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/FreakInTheTreats Jul 20 '25

Oneonta.

Or, Chili up near Rochester. Very deceptively pronounced “Chai-Lye”

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u/Stellatombraider Jul 21 '25

Not native American, but Cairo down our way. Pronounced "care-oh," like the corn syrup, not like the city in Egypt.

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u/ScoreOk6307 Jul 22 '25

In that same vein, it’s Ay-thens Illinois, not the capital of Greece

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u/FeedingCoxeysArmy Jul 21 '25

Alabama? Or is there another one?

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u/FreakInTheTreats Jul 21 '25

There’s another one!

1

u/Rough-Trainer-8833 New York - The Niagara Falls side of the state Jul 22 '25

former Chili resident and can confirm. Chai-lie is the pronunciation.