That’s a fun challenge! Georgia (the U.S. state) is full of towns and landmarks with names that can be real tongue twisters for newcomers. Here’s a list of 10 Georgia places that are notoriously tricky to pronounce—and a little help on how to say them right!
| Place Name | Pronunciation (Phonetic) | Notes/Source |
|---|---|---|
| Toccoa | tuh-KOH-uh | Cherokee origin, emphasis on “KOH” |
| Buena Vista | BYOO-nuh VISS-tuh | Commonly pronounced this way in Georgia |
| Dahlonega | duh-LAW-na-guh / duh-LON-uh-guh | Both are heard, but “duh-LAW-na-guh” is common |
| Oconee | oh-KOH-nee | Also sometimes “oh-KON-ee” |
| Chattahoochee | chat-uh-HOO-chee | Well-known river and fun to say |
| Chickamauga | chick-uh-MAW-guh | Historic site and town |
| Tallapoosa | tal-uh-POO-suh | River and town1 |
| Ogeechee | oh-GEE-chee | River and area1 |
| Senoia | sen-OY-uh | Filming location for “The Walking Dead” |
| Valdosta | val-DOSS-tuh | Not “val-DAH-sta” |
Sources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTSuB6mgjH4
- https://www.ask-oracle.com/baby-name/toccoa/
- https://www.howtopronounce.com/buena-vista
- https://www.howtopronounce.com/dahlonega
- https://www.howtopronounce.com/oconee