Here are 11 Arizona town names that’ll make your GPS have an existential crisis because they’re frequently mispronounced or just tricky:
- Nogales — Often mispronounced with a hard “g,” but it’s actually pronounced “noh-GAH-les.”
- San Xavier — Pronounced “San HA-vee-air,” not like the common “Ex-zavier.”
- Tohono O’odham — Pronunciations vary, but a common one is “toe-HOH-noh OH-dum.”
- Mazatzal — Said as “mah-SAHT-zahl,” from Indigenous language origins.
- Prescott — Locally pronounced “PRESS-kit,” not “Press-scott.”
- Canyon de Chelly — Pronounced “duh-SHAY.”
- Casa Grande — Pronounced “CASS-uh grand,” not the Spanish way.
- Aravaipa — Pronounced “air-uh-VAI-pah,” meaning “laughing waters.”
- Gila (monster) — Pronounced “HEE-la,” not “Gee-la.”
- Fort Huachuca — Pronounced “wah-CHOO-kuh.”
- Tlaquepaque — Pronounced “TLAH-key-PAH-key,” an arts village in Sedona.
Many of these names come from Indigenous languages or Spanish roots, and the local pronunciations have evolved uniquely. They often confuse newcomers and challenge GPS voice systems alike, making them memorable parts of Arizona’s rich cultural tapestry.
SOURCES
[1](https://country.iheart.com/content/2022-09-28-here-are-5-weird-arizona-town-names-you-probably-cant-pronounce/)
[2](https://coppercourier.com/2025/09/11/hardest-arizona-name-pronounce/)
[3](https://www.reddit.com/r/phoenix/comments/dwutgl/how_to_pronounce_arizona_places_and_things/)
[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/)
