Here are 10 Connecticut places that are notoriously difficult to pronounce correctly on the first try, along with their proper pronunciations:
- Quinebaug – Pronounced “QUINN-uh-bog,” named after a nearby river meaning “long pond”.
- North Grosvenordale – Pronounced “GROVE-ner-dale,” a village named for investor William Grosvenor.
- Berlin – Pronounced “BER-lin” with emphasis on the first syllable, not like the German capital. Some locals say “BURR-lin”.
- Coventry – Pronounced “CAH-ven-tree,” differing from the English city pronunciation.
- Mashamoquet Brook State Park – Pronounced “mash-MUH-kit,” from a Native American term meaning “important fishing place”.
- Quinnipiac (University) – Pronounced “kwi-nuh-pee-ak,” named after the local tribe.
- Southington – Pronounced “suh-thing-ton,” not like the direction “south”.
- Thames River (in New London) – Pronounced “thaymes,” unlike the English “temz”.
- Machimoodus State Park – Pronounced “Match-a-moo-dus,” meaning “the place of bad noises”.
- Meshomasic State Forest – Pronounced “mess-shaw-mass-sick,” meaning “great rattlesnake”.
Additional tricky names include:
- Greenwich – Pronounced “Grennitch”.
- Groton – Pronounced “Grah-in” with a glottal stop.
- Niantic – Pronounced “Nye-antic”.
- Poquonnock – Pronounced “puh-qua-nock,” meaning “cleared land”.
- Noank – Pronounced “Nunk” by locals, not “No-ank”.
These pronunciations often derive from Native American or English origins and can vary regionally. Even lifelong residents admit that getting them right on the first try is tough.
Sources:
- https://yourehistory.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/how-to-pronounce-connecticut-town-names/
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/state-pride/connecticut/pronounce-words-ct
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_nicknames_in_Connecticut
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teKljXvE-Fw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8boncWBS-Y