Local Pronunciations Across America
Local pronunciations can differ for place names, and locals use these pronunciations to differentiate outsiders. If you know of other local/outsider pronunciations, please email us at wvdialectproject@gmail.com.
Here are some examples of the phonetic pronunciations of local place names. The funny-looking words in brackets are in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) format. We have included the pronunciations of the words for convenience, but you will start noticing patterns between the two as you read:
Rio, WV
Local: [ɹaɪo] r·eye·oh
Non-local: [ɹio] r·ee·oh
Iager, WV
Local: [jeɡɹ] yay·gurr
Non-local: [aɪgɹ] eye·gurr
Kanawha County, WV
Local: [kənɔ] kuh·naw
Non-local: [kænɔwə] kan·aw·uh
Hurricane, WV
Local: [hɹəkɪn] hurr·uh·kin
Non-local: [hɹɪken] hurr·ik·ayn
Kure Beach, NC
Local: [kjʊəri] kyuu·uh·ree
Non-local: [kɹi] kurr·ee
Robeson County, NC
Local: [ɹabɪsən] rob·ih·suhn
Non-local: [ɹobɪsən] roh·bih·suhn
Beaufort, NC vs. Beaufort, SC
NC: [boʊfəɹt] b·ow·fert
SC: [bjufəɹt] b·yew·fert
McDowell County, WV
Local: [mækdawəl] mak·dow·uhl
Non-local: [məkdawəl] mik·dow·uhl
Minooka, IL
Local: [mɪnʊkə] min·uu·kuh
Non-local: [mɪnukə] min·oo·kuh
Illinois
Local: [ɪlɪnoɪ] il·in·oy
Non-local: [ɪlɪnoɪs] il·in·oyz
Williamette River, OR
Local: [wɪlæmɪt] wil·am·it
Non-local: [wɪljəmɛt] wil·yuhm·et
Louisville, KY
Local: [luːəvəl] / [ləvəl] loo·uh·vuhl / luh·vuhl
Non-local: [luːiːvɪl] loo·ee·vil
Clemson, SC
Local: [klɛmpsɪn] kl·ehmp·sin
Non-local: [klɛmzən] kl·ehm·zuhn
Bangor, ME
Local: [bæŋɡoɹ] bay·ng·or
Non-local: [bæŋɹ] bay·ng·er
Horry County, SC
Local: [ɔri] or·ee
Non-local: [hɔri] hor·ee
Minooka, IL
Local: [mɪnʊkə] min·uh·kuh
Non-local: [mɪnukə] min·oo·kuh
Quebec
Local: [kebɛk] kay·behk
Non-local: [kwəbɛk] kwuh·behk
Putnam County, WV
Local: [pətmεn] puht·mehn
Non-local: [pətnəm] puht·nuhm
Corridor G, WV
Local: [koɹtɹdʒi] kor·ter·jee
Non-local: [koɹɪdoɹdʒi] kor·rid·or·jee