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

Here are 11 Arizona places that most people can’t say correctly on their first try, along with how to pronounce them:

1. Sonoita – suh-NOY-tuh
2. Prescott – PRESS-kit (not “Press-scott”)
3. Tucson – TOO-sahn
4. Casa Grande – CASS-uh-grand (not Spanish pronunciation)
5. Gila (as in Gila monster) – HEE-la (not “Gee-la”)
6. Fort Huachuca – wa-CHOO-kuh
7. Ahwatukee – ah-wuh-TOO-kee
8. Nogales – noh-GAL-es
9. Canyon de Chelly – du-SHAY
10. Mazatzal – MAH-zaht-zahl
11. Sahuarita – sah-wuh-REE-tuh

Arizona’s place names come from a mix of Spanish, Indigenous, and English origins, which can make their pronunciations tricky for newcomers and even some locals. These pronunciations reflect how locals say them to honor the language and heritage behind each name.​

So, if you want to impress Arizonans, practice these names the right way—you might still get a chuckle or two, but you’ll sound authentically local.

SOURCES

[1](https://coppercourier.com/2025/09/11/hardest-arizona-name-pronounce/)
[2](https://www.reddit.com/r/phoenix/comments/dwutgl/how_to_pronounce_arizona_places_and_things/)
[3](https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/life/2025/09/11/arizona-pronounce-sonoita/86082204007/)
[4](https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/life/2024/08/14/arizona-pronunciation-guide/73967129007/)
[5](https://www.facebook.com/arizonatravel/posts/ever-wondered-how-to-pronounce-these-arizona-names-and-locations-dont-fret-weve-/1046351887523841/)