Never Mispronounce These 16 Words In Front Of A Wisconsinite

If we listed every part of the state with a Native American root to its name, this would be a very long list, but those town, river and location names seem to be the words that most confuse people when they're here in the Dairy State. Usually, it's an accent (or lack thereof) that is the first telltale sign someone isn't a Wisconsinite, but it's also really fun and funny to give them a list of local town names and ask them to say them aloud.

Here's a pretty good list of the toughest words for out-of-towners to pronounce:

1. Wisconsin

I'd have thought this one wasn't that difficult, but somehow folks find a myriad of ways to say Wisconsin wrong. There's no E and it's certainly not "West-consin."

2, Bagel/Bag

Our nasally midwestern twang seems to be the most pronounced on these two. When we say it, there's a Y in there, plus maybe a couple of extra A's.

3. Ashwaubenon

Maybe it's because saying them is second nature, but I've never thought our town names were that complicated. I don't know how else you'd say this, but it trips up out of towners.

4. Sheboygan

Much like Ashwaubenon, this one seems like it shouldn't be too tricky and should be said pretty much as written, but out of towners can't handle it.

5, Oconomowoc

All those O's really trip folks up - I think it's the multiple syllables here that's the issue.

6. Brat/Bratwurst

As soon as someone says this similar to the word for an unruly child, we know they're not from around these parts.

7. Milwaukee

Milwaukeeans tend to drop the L and sort of mush that beginning part of their city name so that it comes out a bit more "Muhwaukee." Anyone going hard on that first syllable and hitting the L is definitely not a native.

8. Nueske's

Who cares how you say it, it's just darn delicious!

9. Racine

Language rules say this should be a long A as in "Raycine" but locals know it's more "Ruhcine."

10. Weyauwega

Admittedly, I know this one because they make delicious cheese here.

11. Waukesha

The actual pronunciation adds a W to the end so it's "Walk-uh-shaw" but folks not from here like to make that a long E as in "Walk-E-sha."

12. Wauwatosa

That repeated syllable is rough for folks, but even if they get it right, you can tell non-natives by the lack of nasal O on "Tosa."

13. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

To pronounce the T or not to pronounce the T? This is one of those that's just intimidating to look at and it doesn't help that there doesn't seem to be a consensus on whether it's "Nicolay" or "NicoleT."

14. Favre

You'd think his fame reached far enough to overcome anyone not knowing who Brett Favre is and how to say his name. To be fair, the way you say it makes absolutely no sense given how it's spelled.

15. Mukwonago

Another Native word that trips folks up.

16. Trempealeau

I always, always have to double-check how to spell Trempealeau.

What other words do folks trip up on that let you know they aren't from around here? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for more ways to tell is someone is native? Show them these memes and see whether or not they laugh!