Louisiana’s has a deep history with both Native Americans and the French, and you’ll see those influences everywhere. If you’re from here, then these words will be a piece of cake for you to pronounce, but tourists and newbies may stumble over a word or two.
- Tchoupitoulas
Amy Roberton/Flickr Tourists certainly have a tough time with this one. It’s “CHOP-uh-too-lus.”
- Natchitoches
Kent Kanouse/Flickr Louisiana’s oldest permanent settlement is pronounced “NACK-o-dish.”
- Tchefuncte
Edd Prince/Flickr About 70 miles long, the name of this river is derived from the word “Hachofaki,” which is the Choctaw word for the American chinquapin, a plant that was used to relieve headaches and fevers. This one is pronounced “chuh-FUNK-tah.”
- Tangipahoa
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr Whether you’re referring to the parish or the river, Tangipahoa comes from an Acolapissa word meaning “ear of corn” or “those who gather corn”. It’s pronounced “Tang-uh-pah-hoa.”
- Opelousas
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM This one may look tricky, but just sound it out and you’ll be fine. It’s “Op-el-oo-sas.”
- Atchafalaya
Flickr/rumpelstiltskin1 The nation’s largest river swamp may have a funny name but it’s pronounced “At-cha-fuh-laya.”
- Grosse Tete
GoogleMaps This one certainly cocks a few eyebrows. It’s “Gross TATE.”
- Pontchartrain
Flickr/Barry Goble Fun fact: the lake was originally named Okwata by local Native Americans which meant “wide water,” but its modern moniker is pronounced “Pon-cha-train.”
- New Orleans
Thomas Hawk/Flickr You’d think this one out be a no-brainer, but there are actually two different pronunciations, depending on what you’re referring to. If you’re talking about the parish, then its pronounced “New Or-LEENS” (rhymes with jeans). If you’re talking about the city, then go with “New or-LINDZ.”
- Ouachita
Flickr/Jonathan Ball “Wash-ah-taw.” Not so hard, right?
- Burgundy
GoogleMaps This New Orleans street has been giving tourists a hard time for years. You would think it’s pronounced like the color, but no, that would be too easy. Put the emphasis in the middle and say “Bur-GUN-dee.”
Well, how’d you do? Did you score 11/11? Let us know in the comments below! If there are other hard to pronounce Louisiana names that you know of that didn’t make this list, share them too (and don’t forget to tell us how you say them)!
Amy Roberton/Flickr
Tourists certainly have a tough time with this one. It’s “CHOP-uh-too-lus.”
Kent Kanouse/Flickr
Louisiana’s oldest permanent settlement is pronounced “NACK-o-dish.”
Edd Prince/Flickr
About 70 miles long, the name of this river is derived from the word “Hachofaki,” which is the Choctaw word for the American chinquapin, a plant that was used to relieve headaches and fevers. This one is pronounced “chuh-FUNK-tah.”
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
Whether you’re referring to the parish or the river, Tangipahoa comes from an Acolapissa word meaning “ear of corn” or “those who gather corn”. It’s pronounced “Tang-uh-pah-hoa.”
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
This one may look tricky, but just sound it out and you’ll be fine. It’s “Op-el-oo-sas.”
Flickr/rumpelstiltskin1
The nation’s largest river swamp may have a funny name but it’s pronounced “At-cha-fuh-laya.”
GoogleMaps
This one certainly cocks a few eyebrows. It’s “Gross TATE.”
Flickr/Barry Goble
Fun fact: the lake was originally named Okwata by local Native Americans which meant “wide water,” but its modern moniker is pronounced “Pon-cha-train.”
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
You’d think this one out be a no-brainer, but there are actually two different pronunciations, depending on what you’re referring to. If you’re talking about the parish, then its pronounced “New Or-LEENS” (rhymes with jeans). If you’re talking about the city, then go with “New or-LINDZ.”
Flickr/Jonathan Ball
“Wash-ah-taw.” Not so hard, right?
This New Orleans street has been giving tourists a hard time for years. You would think it’s pronounced like the color, but no, that would be too easy. Put the emphasis in the middle and say “Bur-GUN-dee.”
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