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

1. Machias
   – Pronunciation: “Ma-shus”
2. It’s not “Mah-chee-as” like you’d expect. This coastal town throws people off with its unusual pronunciation.
3. Kennebunkport
   – Pronunciation: “Ken-uh-bunk-port”
4. You might try to say “Ken-ne-bunk-port,” but it’s a little quicker and smoother than that. A favorite seaside village, though, once you get the pronunciation down!
5. Pemaquid
   – Pronunciation: “Peh-muh-kwid”
6. This lovely spot in coastal Maine trips people up. It’s definitely not “Pe-mah-quid” as it sounds.
7. Penobscot
   – Pronunciation: “Puh-nob-skot”
8. The river is iconic, but getting the name right is tough! It’s not “Pen-ohb-scot” or “Pe-nob-scot.” It’s got a quick, smooth flow.
9. Aroostook
   – Pronunciation: “A-roo-stock”
10. Known for its rural charm, Aroostook County can definitely make you pause. Don’t get tripped up by the extra vowels!
11. Wiscasset
    – Pronunciation: “Wiss-kass-it”
12. You might want to say “Wiss-cass-et,” but it’s actually just a smooth “Wiss-kass-it” without that extra “e” sound.
13. Vassalboro
    – Pronunciation: “Vass-al-burr-oh”
14. This charming town sounds a little more complicated than it actually is. Try saying it without overthinking it too much!
15. Sagadahoc
    – Pronunciation: “Sag-ah-dah-hoc”
16. The county name might look confusing at first, but it’s really a fun one to say once you get the rhythm down.
17. Boothbay Harbor
    – Pronunciation: “Booth-bay Har-bor”
18. Everyone loves a trip to Boothbay, but don’t let the second “h” fool you—it’s a simple “Har-bor.”
19. Bar Harbor
    – Pronunciation: “Bar Har-bor”

Not “Baah Harbor” as some mistakenly call it, this coastal gem is pronounced just as it looks.

11. Casco Bay
    – Pronunciation: “Cass-ko Bay”

People sometimes mispronounce this as “Kass-co,” but it’s actually “Cass-ko,” so just roll with it!

Maine’s quirky place names make the state even more fun to explore, but saying them right? Well, that’s a whole new adventure!

SOURCES

[1] https://www.moon.com/travel/planning/locations-in-maine-a-pronuncation-guide/
[2] https://b985.fm/mispronounced-maine-town-names/
[3] https://z1073.com/maine-town-names/
[4] https://92moose.fm/maine-toughest-town-pronounce/
[5] https://wjbq.com/10-maine-towns-out-of-staters-cant-pronounce-correctly/