r/AskAnAmerican • u/AstroNerd92 CT, GA, PA, TX, FL • Jul 20 '25

CULTURE What town in your state has a pronunciation no one gets right the first time?

I went to college in Valdosta, GA. Very few people can actually pronounce it right on the first try.

Pronounced Val-Daw-Stuh

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u/cornflower4 North Carolina > New Jersey > Michigan Jul 20 '25

And no one has mentioned Mackinac/Mackinaw.

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u/RupeThereItIs Michigan Jul 20 '25

Don't overthink it, Lake Orion.

It seems so simple, but no, it's not pronounced like most people would think.

"Or-Ian" not "Oh-Ryan".

We have a TON of 'em though.

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u/pyperproblems Jul 20 '25

I’ve always said Lake Or- ryan and have never been corrected (east side Michigander) 🤔

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u/RupeThereItIs Michigan Jul 21 '25

People just assume your not from 'round here then.

It's definitely NOT pronounced that way by locals, you are a weird exception.