Here are 11 Kentucky places that people almost always mispronounce on the first try, along with their correct pronunciations:
1. Louisville
Often mispronounced “Lewis-ville” or “Looey-ville,” the correct local pronunciation is closer to “Luh-vul” or “Loo-a-vul” with a quick, blended sound.
2. Versailles
Unlike the French “Ver-SIGH,” in Kentucky it’s pronounced “Ver-sales.”
3. Cadiz
Not like the Spanish “Ca-deeth,” in Kentucky it’s pronounced “Kay-deez.”
4. Barbourville
People say “Bar-bore-ville,” but it’s “Bar-bur-vul.”
5. Daviess County
Commonly mispronounced “day-VEEZ,” but locals say it as “Davis.”
6. Muhlenberg County
Often said as “MULL-en-berg” by outsiders, but locals say “MOO-len-berg” with a subtle “y” sound after the “M.”
7. Robards
Many say “ROE-bards,” but the town is pronounced “Rah-bards.”
8. Oneida
The middle sounds are “ee,” so it’s pronounced “Oh-nee-da.”
9. Nazareth
Commonly known from the biblical pronunciation, locally it’s “Nay-zrath.”
10. Boaz
Instead of “Bo-az,” locals pronounce it “Bohz.”
11. Lafayette
Some say “Laf-ay-ette,” but in parts of Kentucky, it’s said more like “Laf-yet.”
Kentucky’s unique linguistic history and regional influences make so many place names sound quite different from what outsiders expect, reflecting a blend of Native American, French, and English roots with local twists.
Sources
(https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1160&context=rennick_ms_collection)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRZ09mO3Ckc)
(https://wbkr.com/kentucky-and-tri-state-city-and-county-names-visitors-mispronounce/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxK5J140JWI)
(https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/rennick_ms_collection/158/)
