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

Here are 11 Idaho place names that most people can’t say correctly on the first try, with their correct pronunciations:

1. Boise — Pronounced “BOY-see,” not “boy-ZEE.”
2. Kuna — Pronounced “KYOO-nuh,” not “Coo-nuh.”
3. Owyhee — Pronounced “oh-WHY-hee,” named after Hawaiian trappers.
4. Nez Perce — Pronounced “Nezz-PURSE.”
5. Kootenai — Pronounced “KOO-tuh-nee.”
6. Ustick — Pronounced “YOU-stick.”
7. Chinden — Pronounced “CHIN-den.”
8. Payette — Pronounced “Pay-ETT,” not the French “pie-yet.”
9. Coeur d’Alene — Pronounced “kore-duh-LANE,” after the local tribe.
10. Dubois — Pronounced “DOO-boyss,” not French “doo-BWAH.”
11. Mackay — Pronounced “MACK-ee,” a mining town.

These names showcase Idaho’s rich history and cultural influences, from Native American tribes and French fur trappers to unique local twists on pronunciations that outsiders often get wrong.

SOURCES

[1](https://welcometoboiseandbeyond.com/post/pronunciation-guide-for-boiseans-live-like-a-local-in-idaho/)
[2](https://liteonline.com/tricky-idaho-city-names/)
[3](https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/arts-culture/2022-10-25/how-do-you-say-kamiah-kooskia-moscow-idaho)
[4](https://www.rickjust.com/blog/pronouncing-idaho-place-names)
[5](https://www.weknowboise.com/blog/boise-pronunciation-guide.html)