Here are 11 Tennessee town names that will make your GPS have an existential crisis, complete with their correct pronunciations and a little explanation:
1. Milan — Pronounced “MY-lin.” Not like the Italian city, this West Tennessee town trips up many newcomers.
2. Santa Fe — Pronounced “Santa Fee.” Yes, it sounds unusual, but locals stick with this unique Southern twist.
3. Maury — Pronounced “Murry.” Both Maury County and Maury City drop the “au” sound, which confuses out-of-towners.
4. Poga — Pronounced “Pogee.” A small community with a name that defies obvious pronunciation.
5. Lebanon — Pronounced “Leb-nun.” The second syllable almost disappears, giving it a more compressed sound.
6. Finger — Pronounced “Fanger.” This is one of the quirkiest pronunciations, replacing the “i” sound with an “a.”
7. Ooltewah — Pronounced “Oo-da-wah.” Known for its difficult start with double ‘o’ sounds that many mispronounce.
8. Lafayette — Pronounced “Luh-fayette.” The emphasis and vowels differ from the French origin, reflecting Southern flavor.
9. Shelbyville, Fayetteville, Maryville — The “-ville” ending is pronounced “-vul.” So Shelbyville sounds like “Shebbyvul,” and Maryville becomes “Murvul.”
10. Pulaski — Pronounced “Pew-las-kee,” though sometimes mixed with variations.
11. Jonesborough — Pronounced “Jones-burr.” The “borough” is shortened drastically, simplifying the longer spelling.
These names reflect Tennessee’s rich local history and Southern dialects that can befuddle even the most sophisticated GPS systems. Saying these correctly signals insider knowledge and respect for Tennessee’s cultural quirks.
Sources
(https://tnhomeandfarm.com/tn-living/tn-towns-most-mispronounced/)
(https://www.reddit.com/r/Tennessee/comments/1e3z7pc/mispronounced_citycounty_names/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM3-csAjjl0)
(https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOq_WIHk5jH/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CzROBXhBWg)
