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.
Many of these names refer to places around Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. You know this if you remember trying to say “Sault Ste. Marie” for the first time. Or if you used the standard French pronunciation for Bois Blanc Island, located in northern Lake Huron.
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 26 notable Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula location names 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. 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)
5. Houghton
Both the Upper Peninsula city and Michigan’s largest inland lake are pronounced “ho-ten.” (Listen)
6. Gaylord
You don’t pronounce it “lord” at the end of this northern Michigan city name. It’s “gay-lerd.” (Listen)
7. Lake Gogebic
The largest inland lake of the Upper Peninsula is pronounced “goh-ghib-ick.” (Listen)
8. Ewing
This small township in Marquette County has a Y sound in front: “Yoo-ing.” (Listen)
9. Keweenaw
Put the long E sound in the first syllable, not the second. It’s “kee-win-awe.” (Listen)
10. 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)
11. Ocqueoc
This northern Michigan township, which hosts the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula, is pronounced “ah-key-ock.” (Listen)
12. Onekama
This small town near Lake Michigan is “oh-neck-em-uh.” (Listen)
13. Presque Isle
This northern Michigan county is pronounced “Presk eel.” (Listen)
14. Mio
This one’s “MY-oh,” not “me-oh.” Rhymes with Ohio. Sadly. (Listen)
15. Topinabee
Those who live or like to camp near Mullett Lake are very familiar with this one. It’s “Top-in-AH-bee.” (Listen)
16. L’Anse
Whether it’s the Upper Peninsula city or bay, it’s “Lons.” (Listen)
17. Seul Choix Point
This is expert mode right here. Let’s see if we can spell this out right: “Sish-WA Point.” (Listen)
18. Baraga
Another tricky county name! “Bear-uh-guh.” (Listen)
19. 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)
20. Ishpeming
This one’e easier than it looks, but we received some requests for it anyway: It’s “ISH-peh-ming.” (Listen)
21. Mesick
Don’t overthink this one, either. It’s “ME-sick.” That easy. (Listen)
22. Hiawatha
This Upper Peninsula township and national forest is pronounced “Hi-uh-WAH-thuh.” (Listen)
23. Michigamme
Yes, this community exists — up in Marquette county. It’s “Mish-i-GAH-me.” (Listen)
24. Calumet
Pronounce the “t” for this Upper Peninsula town. It’s “cal-you-met.” (Listen)
25. Les Cheneaux Islands
The archipelago about 30 miles from the Mackinac Bridge starts “lay-shin-oh.” Les Cheneaux is French for “the channels.” (Listen)
26. Interlochen
This Grand Traverse County community, known for the Interlochen Center for the Arts and for Interlochen State Park, is “inter-lock-in.” (Listen)
Send your favorite Michigan mispronunciations to Brian Manzullo: bmanzullo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: A pronunciation guide: 26 Northern Michigan and U.P. place names you may be saying wrong
Reporting by Brian Manzullo and Ryan Bentley, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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