cruel joke, Worcester is proof. Look at it—it should be “WOR-ces-ter,” right? Nope. It’s “WUSS-ter.” Massachusetts has a habit of ignoring half the letters in a word. Think of it as Boston’s way of keeping things efficient.
Versailles, Kentucky
It’s not French anymore! No need for the fancy sounding “sigh.” Although reading “Versailles” and instantly thinking of the grand French palace is understandable, that elegant “Ver-SIGH” is nowhere to be found in Kentucky. Rather, it’s “Ver-SAYLZ,” with a strong, confident “Z” at the end. No silent letters. No delicate pronunciation.
