Ivory Coast or Côte d'Ivoire?

[Thudlow_Boink]

@Jackmannii

“Ivory Coast” (which sounds like someone slipping on a bar of soap)

Two bars.

[carrps]

@bob_2

There are also many places that are widely pronounced differently to the way locals say it: Paris/Paree New Or-le-ans/Noo Or-linz and many many others.

Isn’t that Nawlins? That’s what a native New Orleans-er taught me.

[Jackmannii]

Louisville is Lou-a-vull 'round these parts, and Versailles is Ver-sales.

[Schnitte]

@carrps

a native New Orleans-er

A New Orleanian, according to Wikipedia. It’s a bit sad that British practices of forming demonyms for cities (Manchester → Mancunian, Cambridge → Cantabrigian, Liverpool → Liverpudlian) haven’t spread to the United States; would be so much cooler.

[carrps]

@Jackmannii

Louisville is Lou-a-vull 'round these parts, and Versailles is Ver-sales.

I was told it was Lou-vull – just two syllables! I also learned from the mother of a friend (whose native state it was) that it’s MizZURa, never MizzurEE.

[Zakalwe]

@Schnitte

A New Orleanian, according to Wikipedia. It’s a bit sad that British practices of forming demonyms for cities (Manchester → Mancunian, Cambridge → Cantabrigian, Liverpool → Liverpudlian) haven’t spread to the United States; would be so much cooler.

Person: “What do you call people from New Orleans? New Orleaners? New Orleanians?”
Person from New Orleans: “People from New Orleans.”

Actually, what I’ve usually heard them referred to is ‘Natives’.
“You Native?”
“Yeah, you?”
“Yeah”

[LSLGuy]

@carrps

I also learned from the mother of a friend (whose native state it was) that it’s MizZURa, never MizzurEE.

Having lived there for 20+ years the above is far more controversial than you might imagine.

Summarizing mightily:

• The more populous the local area or the more to the east, the more MizzurEE is correct and the other pronunciation marks you out as an ignorant yokel from the sticks.
• The less populous the local area or the more to the west, the more MizZURa is correct and the other pronunciation marks you out as a city slicker or immigrant to the state, not a real Missourian.

[hajario]

@Jackmannii

Louisville is Lou-a-vull 'round these parts,

That’s in Kentucky of course.

Louisville, Colorado is pronounced Loo-iss-vill

[carrps]

@LSLGuy

Having lived there for 20+ years the above is far more controversial than you might imagine.

Summarizing mightily:

• The more populous the local area or the more to the east, the more MizzurEE is correct and the other pronunciation marks you out as an ignorant yokel from the sticks.
• The less populous the local area or the more to the west, the more MizZURa is correct and the other pronunciation marks you out as a city slicker or immigrant to the state, not a real Missourian.

These were people who hadn’t lived in Missouri for probably 40 years, and that was like 20 years ago. Maybe more common then?

[Acsenray]

@LSLGuy

Having lived there for 20+ years the above is far more controversial than you might imagine.

Summarizing mightily:

• The more populous the local area or the more to the east, the more MizzurEE is correct and the other pronunciation marks you out as an ignorant yokel from the sticks.
• The less populous the local area or the more to the west, the more MizZURa is correct and the other pronunciation marks you out as a city slicker or immigrant to the state, not a real Missourian.

@carrps

These were people who hadn’t lived in Missouri for probably 40 years, and that was like 20 years ago. Maybe more common then?

I think it’s also an older pronunciation.

In Southwestern Ohio, there’s a similar thing. Back in the 1970s, older people, like in their 40s and 50s, would say Miamuh Valley, Uhhiuh. That pronunciation has pretty much died out for Miamee Valley, Ohhioh.

[LSLGuy]

I’d bet your onto something with that. The distinct local dialects that were commonplace across the country in the e.g. 1950s are fading under the combined sustained onslaught of mass media, greater public mobility, and higher average education levels.

There certainly are still accents and vernacular all across the country. But not like there used to be.

[carrps]

@Acsenray

That pronunciation has pretty much died out for Miam ee Valley, Oh hi oh .

Yeah, I have relatives in Ohio, and I remember visiting as a kid and being told it’s Uh-HI-uh, not O-HI-o.

It’s round on the ends and high in the middle, it’s O Hi O.