Buzz
The United States, a vibrant melting pot, absorbs and transforms elements from across the globe into something uniquely American. From turning 'O Sole Mio' into 'It's Now or Never' to stuffing cheese into pizza crusts, we make things our own. This includes naming our towns after places worldwide, but with a twist—we pronounce them our way. While some names follow standard English pronunciations, others defy even those norms. Here are 20 U.S. towns that have completely redefined the names they borrowed.
1. Athens, IL; Athens, KY
Athens, Greece, is celebrated as the cradle of Western civilization and democracy. However, in Kentucky and Illinois, the towns named Athens are pronounced EIGHTH-ens, showcasing their unique American identity.
2. Berlin, CT; Berlin, MA; New Berlin, NY; Berlin, WI
While the German capital is pronounced Ber-LIN, its American counterparts have adopted the pronunciation BER-lin, showcasing a distinct twist.
3. Cairo, GA; Cairo, IL
In Egypt, it's KAI-ro, but in Georgia, it transforms to KAY-ro, and in Illinois, it becomes KEH-ro, reflecting regional linguistic flair.
4. Chili, NY
A city in New York takes its name from the South American nation of Chile, typically pronounced CHILL-ee or CHEE-lay. However, locals here call it CHAI-lai, adding a unique regional twist.
5. Riga, NY
Near Chili lies Riga, named after the Latvian capital pronounced REE-ga. In New York, though, it’s known as RYE-ga, reflecting its distinct local identity.
6. Delhi, NY; Delhi, CA
While Delhi, India’s capital, is commonly called 'Delly,' its namesake towns in New York and California pronounce it DEL-hai, showcasing a unique regional variation.
7. Lebanon, NH
In New Hampshire, Lebanon is pronounced LEB-nen, not the traditional way.
8. Lima, OH
While Lima, Peru, is pronounced LEE-ma, its Ohio counterpart is called LYE-ma, highlighting a distinct regional pronunciation.
9. New Madrid, MO
While Spain boasts Madrid (Ma-DRID), Missouri has its own version: New MAD-rid. Whether it’s Missour-ee or Missour-uh, Missourians might debate, but they all agree on New MAD-rid.
10. Mantua, OH; Mantua, UT
Mantua, Italy, is renowned for its cultural richness, opera, and ties to Virgil. However, in Ohio and Utah, the name transforms from MAN-tyoo-a to MAN-a-way, adding a unique local flavor.
11. Milan, NY, TN, IL, WA
Milan, Italy, is pronounced mi-LAN or mi-LAHN, but its American counterparts in New York, Tennessee, Illinois, and Washington State go by MY-lun, showcasing a distinctly American twist.
12. Palermo, ND
Continuing with Italian inspirations, Palermo (Pa-LER-mo) takes on a new identity in North Dakota, where it’s pronounced PAL-er-mo.
13. Pompeii, MI
Michigan pays homage to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. While traditionally pronounced pom-PAY, Michiganders call it pom-pay-eye, adding an unexpected twist to the name.
14. Italy, TX
Texas boasts a town named after the entire nation of Italy, pronounced simply as Itly—just two syllables.
15. Russia, OH
A town in Ohio bears the name of the country Russia, but here it’s pronounced ROO-shee, adding a unique local twist.
16. Tripoli, IA
While Tripoli, Libya, is known for its Mediterranean coastline, Iowa’s Tripoli has no such shores. Reflecting its landlocked nature, the town pronounces its name as Tri-POH-luh, setting it apart from its namesake.
17. Versailles, IL, KY, OH, PA
While the French palace and the WWI treaty are pronounced ver-SAI, towns in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania opt for ver-SAYLES, adding a distinctly American flair.
18. Montpelier, VT, VA, ID, KY, LA, MD, IA
Montpelier appears in multiple states across the U.S. Some pronounce it the Vermont way (mont-PEEL-yer), while others lean toward a more French-inspired mont-pel-YAY.
19. Vienna, IL; Vienna, SD
The Austrian capital, the Chicago hot dog, and the Virginia city are all pronounced vee-EH-nuh. However, in Illinois and South Dakota, the name transforms to vai-EH-nuh, reflecting regional differences.
20. New Prague, MN
While Prague, Czech Republic, exudes old-world charm, Minnesota’s New Prague adopts a modern twist, pronouncing it as PRAYG.
This post originally appeared in 2013.
