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You Ain't From Around Here, Are Ya?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Providence Group Realty TREC# 0608931

Texas is rich in cultural diversity. While standard and intuitive pronounciation is often used, mispronouncing colloquial names is a dead give away that you aren't familiar with the local area.

Want to blend in?

Step 1: Don't listen to your GPS. It doesn't know how to speak Texan.

Step 2: Read this list of commonly mispronounced names of Texas places, and practice!

 

Humble

Suburb of North Houston -- Locals call it "um-bull"

Mexia

City in Texas -- Locals call it "muh-hay-uh"

Tuam Street

Street in Houston -- Locals call it "two-um"

Manchaca Road

Street in Austin -- Locals call it "man-shack" road

Fuqua Street

Street in Houston -- Locals call it "few-kway"

Nacogdoches

City in Texas -- Locals call it "nak-ah-doh-chuss"

Kuykendahl Road

Street in Houston -- Locals call it "kerr-kun-doll"

Refugio

City in Texas -- Locals call it "re-fury-oh"

Manor Road

Street in Austin -- Locals call it "main-er" road

Palacios

City in Texas -- Locals call it "pah-lay-shus"

Pedernales

State Park in Texas -- Locals call it "purd-nah-liss"

Elgin

City in Texas -- Locals call it "el-gun"

Buda

City in Texas -- Locals call it "byoo-dah"

Bosque

County in Texas -- Locals call it "boss-key"

Boerne

City in Texas -- Locals call it "burn-knee"

Waxahachie

City in Texas -- Locals call it "wox-uh-hatch-ee"

Bowie

City in Texas -- Locals call it "boo-ee"

New Braunfels

City in Texas -- Locals call it "new brawn-fulls"

Guadalupe

River in Texas -- Locals call it the "gwa-dah-loop"

Bexar

County in Texas -- Locals call it "Bear"

Study Butte

City in Texas -- Locals call it "stew-dee byoot"

Gruene

City in Texas -- Locals call it "green"

Burnet

City in Texas -- Locals call it "burn it"

Nevada

City in Texas -- Locals call it "nuh-vay-duh"

Balmorhea

City in Texas -- Locals call it "bal-more-ray"

Pflugerville

City in Texas -- Locals call it "flu-gur-ville"

Palestine

City in Texas -- Locals call it "pal-ess-steen"

Waco

City in Texas -- Locals call it "way-co"

Llano

City and County in Texas -- Locals call it "lan-oh"

Miami

City in Texas -- Locals call it "my-am-uh"

Leakey

City in Texas -- Locals call it "lay-kee"

Iraan

City in Texas -- Locals call it "ira-ann"

Dumas

City in Texas -- Locals call it "doo-miss"

Goldthwaite

City in Texas -- Locals call it "goalth-wait"

Amarillo

City in Texas -- Locals call it "am-ah-rill-oh"

Marathon

City in Texas -- Locals call it "mare-uh-thun"

Pecos

City in Texas -- Locals call it "pay-cuss"

New Berlin

City in Texas -- Locals call it "new burr-luhn"

Jourdanton

City in Texas -- Locals call it "jer-den-tuhn"

San Marcos

City in Texas -- Locals call it "san mar-cuss"

Salado

City in Texas -- Locals call it "suh-LAY-doe"

Lake Buchanan

Lake in Texas -- Locals call it "lake Buck-CAN-nun"

Blanco

City in Texas -- Locals call it "blank-oh"

Agua Duce

City in Texas -- Locals call it "ah-wuh DEWL-sih"

Quitaque

City in Texas -- Locals call it "KIT-uh-kway"

Bolivar

Community in Texas -- Locals call it "BALL-ih-vur"

Natalia

City in Texas -- Locals call it "Nuh-Tal-yuh"

Knippa

Town in Texas -- Locals call it "kuh-NIP-uh"

Erath

County in Texas -- Locals call it "EE-rath"

Luckenback

Town in Texas -- Locals call it "LEW-kin-bock"

Montague

County in Texas -- Locals call it "mahn-tayg"

Lorena

City in Texas -- Locals call it "loh-ree-nuh"

Aquilla

City in Texas -- Locals call it "uh-KWILL-uh"

Uvalde

City and County in Texas -- Locals call it "you-vhal-dee"

Tivoli

Community in Texas -- Locals call it "tih-VO-luh"

Alvarado

City in Texas -- Locals call it "al-vuh-ray-doe"

Seguin

City in Texas -- Locals call it "si-GHEEN"

Anahuac

City in Texas -- Locals call it "AN-uh-wack"

Bedais

City in Texas -- Locals call it "BEE-dice"

Celina

City in Texas -- Locals call it "suh-LIE-nuh"

Nocona

City in Texas -- Locals call it "nuh-COE-nuh"

Marquez

City in Texas -- Locals call it "mar-KAY"

Latexo

City in Texas -- Locals call it "luh-TEX-oh"

Lillian

Community in Texas -- Locals call it "LIL-yun"

Tulia

City in Texas -- Locals call it "TOOL-yuh"

Jiba

Community in Texas -- Locals call it "HEE-buh"

Santa Elena

Community in Texas -- Locals call it "san-tuh LEE-nuh"

Quemado

Community in Texas -- Locals call it "kuh-MAY-doh"

Cibolo

City in Texas -- Locals call it "See-o-lo"

Coahoma

Town in Texas -- Locals call it "kuh-HO-muh"

Muenster

City in Texas -- Locals call it "MYEWNS-ter"

Carmine

City in Texas -- Locals call it "kar-MEEN"

Levita

Town in Texas -- Locals call it "luh-VIE-tuh"

Italy

City in Texas -- Locals call it "IT-lee"

Lamesa

City in Texas -- Locals call it "La-MEE-suh"

San Jacinto

Street in Houston -- Locals call it "San Juh-SIN-toe"

Kamay

Town in Texas -- Locals call it "KAY-im-ay"

Lancaster

City in Texas -- Locals call it "LANG-kus-ter"

Plano

City in Texas -- Locals call it "plane-oh"

 

For more fun, check out the Texas Almanac Pronounciation Guide. You too can learn to speak Texan and sound like a local no matter where you kick off your boots at night.

 

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Terrific post, Amanda. We have some of this local "language" in North Carolina, as well. I've always loved how they pronounce Lenoir as Lenore, for example.

Apr 30, 2016 04:45 AM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Amanda, I just loved reading through your list of Texan pronunciations.  

I did fairly decent on your list and know that you DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS when it comes to mispronouncing the names of your towns and cities!

BTW, should you have included the pronunciation of:   YOU ALL  ????

Apr 30, 2016 04:59 AM
Amanda Thomas

That's right, Bruce Walter ... you'd better say it wrong to get it right!

Apr 30, 2016 05:02 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I would half fit in based on the way I pronounce some on your list.

Apr 30, 2016 05:11 AM
Amanda Thomas

Why, Chris Ann Cleland, we're pretty sure you'd fit in just fine! <3 

Apr 30, 2016 05:14 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I once worked with a woman, who had a background similar to Professor Henry Higgens (My Fair Lady).  She could listen to people talk and tell with accuracy what part of the country they came from.  It was all very interesting.

Apr 30, 2016 06:17 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Amanda- born and raised in Houston, so I am very familiar with this.   It wasn't until I was about 13 when I realized that ya'll  wasn't spoken everywhere.  

Apr 30, 2016 06:30 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Amanda Thomas Thanks so much for the primer that's (pry-myr) for you Texas folk! Just thought I'd a hep you along fer a bit!

Apr 30, 2016 09:25 AM
Amanda Thomas

Snort! Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI -- that's a quick study! Well done! :-) LOL!

Apr 30, 2016 09:27 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

 

                 Thank you Amanda Thomas for my ah-ha moment. 

Apr 30, 2016 10:47 AM
Amanda Thomas

Thank you so much, Kathy Streib ! I was going for that "ha-ha" moment, but an "ah-ha" moment is quite an honor!  :-)

Apr 30, 2016 12:13 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Very fun post.  I'm familiar with a lot of this since my brother lived in The Woodlands for 15 years and I visited often.

Apr 30, 2016 09:39 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Wow, this is a fun list and if I"m going to be visiting the area, would definitely read that up front! I glanced at a few of them and the way I pronounced them was totally wrong. Thanks for sharing.

Apr 30, 2016 09:59 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Amanda Thomas ,

I'm so glad I caught this on Kathy Streib's "Ah-ha" moments for the week! Hilarious but so true!!!

Apr 30, 2016 11:46 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Thanks to Kathy I was able to see your post this week..congrats on being included in her wrap up!

May 01, 2016 12:10 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Howdy, Amanda -- I yondered over har cos this here post was featured in Kathy Streib's weekly lightbulb post.   While I've never been to Texas -- yet -- I now feel better prepared.   

May 01, 2016 01:23 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Well I had no idea, but then why would I!  I've never been to Texas!

May 01, 2016 02:11 AM
Sherri Gold
Coastal Carolina Real Estate Services - Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach/Conway South Carolina

I wish I had a list like this for so many places that I have moved to or visited!

Could have saved myself a lot of embarrassment! Love it!

May 01, 2016 02:43 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Amanda, I love this!  I think I should keep a copy of it in my car so I am certain to pronounce these locations the Texas Way!

Is there any chance you can join us for lunch Tuesday for the Dallas Meet-up at Neighborhood Services Restaurant in Addison at 11:30?  So far there are  three of us attending.

May 01, 2016 05:32 PM