We Dare You to Say These 10 Oklahoma Places Correctly on Your First Try (Spoiler: You Can’t)

Here are 10 Oklahoma places that are famously hard to pronounce correctly on the first try, along with their proper pronunciations and some background:

1. Tecumseh
   Pronounced “ti-KUM-suh” or “teh-KUM-see” (less common). Named after the Shawnee chief Tecumseh. Many people mispronounce it as “to come see” or “teck-um-seh,” but the correct local pronunciation is closer to “ti-KUM-suh”.
2. Chautauqua
   Pronounced “sha-TAW-kwuh.” It is a street in Norman, Oklahoma, and the name is of Native American origin, though not necessarily tied to a tribe in Oklahoma. It’s often mispronounced due to its unusual spelling and sound pattern.
3. Potawatomi
   Pronounced “pot-uh-WAH-toh-mee.” This is a Native American tribe and also a county name in Oklahoma. The Potawatomi language is Algonquian, and the name is often shortened colloquially to “Pot County” by locals.
4. Eufaula
   Pronounced “yoo-FAW-luh.” It is a city and lake named after the Eufaula tribe, part of the Muscogee (Creek) confederacy. The name is often mispronounced by outsiders unfamiliar with Native American languages.
5. Okmulgee
   Pronounced “oak-MUL-gee.” This town is the capital of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The name means “boiling waters,” related to hot springs. Many people mispronounce it as “ock-muhl-gee” or “ok-mul-gee”.
6. Choctaw
   Pronounced “chock-taw.” It is both a town and a Native American nation. While it seems straightforward, some people mispronounce it or vary the emphasis.
7. Okarche
   Pronounced “oh-KAR-chee.” This small town’s name is a combination of Oklahoma, Arapaho, and Cheyenne tribes. It is often mispronounced due to its unique origin and spelling.
8. Ouachita
   Pronounced “wash-uh-tuh.” This name is difficult because it looks nothing like it sounds. It is a Native American name and often butchered by non-locals.
9. Bokchito
   Pronounced “bohk-CHEE-tuh.” It means “big creek” in the Choctaw language. This town’s name is often mispronounced because of its unusual spelling and Native American roots.
10. Miami (Oklahoma)
    Pronounced “MY-am-uh,” different from Miami, Florida. This is a common stumbling block for visitors and even some residents.

Additional commonly mispronounced towns include Cache (“cash”), Chickasha (“chick-uh-shay”), and Sapulpa (“suh-PUL-puh”).

These place names often stem from Native American languages and have pronunciations that differ significantly from their spellings, making them challenging for newcomers and even some locals to say correctly on their first try1.

In summary, mastering these Oklahoma place names requires attention to their Native American linguistic roots and local pronunciations, which are frequently counterintuitive to English speakers unfamiliar with the region.

Sources:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RtZC7ijAsQ
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A-fYFDSjc8
3. https://www.howtopronounce.com/chautauqua-county
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potawatomi
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eufaula,_Oklahoma
6. https://z94.com/hard-to-pronounce-oklahoma-towns/
7. https://www.howtopronounce.com/tecumseh