Here are 8 Colorado town names that can make your GPS—and your tongue—have an existential crisis with their unusual or tricky pronunciations:
1. Kiowa
Often mispronounced various ways, the correct pronunciation is “KEY-oh-wah.” The town’s name honors the Native American Kiowa tribe.
2. Ouray
This mountain town is pronounced “YOU-ray,” not “OO-ray.” It’s known as the Switzerland of America for its dramatic alpine scenery.
3. Saguache
Derived from a Native American term, it’s pronounced “suh-WATCH,” a far cry from how it looks on paper.
4. De Beque
This western Colorado community is pronounced “duh-BECK,” despite the French spelling that might suggest otherwise.
5. Towaoc
Pronounced “TOY-yock,” this town in the southwest corner often flummoxes newcomers.
6. Uncompahgre
This name, shared with a river and national forest, is pronounced “un-com-PAHG-ray,” a mouthful that trips up many visitors.
7. Cache La Poudre
This picturesque river’s name is pronounced “cash la POO-der,” not the French “poud-ray.”
8. Buena Vista
Locally pronounced “BYOO-nuh VIS-tuh,” it differs from the Spanish pronunciation, reflecting Americanized adaption.
Colorado’s unique cultural history blending Native American, French, and Spanish influences leads to place names that challenge even seasoned travelers and local GPS systems alike.
Sources
(https://retro1025.com/kiowa-colorado-on-list-of-town-names-hard-to-pronounce/)
(https://thegroupinc.com/our-communities/words-only-coloradans-can-pronounce/)
(https://languagehat.com/colorado-place-names/)
(https://newcountry991.com/you-know-youre-a-true-coloradan-if-you-can-pronounce-these-towns/)
(https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/19d6nok/what_are_some_places_in_colorado_that_no_one/)
