We Dare You to Say These 9 New York Places Correctly on Your First Try (Spoiler: You Can’t)

Here are nine New York places that almost no one says correctly on the first try:

1. Houston Street
   Most people pronounce it like the Texas city (“HYOO-ston”), but locals say HOW-stin. It’s named after William Houstoun, so the original spelling influenced this unique pronunciation.
2. Manhattan
   The last syllable often confuses newcomers. Locals pronounce it with a nasal flap sound, almost like man-HAN-nin rather than the clear “tan” sound. This nasal “t” is a distinctive New York English trait.
3. Brooklyn
   People misplace the emphasis or soften the “L.” Locals say Brook-lin with a clear L, not “Brook-lin” soft or skipping the L sound altogether.
4. The Bronx
   Often pronounced as “Bronks,” the correct pronunciation is closer to Brains with a very subtle “ng” sound before the “ks.” It’s a quick heartbeat of the city with a tough, sharp ending.
5. Staten Island
   People incorrectly insert an “S” sound at the start. It’s pronounced STAY-tin I-lund, with “island” sounding like “i-lund,” almost dropping the “s” sound.
6. Kosciuszko Bridge
   Pronounced kuh-SHOO-skuh, this tricky Polish name trips many up. It’s a major bridge in Brooklyn, and locals embrace the correct pronunciation with pride.
7. Joralemon
   This Brooklyn street name says jer-AHL-ah-men, not the obvious-looking “Jor-uh-lee-mon.” It’s named after Teunis Joralemon, a local judge from the 1800s.
8. Gowanus
   People often say “go-WAN-us,” but locals say Guh-WAN-us, reflecting its Native American roots. The Gowanus Canal is famous in Brooklyn’s industrial history.
9. Patchogue
   Pronounced PATCH-awg, this Long Island town’s name is often butchered by outsiders. Many Long Island stops have Native American origins, making pronunciations tricky for non-locals.

These pronunciations reveal the rich and complex history of New York’s diverse communities and heritage. Trying to say these names correctly is a fun challenge even for longtime visitors and residents alike.

Sources

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8u05JtM8fU)
(https://nypost.com/2025/06/01/us-news/these-are-nycs-most-mispronounced-neighborhoods/)
(https://streeteasy.com/blog/kosciuszko-pronunciation-tricky-place-names-nyc/)
(https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/new-york/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1a41SZMyho)