If You Can Pronounce These 9 Words, You’ve Lived In Utah For Far Too Long

Learn how to correctly pronounce some of the most commonly mispronounced town names in Utah.

There are many ways to spot a native Utahn, but one of the easiest? Just listen to how they pronounciate many of the unique towns and cities that are scattered around the Beehive State. If you can correctly say (and even spell!) many of the following hard-to-say Utah words, it's one sign you've lived in the Beehive State for far too long. Let’s see how well you can do.

1. Tooele

Alright, let’s start with one of the most commonly mispronounced towns in Utah — Tooele. While it may look like you should say too-el, this town is actually pronounced too-wil-a.

2. Tremonton

Tremonton is near the Idaho and Utah state line and is where I-15 and I-84 merge. As you drive through, locals will quickly tell you're visiting if you call the town trem-on-ton. This small town is actually pronounced tree-monton. The "tree" is very important in this town’s name.

3. Oquirrh

Separating Tooele from the Salt Lake Valley are the Oquirrh Mountains. While beautiful, they can be a challenge to say. These mountains are correctly pronounced o-ker.

4. Enoch

While you may be tempted to say you are visiting the small town of e-knock, it is actually pronounced e-nik.

5. Duchesne

Out-of-state visitors and newbies to Utah may not even know where to begin when pronouncing Duchesne, so let us help. You pronounce this small central Utah town du-shane.

6. Ephraim

Ephraim is another unusual name that may be difficult to say and just as challenging to spell. Just make sure you say e-from so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb.

7. Mantua

You may be tempted to call this town man-to-a, but that would be so wrong. It is actually pronounced man-a-way.

8. Nephi

Nephi can be a struggle to say. It is not ne-fee like so many individuals want to say. Rather, it is knee-fi.

9. Scipio

As you are driving on I-15 and need to stop and stretch your legs, you are not stopping in skip-eo. Rather, you are stopping in sip-eo. Strange, we know.

What other towns and cities in Utah have names that are challenging to say? Did we leave any off of our list? Let us know in the comments! And, if you want to expand your vocabulary even more, check out these 20 words you'll only understand if you are from Utah.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories