If you’re not from around here, there may be some local vocabulary you need to familiarize yourself with (unless you want the wrath of angry Oklahomans). Many of our town names, rivers and lakes get mispronounced, and if you haven’t already found out, will get an Okie all riled up. Here are 12 words to never mispronounce in front of an Oklahoman.
- Miami
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr As one of the most mispronounced words from outsiders, the town of Miami, Oklahoma, is not pronounced like Miami, Florida. If you’re still saying it like the city in Florida, here’s how it’s pronounced in the Sooner State - “My-AM-uh”.
- Ouachita
Granger Meador/Flickr It could be a mountain range, trail, river or a business name. No matter which one you are referencing, it’s pronounced “WAH-shu-tah”.
- Coweta
Caleb Long/Wikipedia Just please don’t say the sound “cow” in this word. The correct pronunciation is “Co-WEE-tuh”.
- Eufaula
Stephanie Sarles/Flickr Not only do people say this lake and town wrong, but they often misspell it too. The correct pronunciation is “You-FAW-luh”.
- Boise City
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr “Boy-s City” - Not like the capital of Idaho.
- Achille
achilleisd.org It’s pronounced “A-chill-EE” so remember it’s not like an Achilles heel.
- Pottawatomie
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr It’s a funky county name, so if you think you can remember it, here it is: “Pot-eh-wat-o-me”.
- Checotah
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr One way to remember it is “she” (meaning Carrie Underwood) is from here, so it’s pronounced “Sheh-COH-tuh”. It’s not the Ch sound found in Cheerios, chiggers or chocolate.
- Muskogee
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr An Okie from Muskogee would say it, “Mus-KOH-gee”.
- Skiatook
Robert Nunnally/Flickr Whether you’re talking about the town or the lake, say it like this: “Sky-uh-took”.
- Okmulgee
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr There’s only one way to say it, “Ok-MUHL-gee”. Nothing hard about this one.
- Wynnewood
Paul L. McCord Jr./Flickr Yes, you say the “e” sound. Pronunciation is “Win-ee-wood”.
Take a look at this humorous video of Californians trying to pronounce our city names in Oklahoma:
What pronunciation gives you the most trouble? I always had trouble with Miami when I first moved to Oklahoma.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
As one of the most mispronounced words from outsiders, the town of Miami, Oklahoma, is not pronounced like Miami, Florida. If you’re still saying it like the city in Florida, here’s how it’s pronounced in the Sooner State - “My-AM-uh”.
Granger Meador/Flickr
It could be a mountain range, trail, river or a business name. No matter which one you are referencing, it’s pronounced “WAH-shu-tah”.
Caleb Long/Wikipedia
Just please don’t say the sound “cow” in this word. The correct pronunciation is “Co-WEE-tuh”.
Stephanie Sarles/Flickr
Not only do people say this lake and town wrong, but they often misspell it too. The correct pronunciation is “You-FAW-luh”.
“Boy-s City” - Not like the capital of Idaho.
achilleisd.org
It’s pronounced “A-chill-EE” so remember it’s not like an Achilles heel.
It’s a funky county name, so if you think you can remember it, here it is: “Pot-eh-wat-o-me”.
One way to remember it is “she” (meaning Carrie Underwood) is from here, so it’s pronounced “Sheh-COH-tuh”. It’s not the Ch sound found in Cheerios, chiggers or chocolate.
An Okie from Muskogee would say it, “Mus-KOH-gee”.
Robert Nunnally/Flickr
Whether you’re talking about the town or the lake, say it like this: “Sky-uh-took”.
There’s only one way to say it, “Ok-MUHL-gee”. Nothing hard about this one.
Paul L. McCord Jr./Flickr
Yes, you say the “e” sound. Pronunciation is “Win-ee-wood”.
It’s usually easy to spot a tourist in Oklahoma if they are butchering our town names, but there are a few other ways to spot them. Click here to find out more.
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