Here are 10 Colorado places that most people can’t pronounce correctly on their first try:
1. Saguache
Pronounced “suh WAHCH,” not “sag-wah-chay.” This tricky name comes from the Ute word meaning “blue earth.”
2. Ouray
Pronounced “oo-RAY” or “yoo-RAY” locally, it’s often mispronounced by newcomers.
3. Conejos
This Spanish word for rabbits is pronounced “cone-AY-hose,” though locals sometimes say “cun-AY-us.”
4. Costilla
Pronounced “cos-TEE-uh,” not “cost-ILL-uh,” named after a nearby creek near New Mexico.
5. Crestone
Locals say “CRESS-tone,” though it’s often mispronounced as “cres-TONE.”
6. Prowers
Pronounced with a silent “w,” sounding like “proers.”
7. Buena Vista
This well-known tourist city is pronounced “BYOO-nuh VIS-tuh,” with emphasis on the first syllable.
8. Rio Blanco
Pronounced “REE-oh BLAHNG-koh,” rather than the English diphthong.
9. Del Norte
Sounds like “del NORT,” not with a Spanish “tay” ending as outsiders might assume.
10. De Beque
Pronounced “deh-BEK,” named for an early settler, often butchered by visitors.
These places reflect Colorado’s blend of Spanish, Native American, French, and English influences, making their names deliciously challenging for newcomers to get right on the first go.
Sources
(https://aftersight.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Colorado-Pronunciation-Guide.pdf)
(https://www.usends.com/toponymy.html)
(https://www.coloradovirtuallibrary.org/resource-sharing/state-pubs-blog/pronunciation-guide/)
(https://languagehat.com/colorado-place-names/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-VLw4CbuZo)
