We Dare You to Say These 11 Oklahoma Places Correctly on Your First Try (Spoiler: You Can’t)

Here are 11 Oklahoma place names that are notoriously difficult to pronounce correctly on the first try, along with their proper pronunciations:

1. Hobart — Pronounced “HOH-bert,” not “Ho-bart.”
2. Eucha — Pronounced “OO-cha.”
3. Okmulgee — Pronounced “OAK-mul-gee.”
4. Bokchito — Pronounced “BOHK-chee-toh” or “BOHK-chee-tah.”
5. Miami — Pronounced “MY-am-uh,” not like Miami, Florida.
6. Pottawatomie — A tongue twister, often shortened to “Paw.”
7. Ouachita — Pronounced “Wash-uh-tuh.”
8. Chickasha — Pronounced “Chick-uh-shay,” not “Chick-uh-shaw.”
9. Tahlequah — Pronounced “Tal-uh-kwaw.”
10. Tecumseh — Pronounced “Teh-cum-suh.”
11. Wewoka — Pronounced “Wee-WOH-kuh.”

Many of these names derive from Native American languages, which contributes to their distinctive pronunciations. Locals quickly spot visitors by how they say these names, so mastering the correct pronunciation is a fun challenge and shows respect for Oklahoma’s heritage.

SOURCES

[1](https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/state-pride/oklahoma/hard-to-pronounce-words-ok)
[2](https://www.reddit.com/r/oklahoma/comments/vuh1j0/oklahomas_most_mispronounced_towns/)
[3](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-pronouncing-oklahoma-towns-and-cities)
[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RtZC7ijAsQ)
[5](https://z94.com/mispronounced-oklahoma-towns/)