Whether you’re a visitor driving through the state or a lifelong Floridian, there’s bound to be a few city and town names that will leave you stumped.
Florida is a state rich in history, a history that begins with the state’s own name. Juan Ponce de Leon arrived near Florida’s shore in April 1513, close to Easter, and called the new land La Pascua de la Florida.
The names of many Florida cities and landmarks also reflect the Sunshine State’s history, with many names coming from Spanish, European and Indigenous communities. But they might not roll off the tongue as easily as “Miami,” “Orlando,” or “Tampa” do.
Here’s how to pronounce some of the more challenging towns and cities across the Sunshine State.
Apalachicola
Bokeelia
Dunedin
Immokalee
Kissimmee
Lutz
Masaryktown
Matlacha
Micanopy
Rio
Steinhatchee
Thonotosassa
Wausau
Wewahitchka
Wimauma
Ybor
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: How to pronounce Florida’s most challenging city and town names
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
