Here are 11 Wisconsin town names that tend to baffle even locals and can definitely make your GPS question its existence — with their tricky pronunciations.
- Ashwaubenon — Pronounced ash-WAH-buh-non
- Baraboo — Pronounced bare-uh-BOO
- Boscobel — Pronounced bahs-koh-BELL
- Chetek — Pronounced shuh-TEK
- Eau Claire — Pronounced oh-CLAIR
- Gillett — Pronounced JILL-it
- Iola — Pronounced EYE-oh-lah
- Ixonia — Pronounced ick-soh-nee-uh
- Juneau — Pronounced JOO-no
- Kaukauna — Pronounced kuh-KAW-nuh
- Oconomowoc — Pronounced oh-con-oh-moh-wok
These names reflect Wisconsin’s rich mix of Native American, French, and immigrant influences, making them a fun but challenging test for newcomers and GPS systems alike.
SOURCES
(https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-05-13-these-are-wisconsins-most-mispronounced-cities/)(https://97zokonline.com/hardest-wisconsin-towns-to-pronounce/)
(https://www.wbanewsroom.org/wisconsin-pronunciation-guide/)
(https://www.sco.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Pronounce_Wisconsin_2014.pdf)(https://misspronouncer.com)
