9 Vermont Words You Are Probably Pronouncing Wrong

The weather, access to outdoor activities, maple syrup, and people are just a few of the many things that make the state of Vermont truly one-of-a-kind. Along with these attractions, Vermont is home to many fun and interesting words that are unique to the state. While they might be challenging for a visitor to pronounce, it's also a sign that you call Vermont home if you're able to say the following Vermont place names and phrases correctly. How is your Vermont words pronunciation? Let's find out.

1. Vermont

You might be surprised to learn that Vermonters don't pronounce the "t" in Vermont. Instead, many Vermont natives actually pronounce their state as "Ver-mon," completely dropping the final letter. It's just a part of the Vermont local dialect.

2. Montpelier

Montpelier is Vermont's capital city and it's one with a peculiar Vermont place names pronunciation. While it might appear as if it's said with a French accent, it's actually pronounced "Mon-PEE-lee-er." Some Vermonters might even say "Mont-PEEL-yer" or "Mon-PILL-yar," but only out-of-towners ever say "Mon-pell-yay."

3. Creemee

If you want soft-serve ice cream in Vermont, you'll have to order a creemee. Even though it has an unusual spelling, it's still pronounced "cream-y." Go ahead and sample a maple creemee the next time you're here, especially if it's one made from local Vermont maple syrup.

4. Calais

Calais is one of those Vermont town names out-of-staters are likely to mispronounce. Once again, disregard the urge to pronounce it the French way. The small town of Calais rhymes with "palace" (pronounced like "Callus") and is a great destination for a day hike.

5. Jeezum Crow

Instead of saying Jesus Christ when you see scenes like this one at Hope Cemetery in Barre, Vermonters are more likely to say Jeezum Crow. It's one of those silly Vermont sayings that residents of the Green Mountain State love to use. Pronounced "JEE-zuhm-kroh," you'll likely hear this phrase a lot if you ever visit Barre, Vermont—a town filled with unusual sights.

6. Djeet

If you hear or read "djeet," you might scratch your head when you learn it's an abridged version of "Did you eat?" A bit of local Vermont slang that contracts an entire phrase into one word, it's often tossed around to see if someone's hungry.

7. Chimbleys

Some Vermonters refer to a chimney as a chimbley, pronounced "Chim-blee." This is due to the British influence on some of the dialects in the state. It's one of those New England pronunciation quirks that should be easy enough to say if you speak slowly.

8. Swanton

True Vermonters refer to the town of Swanton as Swant'n. You might even hear locals dropping the middle "t" entirely here, simply saying "Swan-un." No matter how you pronounce this place name, this beautiful little town makes an ideal destination for a peaceful getaway in Vermont.

9. Yaulp

"Yaulp," pronounced with a very soft "u" sound, is a Vermonter's version of saying yes. A regional word localized to Vermont, it's similar to the affirmation, "ayuh," which happens to be one of Maine's unique phrases.

What makes the way Vermonters speak so charming? As you've learned, some words spoken with a Vermont accent have breaks in words that influence how they're pronounced by locals. This is called glottalization. Knowing this helps non-natives know how to pronounce Vermont towns and other Vermont phrases.

Interested in learning more Vermont culture facts? Check out these iconic aspects of Vermont life and the photos that capture them.

From hard to pronounce Vermont words to unusual Vermont geography names, our state is filled with fascinating places and intriguing sayings. Now that you know how to pronounce these nine Vermont accent words, you're perfectly prepared to start exploring the Green Mountain State. There are dozens of things to do in Vermont, whether it be summer, fall, or winter, so get out there and get adventuring!