Minnesota is home to some of the most notoriously difficult place names in the United States, thanks to its Native American, French, and Scandinavian roots. Even seasoned travelers and new residents often stumble over these tongue-twisters.
Here are 10 Minnesota towns and cities that will challenge even the most confident speaker-along with how they’re actually pronounced.
| Place Name | Common Mispronunciation | Correct Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Wayzata | Way-zat-uh | Why-zet-uh |
| Mahtomedi | Mat-toe-me-die | Mah-doe-me-die |
| Bemidji | Bee-midge-ee | Buh-midge-ee |
| Faribault | Fair-uh-balt / Fair-balt | Fair-boe |
| Edina | Ed-in-uh | Ee-dine-uh |
| Ely | Ee-lie | Ee-lee |
| Chokio | Show-key-oh | Sha-kie-oh |
| Shakopee | Sha-kope-ee | Shock-ah-pee |
| Aitkin | Ate-kin | Aye-kin |
| New Prague | New Prog | New Prag |
A Closer Look at the Challenge
- Wayzata: This Twin Cities suburb is so commonly mispronounced that it was named the most mispronounced town in the entire country. Outsiders often say “Way-zat-uh,” but locals know it’s “Why-zet-uh”.
- Mahtomedi: Derived from the Dakota language, this town trips up many with its silent letters and unexpected sounds: “Mah-doe-me-die”.
- Bemidji: The “j” throws people off. It’s “Buh-midge-ee,” not “Bee-midge-ee”.
- Faribault: French-derived, but you don’t pronounce it like it looks. Say “Fair-boe”.
- Edina: Locals say “Ee-dine-uh,” not “Ed-in-uh”.
- Ely: Looks simple, but it’s “Ee-lee,” not “Ee-lie”.
- Chokio: This one’s a curveball-“Sha-kie-oh”
- Shakopee: Another Dakota name, pronounced “Shock-ah-pee,” not “Sha-kope-ee”.
- Aitkin: Don’t say “Ate-kin”-it’s “Aye-kin”.
- New Prague: Despite the Czech inspiration, it’s “New Prag,” not “New Prog”.
Honorable Mentions
- Isanti: “Eye-san-tee” (not “Ee-san-tee”).
- Lutsen: “Loot-son” (not “Lut-sen”).
- Osseo: “Ah-see-oh” (not “Oh-see-oh”).
- Cloquet: “Kloh-kay” (not “Clo-ket”).
- Beaulieu: Pronounced “bohl-yuu”-good luck spelling that one on your first try.
“Minnesota is home to some really rich history and some rather confusing town names that only Minnesotan residents know how to pronounce… Even some Minnesotans still struggle pronouncing these Minnesotan towns correctly!”
If you’re not a local, don’t feel bad-most people need a few tries (and maybe a friendly correction) before they get these right!
Sources:
- https://kroc.com/minnesota-hardest-town-name-to-spell/
- https://quickcountry.com/minnesota-city-most-mispronounced-name/
- https://fun1043.com/impossible-minnesota-town-to-pronounce/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesota/comments/z8d0gm/how_to_pronounce_mn_city_names/
- https://kxrb.com/ten-places-only-minnesotans-can-pronounce/