Tennessee has its own way of saying things sometime, but these 10 words really take the cake. If you’re from Tennessee or have raised your family high in the hills, a few of these just might make sense…or not! If there are a few we missed, your favorite crick and such, then make sure to leave us your thoughts in the comments below. How SHOULD folks be talking if they make their way to our great state? It’s a necessary thing to know, you know!
- Can you say “Lafayette?”
Thomas Hawk - Flickr Say it with us (if you can): Luh-fy-ette. That may not be phonetically correct, but just find a local Tennessean and you’ll figure it out.
- Maybe you’ll known how to say Milan.
Brent Moore - Flickr My-lan. MY. That’s the syllabic stress point, folks.
- Or Demonbreun…?
Wang Jiacheng - Flickr DemUnbreUn. Demon-brun and Demonbreeeun have plagued us FAR too long here in Nashville. Do you agree?
- What about any town that ends with, “ville”?
Photo Credit Vull. Louisvull. Nashvull. This one is reserved for Tennesseans that stretch back decades, folks. Many now say Nashville, but LouisVULL will always be a thing.
- We bet Lebanon is second-nature.
Thomas Hawk - Flickr Lebanun, not Lebanaan. There’s only one way to say Lebanon and you sound real nerdy if you don’t get it right the first time.
- Maury County?
Bill Showalter - Flickr Pronounced, “Murry,” you don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the tracks with this one. Especially if you live in the county in question.
- Ooltewah is pretty easy.
Thomas Hawk - Flickr Or not! We don’t even KNOW where to begin with this one. If you’re from Tennessee, you best be saying, “Oo-da-wah”.
- Or perhaps Finger, Tennessee?
Bill Showalter - Flickr You’d like to pronounce this like the ten phalanges attached to your hand, wouldn’t you? It’s actually pronounced, “fanger.” You’re welcome.
- Poga. Say Poga.
Frank Kehren - Flickr It’s a town with a funky name - prounounce it, “Pogee” if you’d like to fit in.
- We’ll finish it out with “Bolivar.”
Tim Lumley - Flickr It’s pronounced, “BALL-iver.” There you go. Now you know.
PS: Have you ever been to this sweet Tennessee town?
Thomas Hawk - Flickr
Say it with us (if you can): Luh-fy-ette. That may not be phonetically correct, but just find a local Tennessean and you’ll figure it out.
Brent Moore - Flickr
My-lan. MY. That’s the syllabic stress point, folks.
Wang Jiacheng - Flickr
DemUnbreUn. Demon-brun and Demonbreeeun have plagued us FAR too long here in Nashville. Do you agree?
Photo Credit
Vull. Louisvull. Nashvull. This one is reserved for Tennesseans that stretch back decades, folks. Many now say Nashville, but LouisVULL will always be a thing.
Lebanun, not Lebanaan. There’s only one way to say Lebanon and you sound real nerdy if you don’t get it right the first time.
Bill Showalter - Flickr
Pronounced, “Murry,” you don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the tracks with this one. Especially if you live in the county in question.
Or not! We don’t even KNOW where to begin with this one. If you’re from Tennessee, you best be saying, “Oo-da-wah”.
You’d like to pronounce this like the ten phalanges attached to your hand, wouldn’t you? It’s actually pronounced, “fanger.” You’re welcome.
Frank Kehren - Flickr
It’s a town with a funky name - prounounce it, “Pogee” if you’d like to fit in.
Tim Lumley - Flickr
It’s pronounced, “BALL-iver.” There you go. Now you know.
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