Many New York place names trip up even locals, thanks to their Dutch, Native American, or Polish origins and quirky pronunciation rules—here are 11 notoriously difficult ones, along with how they’re said by locals:
Tricky New York Place Names & Pronunciations
Why These Names Are So Tough
Most of these names look easy—or impossible—on paper, but their authentic pronunciations reflect centuries of New York’s immigrant influences, with Dutch, Native American, and Polish spellings leading to silent letters, odd syllable stress, and a history of local improvisation. Even native New Yorkers rarely nail them all on the first try!
SOURCES
(https://shilohinthecity.com/2020/05/09/tricky-nyc-names-that-might-tongue-tie-tourists-and-locals/)(https://streeteasy.com/blog/kosciuszko-pronunciation-tricky-place-names-nyc/)(https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/new-york/)
(https://wpdh.com/mispronounced-ny-town-meanings/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1a41SZMyho)
