17. of 40. Maybe it's all those O's that makeOconomowoc quite the tongue-twister for visitors. This town was an important settlement in Oregon's early history; now it is a ghost town and home to a heritage site. What do you get when you cross English, Frenchand Native American heritage? Iola. Oconomowoc, Waukesha and Mukwonago are a few that topped the list. Fun Fact:Iola is known for various celebrations of its Norwegian heritage. Its no secret that Wisconsin is full of places that are infuriatingly hard to pronounce. Shawano. oh-CON-oh-moh-wok. Here are 20 American towns that have really cut the cord from the sources of their names. ", Weyauwega residents commonly refer to this central Wisconsin city as "Wega.". to pronounce wisconsin cities FOLLOW JS ENTERTAINMENT: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram, DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more, This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin words you're probably mispronouncing, Jack McCordick, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Texans attempting to pronounce Wisconsin city names, Become a Journal Sentinel subscriber today, Wisconsin words you're probably mispronouncing, A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Gwyneth Paltrow won't recoup attorney fees in ski crash suit, 'Zombie' misinformation: 'Rape Day' hoax resurfaces on TikTok, 'Very homophobic': Teachers' union leader Randi Weingarten says House hearing crossed the line, ABC Makes A 'Big Yikes' Blunder In Introducing Knicks-Heat Halftime Show, Game 7 of Rangers vs Devils is the last of NHL's first round, Cooler weather has arrived and looks to stay for the week ahead, DeKalb County man arrested in connection with South Carolina murder. 2023 www.wausaudailyherald.com. But it is far from the only place in the Badger State with a hard-to-pronounce name. The town named for it in Ohio? It may seem easy to say, but you pronounce it as "The DALZ." Pronunciation: n-WIN, win, noo-yen. Fun Fact:Gillett, which claims to be the "ATV Capital of the World," boasts miles of ATV trails and ATV-friendly roads. It's been a street name since at least the 1880s. Plenty of towns have some weird spellings so here is a guide to the most mispronounced cities in Wisconsin. Its no secret that Wisconsin is full of places that are infuriatingly hard to pronounce. With that said, here are some places in the Beaver State that may keep you practicing. Even longtime Oregon residents can find themselves tripping upon this tiny coastal town's name. Fun Fact:Manitowoc has a sister city in Japan. More than 5.7 million Wisconsinites live in this Wisconsin Flickr/Michel Curi I'd have thought this one wasn't that difficult, but somehow folks find a myriad of ways to say Wisconsin wrong. The Czech city of Prague is full of old-world charm. But consider the fact that there is an entire website that lists how to correctly pronounce each Wisconsin place name. Gradually add broth and milk; bring to a boil over medium heat. Michigan honors the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. But after the construction of a hydroelectric plant, the nickname was changed to "The Electric City. The municipality is known as "The Land of Five O's" and a sculpture of five O's all linked together slightly reminiscent ofthe Olympics logosits in the middle of downtown Oconomowoc. SUPPORT JOURNALISM: Become a Journal Sentinel subscriber today, The 20 best Milwaukee songs and albums of the 2010s, as chosen by leaders in the music scene (subscriber exclusive), 15-plus Milwaukee-area restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas. why-uh-WEE-guh. Make sure to say "yaw-chats. The correct pronunciation of this word, therefore, is [ voh-kab-yuh-ler-ee ]. So it goes its own way name-wise too. MAN-i-tuh-wok. Sign up here. Gradually add broth and milk; bring to a boil over medium heat. I don't think Missourians even agree on that. And a quick note: never drop the "the." Are there words we have not covered here that you find difficult to pronounce? If you can't pronounce it, then sorry: You're not an authentic Cheesehead. Pronounced Its residents have plenty to boast about. 5. Becher, a prominent real estate developer who came over from Germany in the 1850s. Garnish serving with popcorn if desired. When we talk about Greece, we talk about Athens, cradle of Western civilization, birthplace of democracy. Ham and Cheese Soup "Our place names represent our history,"said Jerry Apps, a Wisconsin historian who wrote the foreword to Gard's book. Stir in cheese; reduce heat. However, despite these internal battles about whetherpart of a word is wrongly emphasized, Johnson said she believes most people possess a soft spot for these difficult and sometimes verbose Badger State placenames. kah-muh-RAH-duh-ree. Ironically, one of the hardest vocabulary words to pronounce is vocabulary. We took "O Sole Mio" and made "It's Now or Never." 1. Pronouncing Wisconsin Names is Hard If I didnt know how to pronounce somebodys name, or a word, city, village, town, I would ask somebody (else) but there was no guarantee that they would know, said Johnson. When we speak about the palace in France or the treaty that ended WWI, it's ver-SAI. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Albany: Commonly pronounced "AlL-binny", 2. And I think because its something special, its like a little secret, but its something they have to be able to say 'Oconomowoc,' or 'Rio' or 'Waukesha.'. I think most people, rather than be offended, smile and think Thats my place, thats my hometown, I know how to pronounce it and heres my opportunity to tell people about it.. Did we forget a town name? In some ways greeting with a gesture is easier than trying to pronounce a word you dont know and risking getting it completely wrong. Milan is mi-LAN, or if you're really feeling it, mi-LAHN, and it's another Italian city we pay tribute to in our town names, everywhere from New York to Tennessee to Illinois to Washington State. It's pom-PAY right? We take names from places all over the world to give to our towns and cities, and once they're ours, we'll pronounce them how we want to, thank you very much. There's no E and it's certainly not "West-consin." Eye-OH-luh. uh-POK-ruh-fuhl. It's the first name that often comes to mind when one thinks of hard-to-pronounce place names in Wisconsin. Say "a-LOW-ah. Most Commonly Mispronounced Wisconsin Cities Here's why. Hoschton: Commonly pronounced "HOOSH (like push)-tun", 7. Or wait, is it Missouruh? The craft beer revival finally arrived. Here are nine more hard-to-pronounce town names around the state, judging by apparent phonetic difficulty or trickery. Wisconsin I share one of my favorite recipes with your here.Paul Miller, Green Bay, Wisconsin. easy familiarity and friendship, often built over time. Usually we simply use the English version of the word for a place: we don't say Par-EE, Texas, the French way, but PARE-iss, because that's how we say Paris in English. The city, which is often referred to as Wisconsin's second-oldest city, is near the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. This city of 15,000 people is about100 miles north of Milwaukee, on the Fox River. Fun Fact:Kaukauna's nickname prior to 1880 was "The Lion and the Fox." Why? How to pronounce kaukauna wisconsin From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tri-POH-luh? Stir in flour, mustard and pepper. The Vermont way (mont-PEEL-yer) or the more French-style way people sometimes use (mont-pel-YAY)? One of the best of these was made in 2011, when Mike De Sisti of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had Texans try to pronounce Wisconsin cities: Wisconsinplace names incitea sort of fervor among natives of the dairy state. Explore Quiz: Which of these weird Georgia town names is real or fake? Trust me, we've all been there! Wausau: It is a small city in central Wisconsin named after the Chippewa (Algonquin) word which means "far away." ", Portlanders are familiar with this road. Heres how to pronounce it: WAA-saa Wewahitchka This city is best known for two of its unique assets; the Dead Lakes and Tupelo Honey. Wisconsin has more than 190 cities, 400 villages, 1,000+ towns, and 1,000+ unincorporated places (give or take a few). It's affectionately called KK by locals. When we talk about the Austrian city, the Chicago all beef hot dog, or even the city in Virginia, vee-EH-nuh is the way to go. Some were so difficult, even we got them wrong. (With)people who grew up here, as I did, all that's sort of second nature.". Eye-OH-luh. Find her on Twitter as@mel_lawderor follow her on Instagram as@mellawder. Ashwaubenon ; Pronunciation: Ash-wah-buh-non; Located in Green Bay County ; Population as of 2019: 17.149; Baraboo; Pronunciation: Bare-uh-Boo; Largest city in Sauk County; Boscobel; Pronunciation: Bahs-koh-Bell; Located in Grant Wisconsin native Jackie Johnson was working in news and radio in 2005 when she realized that there was no resource for broadcasters confused by the correct phonetics of a Wisconsin place name. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. Fun Fact: The street was named after J.A. ROO-shee, Ohio, to be exact. Walthourville: Commonly pronounced "Walt-hour-ville" (like it's three separate words). kuh-loh-kwee-uh-liz-uhm. Ten Wisconsin Towns That Are Hard To Pronounce Correctly. but don't say it when referencing this town, which is located west of Portland. This small city is around 40 miles north of Green Bay. Heres a list of 17 words you might be saying wrong: Waukesha. Fun Fact:If you're driving down Menomonie Street in Eau Claire, you'll pass Me-No-Monie Street Pawn and Loan. Theme Parks. MissPronouncer What is that extra 'i' doing on the end there anyway? Menomonie is a city in western Wisconsin. Abrams (AY-bruhmz) They even have a baseball team calledtheOconomowoc Five-O'sand a local Holiday gas station has also adopted the Five-O's title. Wisconsin Oconomowoc. How about Shawano? Chetek. Every state has its unique towns and places that will leave non-residents scratching their heads. ", But it gets even trickier when faced with the many different kinds of names given to Georgia's towns,as AL.com recently demonstrated in Alabama. However, some towns that have borrowed city names from elsewhere don't even get the normal English pronunciation. Mantua, beautiful Italian city of culture. If you're done twisting your tongue, check out this funny video of Californians trying to pronounce some of these cities and towns! Each still has an individual headquarters, but they are managed together by theU.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. Apps said. "You can tell in a minute people who are not familiar with our names. Wisconsin Here are 20 American towns that have really cut the cord from the sources of their names. Ive heard Ray-cine and Ruh-cine and each side will argue that the other side is wrong.. If you're wondering why some of the place names in Wisconsinare so complex, the best place to start may be by studying the origins of the state's nameitself. Fun fact: it's also the largest city along the Columbia River outside the Portland metro area. Host (s): Joy Cardin Guest (s): Jackie Johnson Producer (s): Justin Williams A sea of red shirts floods Disney World each June. And for more tricky terms, This Is the Most Commonly Misspelled Word in the Country. Chetek. 19 Things Wisconsinites You pronounce it as "will-AM-it. When will I get my Georgia tax rebate for 2023? ", We're not talking about the country in the Middle East! The capital of Peru is Lima (LEE-ma). What are 5 longest words? ManyWisconsin place names are derived from the ethnic historyof the place in question, Apps said. For Oconomowoc,its longname can be a hindrance sometimes. Unfortunately, there's no consensus on the pronunciation of Kinnickinnic. What Falcons NFC South rivals did in 2023 NFL draft. Joy Cardin talks with Miss Pronouncer about the most commonly botched Wisconsin cities and prominent names. Right over by Chili is Riga, a name shared with REE-ga, the capital of Latvia, but in New York it's RYE-ga. Delhi, the capital of India, gets cities named after it in New York and California, but it's hard to tell because while we are used to calling it "Delly" the people in those cities pronounce it DEL-hai. McDonough: Commonly pronounced "Mick-DONE-a" or "Mac-DONNA", 9. Specifically, Johnson who receives lots of feedback on how to pronounce place namesbecause of her sitesaid there aretwo place namesthat incite the most passion among people who reach out to her through social media and email: Waukesha and Racine. Heres a pretty good list of the toughest words for out-of-towners to pronounce: 1. "I think people could be intimidated by looking at it, seeing it all spelled out with a bunch of O's," said Oconomowoc's economicdevelopment manager Bob Duffy, who was also named the 2015 Citizen of the Year by the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce. Waukesha is a county, city and a town. What is the Hahira: Commonly pronounced "Hay-HI-ra", 6. Fun Fact:The two forests were formed in 1933, but were combined in 1993. But in Missouri they've got New MAD-rid. "From an economic development tourismstandpoint, it's a challenge," Duffy said. The Art of Saying Hello: Traditional Greetings in 40 Countries National Parks. Weyauwega. ", Thor's Well at Sunset - Yachats Oregon, USA#nature #landscape #seascape #longexposure #pnw #oregon #ThePhotoHour pic.twitter.com/8Xcf0HA1WJ, You may be familiar with the Hawaiian saying, "Aloha!" WebMany city names all through Wisconsin characterize the historical past of how they have been settled and are additionally strongly tied to the states massive Native American presence. However, the U here makes a [ yuh] sound. Usually, the people who butchernames like "Wauwatosa" and "Kaukauna" are out-of-staters (like intheviral 2011 video of Texans attempting to pronounce Wisconsin city names). Fun fact: it's also the largest city along the Columbia River outside the Portland metro area. "It's hard to market a place people don't know how to pronounce or spell in the first place.". Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Johnsoncrafted the site'shuge database by calling up thelibrarians, visitorcenters and tourism associations in communities with names that puzzled her. WAW-ki-shaw. Some Wisconsin places, like Wood County's Rudolph,were simply named after the relatives of people who settled there (andnot, to be clear, after Santa's favorite reindeer). Why Wisconsin places have such hard names City To Pronounce It's part of the name! "sham-POO-ee." The men tasked with buildingthe structure had begun to paint the word "elevator"on it, but halted the work for the winter season afterthe first five letters. But as long as you say it right, you could be considered an honorary resident. Southern accents are tricky enough when working their magic on common words, such as "oil" and "aunt. ", Fun Fact:Until 1872, the city was known by various spellings Sheetak, Shetak, Shetuk, Chetack which were all different variations on the Ojibwe word for "pelican.". Located in the northwest area of the city, never say "couch" like the furniture. Grandiloquent. LYE-ma. To Pronounce Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Fun Fact:Famous guitarist Les Paul was born in Waukesha, and was buried in the city's Prairie Home Cemetery after his death in 2009. Just search the Internet for "How to say the names of Wisconsin cities" and you'll find a number of examples ofvideos showing hownon-natives butcherthe names of well-knownto usWisconsin places. Add ham; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Not in Michigan, where the locals call it pom-pay-eye. A French speaker would pronounce chien like shee-en, but not so in Wisconsin. If we're talking Egypt, we're talking KAI-ro. You would be wrong. Why Wisconsin's dialect, pronunciations WebWisconsin is home to 72 counties, 190 cities, 400 villages, 1,260 towns, and 1,000+ unincorporated places. Webhttp://www.bearstearnsbravo.com This video shows you how to pronounce Wisconsin city names. Kih-nih-kih-neck but also Kin-NEY-kuh-nick but also Kih-nih-KIH-neck. After all, the city's 10-letter name is a conversation starter. WebMost Commonly Mispronounced Wisconsin Cities Air Date: Monday, August 11, 2014, 6:00am Share: Listen Download How do you pronounce Boscobel? Are these pronunciations way off base? JILL-it. We take music, foods, words and traditions from all over the world, shake them up and blend them into something distinctly American. While I was growing up, my family had a big garden. Underlying the complexity of the enunciation of theseWisconsin names can sometimes be smallconflicts. ", This is one of the more daunting names. Buena Vista: Commonly pronounced "BYOO-na VISS-ta", 3. Are the Most Mispronounced Cities in the Cook and stir until cheese is melted (do not boil). "Soda" Our neighbors to the south call it pop, but we call sugary carbonated 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Camaraderie. The city is Milwaukee's most populous suburb. Hard English Words To Pronounce (What MissPronouncer (and opinionated colleagues) assisted with pronunciations. Grandmas Pressure-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup, Pressure-Cooker Chicken and Bacon White Chili, Hearty Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 50 Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Soup Recipes, This Plant Subscription Box Means a New Houseplant on Your Doorstep Regularly, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Sheboygan: This small city in east-central Wisconsin is the Algonquin word for the Sheboygan River. You can also practice using these hard to pronounce words in conversation which will really help you learn them. Mom would turn that produce into some wonderful mealsthat's where I get my love of cooking. In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion, celery, carrot, parsley and garlic in butter for 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Fun Fact:The tongue-twisting name is derived from the Potawatomi word for "waterfall.". People usually pronounce Pewaukee using the full word, instead of shortening it, she said. People often will pronounce the U in the word as [ uh]. Eleva's story is the exception to the rule. Visit the State Cartographers Office to make use of Pronounce Wisconsin a fully functional, large state of Wisconsin map that offers a user-friendly search feature, layers, and audio pronunciations of over 1,700 locations in the Badger State. The city of more than30,000 sits at the mouth of the Manitowoc River, which flows into Lake Michigan. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Itly. This city, the county seat of Shawano County, is home to around 10,000 people. SHAH-no. How do you pronounce yours? She'd get her information from a community's leaders or moretrustworthy citizens by recording their pronunciations ofwhatever town they represented. Georgia's hardest to pronounce town names Colloquialism. During this time, visitors to the yet-to-be-namedvillageassumed that the "Eleva"painted on the structure was the village's name. of questionable authenticity, as in a story or statement. How do you pronounce towns in Wisconsin? What it means: extravagant, lofty, or bombastic in style or manner, especially language. Nguyen. The United States of America, the great melting pot. Cities Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. 17 words only a true Wisconsinite knows how to pronounce. According to Gard's book,the tinyTrempealeau County village of Eleva, about 20 miles south of Eau Claire, could have stumbled into its nameafter a grainelevatorwas constructed near the village's railroad tracks around the mid-1800s. You might think assume this street on Milwaukee's south side would sound like the name "Becker." SHU-tek. How to say it: gran-DILL-uh-kwuhnt. Hard The Minnesota city of New Prague has a new-world way of doing things, including pronouncing it PRAYG. "sham-POO-ee." All rights reserved. The country of Russia is represented by a town in Ohio. ;). ", A small lake behind my house in Clatskanie, Oregon (OC)[5382x7268] #nature pic.twitter.com/TPuOE8GPsj. Nestled between Milwaukee and Madison, Oconomowoc is an idyllicand charmingcity in southeastern Wisconsin,with a quaint downtown and an abundance of lakes on all sides of it. No, it's not pronounced like the razor brand. For this Oregon city, you have to say it like "leba-NIN," not "leba-NON. WAW-ki-shaw. Fun Fact:The Outagamie Museum features a bust of former Sen.Joseph McCarthy, who began his infamous political career in the area. It's part of the name! Might as well make sure you pronounce it. "They got as far as Eleva, and so that became the name of the town!" Dane County'sRockdalewasnamed because the village was situated in a valley between two rock ridges, according to the book "The Romance of Wisconsin Place Names" by Robert Gard. Subtly, they conveyed the message,"Damn right, these towns are hard to pronounce and we're proud of it.". Some places deceptively simple, and others notoriously confuse even Oregonians. We took pizza and put cheese inside the crust. 4. Waunaukee is a small village around a dozen miles north of Madison. This is one of the most infamous names in the entire state. hard to pronounce That they're all cool with. How To Pronounce Wisconsin City Names Acity of more 15,000 people, Oconomowoc is about 30 miles west of Milwaukee. Comment or email me at adam.carlson@ajc.com for possible inclusion in a follow-up. It is a pretty safe bet that everyone in Minnesota will go on and on about how some towns in Wisconsin are impossible to pronounce, but believe me Minnesota is right up there too. Oconomowoc. Waukesha. But in Georgia it's KAY-ro, and in Illinois, KEH-ro. A mouthful. And in at least one case, a Wisconsin namecame about as a result ofan unfinished19th-century construction project or so the legend goes. New MAD-rid though? According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the word "Wisconsin" itself is a multi-ethnic concoction: it's theEnglish spelling of a French version of a Miami Indian name for the river currently known as the Wisconsin River. We Have Town Names That Are Hard to Pronounce If you're not from Wisconsin you probably have a hard time pronouncing names like Oconomowoc, Ashwaubenon, Sheboygan, and Weyauwega just to name a few. Chetek,a city in northwestern Wisconsin, is in a region known as "Indianhead Country. Outagamie is a county in northeastern Wisconsin in the Appleton area. On Twitter, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin askedreaders for their opinions on the hardest-to-pronounce place in the state;nearly two dozenpeople enthusiastically offered uptheir suggestions within minutes. The German capital Ber-LIN has loaned its name to many an American town, but here we've turned it into BER-lin. Towns And a quick note: never drop the "the." Wisconsinites like their cheese in curd-form, their beer always fulland their hometown's name long and impossible to say. Fun Fact:The village bills itself as "The Only Waunakee in the World.". Dahlonega: Commonly pronounced "Duh-LAW-na-ga", 5. Quiz: Which of these weird Georgia town names is real or fake? Going Out Reporter Melanie Lawder can be reached at melanie.lawder@gannettwisconsin.com or 715-845-0607. Ultimately, the villagedecided to just gowith the flowand adopt Elevaas its official name. To pronounce this small timber town in Oregon, make sure to say "clat-skan-eye. The town sits on the edge of Iola Lake in central Wisconsin. "I can tell in a minute a radio announcer who is new to the state," Appssaid. Fun Fact:The name comes from the Chippewaword for "southern. There are Montpeliers all over the place in the US. We recommend our users to update the browser. These Californians Tried To Pronounce The Names Of Cities In O Do not sell or share my personal information. Spain has Madrid (Ma-DRID). Cook and stir until cheese is melted (do not boil). Can you pronounce this word better