Here are 11 Louisiana places that most people can’t pronounce correctly on their first try, along with the proper pronunciations to challenge anyone unfamiliar with the local Cajun, Creole, and French influences:
- Natchitoches – Pronounced NACK-a-dish
- Tchefuncte – Pronounced chuh-FUNK-tah
- Ouachita – Pronounced WASH-a-taw
- Grosse Tete – Pronounced Gross TATE
- Pascal’s Manale (restaurant) – Pronounced PASS-cal Ma-nah-leez
- Tangipahoa – Pronounced Tang-uh-pa-HOE-ah
- Tchoupitoulas – Pronounced CHOP-uh-too-lus
- Atchafalaya – Pronounced At-cha-fuh-LIE-ya
- Opelousas – Pronounced Op-eh-LOO-sas
- LaFourche – Pronounced Luh-FOOSH or Luh-foo-SHA
- Pontchartrain – Pronounced Pon-cha-TRAIN
Many of these names reflect the state’s French, Native American, and Cajun heritage, and locals often say these places in ways that can seem counterintuitive if read phonetically. Trying to say them right is a true test of Louisiana savvy.
SOURCES
(http://www.jonmrichardson.com/2008/09/guide-to-louisiana-pronunciation.html)
(https://107jamz.com/20-of-the-hardest-names-in-louisiana-to-pronounce/)(https://mykisscountry937.com/challenges-of-pronouncing-louisiana-town-names/)(https://www.reddit.com/r/Louisiana/comments/ywrguh/what_is_the_most_common_way_for_la_natives_to/)(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wehBI_Lzy6A)
