Given Michigan’s deep history and various cities, villages and streets big and small, there are names and pronunciations that, to this day, still trip many people up.
You know this if you remember trying to say “Sault Ste. Marie” for the first time. Or the time you got laughed at when you pronounced Charlotte like the North Carolina city or Milan the way it looks.
Thankfully, the State of Michigan has a full database of pronunciations for cities, townships, street names and even famous people. It’s complete with quick audio files so you can listen for yourself how things are pronounced.
For our purposes, we pulled out 50 notable Michigan roads and destinations you might not be saying correctly. Use the database for more pronunciations where you might want clarification.
1. Mackinac
Most everyone knows the C is silent and you pronounce this like the way the name Mackinaw City looks: “Mack-in-awe.” (Listen)
2. Sault Ste. Marie
The first word of this notable Upper Peninsula town trips many people up. It’s “Sue Saint Marie.” (Listen)
3. Ontonagon
This Upper Peninsula county, which features the Porcupine Mountains, is pronounced “On-ton-ogg-on.” (Listen)
4. Charlotte
No, it’s not pronounced like in the children’s book or the North Carolina city. It’s “char-LOT.” (Listen)
5. Dowagiac
This small southwestern Michigan city, near the Indiana border, is pronounced “doe-wah-jak.” (Listen)
6. Okemos
It’s easy to miss this Lansing suburb: “Oh-kuh-muss.” (Listen)
7. Ypsilanti
If you’re saying “yip” at the front, you’re doing it wrong. It’s “ip-sill-ann-tee.” (Listen)
8. Kitch-iti-kipi Springs
Talk about a tongue-twister! That first word is “kitch-iti-kip-ee.” Don’t forget about that extra “i” sound. (Listen)
9. Dequindre
Now let’s turn to street names! This metro Detroit road is “duh-QUIN-durr.” (Listen)
10. Lahser
Here’s another metro Detroit street name that a lot of people get wrong. It’s “lah-sir.” (Listen)
11. Milan
Most get this southeastern Michigan city name wrong by emphasizing “LAN.” It’s actually pronounced “my-Lynn.” (Listen)
12. Lake Orion
It’s not like the constellation. It’s “Lake oh-ree-en.” (Listen)
13. Hamtramck
There’s a hidden I sound in the name of this Polish city. It’s “ham-tram-ick.” (Listen)
14. Houghton
Both the Upper Peninsula city and Michigan’s largest inland lake are pronounced “ho-ten.” (Listen)
15. Gratiot
This is another tricky one. The street name – and fort – is pronounced “grash-it.” (Listen)
16. Gaylord
You don’t pronounce it “lord” at the end of this northern Michigan city name. It’s “gay-lerd.” (Listen)
17. Lake Gogebic
The largest inland lake of the Upper Peninsula is pronounced “goh-ghib-ick.” (Listen)
18. Schoenherr
This major metro Detroit road is pronounced “Shane-err.” (Listen)
19. Ewing
This small township in Marquette County has a Y sound in front: “Yoo-ing.” (Listen)
20. Keweenaw
Put the long E sound in the first syllable, not the second. It’s “kee-win-awe.” (Listen)
21. Bois Blanc Island
This one trips many people up, in Michigan and out: Bois Blanc is known as “Bob-low.” Yes, really. That said, you might hear many people pronounce it as “boys blank.” (Listen)
22. Ocqueoc
This northern Michigan township, which hosts the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula, is pronounced “ah-key-ock.” (Listen)
23. Grosse Ile
The first word of this metro Detroit township is what you expect: “Gross.” But the second word is “eel.” (Listen)
24. Onekama
This small town near Lake Michigan is “oh-neck-em-uh.” (Listen)
25. Saline
No city received more suggestions than this one. It’s “suh-LEAN,” not “SAY-lean.” (Listen)
26. Clio
It’s not pronounced “cleo.” It’s “CLY-oh.” Rhymes with Ohio. Sadly. (Listen)
27. Presque Isle
This northern Michigan county is pronounced “Presk eel.” (Listen)
28. Tecumseh
Here’s another one that naturally trips people up upon first saying. This southern Michigan town is “Teh-COME-see.” (Listen)
29. Mio
This one’s “MY-oh,” not “me-oh.” Rhymes with Clio. And Ohio. Sadly. (Listen)
30. Pompeii
This super-small community, found between Ithaca and St. Johns along US-127, is “pomp-ee-EYE.” (Listen)
31. Sebewaing
If you’re using three syllables, you’re doing it wrong! It’s “SEEB-wing.” (Listen)
32. Onondaga
We got a lot of suggestions for this one, too, but it’s not too difficult: “ON-en-DAY-guh.” (Listen)
33. Topinabee
Those who live or like to camp near Mullett Lake are very familiar with this one. It’s “Top-in-AH-bee.” (Listen)
34. L’Anse
Whether it’s the Upper Peninsula city or bay, it’s “Lons.” (Listen)
35. Quanicassee
This little community along the Saginaw Bay, near the Thumb, is “KWAN-ick-uh-see.” (Listen)
36. Seul Choix Point
This is expert mode right here. Let’s see if we can spell this out right: “Sish-WA Point.” (Listen)
37. Baraga
Another tricky county name! “Bear-uh-guh.” (Listen)
38. Charlevoix
Look, most people get this right (along with the next few we share), but just in case those French names have you twisted, it’s “SHAR-leh-voy.” (Listen)
39. Ishpeming
This one’e easier than it looks, but we received some requests for it anyway: It’s “ISH-peh-ming.” (Listen)
40. Mesick
Don’t overthink this one, either. It’s “ME-sick.” That easy. (Listen)
41. Pokagon
This southwestern Michigan township, located close to another difficult name, Dowagiac, is “Poe-KAY-gun.” (Listen)
42. Hiawatha
This Upper Peninsula township and national forest is pronounced “Hi-uh-WAH-thuh.” (Listen)
43. Michigamme
Yes, this community exists — up in Marquette county. It’s “Mish-i-GAH-me.” (Listen)
44. Calumet
Pronounce the “t” for this Upper Peninsula town. It’s “cal-you-met.” (Listen)
45. Les Cheneaux Islands
The archipelago about 30 miles from the Mackinac Bridge starts “lay-shin-oh.” Les Cheneaux is French for “the channels.” (Listen)
46. Livernois
Like in Illinois, don’t pronounce the “s.” It’s “liver-noy.” (Listen)
47. Interlochen
This Grand Traverse County community, known for the Interlochen Center for the Arts and for Interlochen State Park, is “inter-lock-in.” (Listen)
48. Westphalia
The Clinton County village named by German settlers is pronounced “west-fail-yuh.” (Listen)
49. Michiganian
It’s “Michigander.”
50. Soda
It’s pronounced “pop.”
Send your favorite Michigan mispronunciations to Brian Manzullo: [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan pronunciation guide: 50 names may be saying wrong
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