Phuk-It, it's Phoo Ket! Travel Tip - Learn to Pronounce your Destination!
Travel Tip – Learn How to Pronounce Your Destination!
After graduating from high school in 2011, I decided it was time to take my first step towards becoming a more well-rounded traveler. I packed my bag, said good-bye to my parents (who were not too thrilled about their youngest daughter taking off on her own for the first time), and boarded a plane for Scotland where my eldest sister was currently living. I felt so grown up! Until, that is, a border patrol agent at the airport asked why I was visiting her country, to which I replied – in the nasally, harsh way we Americans do – “My sister’s studying in EdinBURG.” The agent barely managed to hide her quick eye roll, but the way she scrunched up her nose told me she’s heard it a million times. “Well, let me help you out then, the city is pronounced Ed-en-borough.”
Awkward.
A little embarrassed and feeling about five years old, I thanked her and quickly walked away. In all my excitement to reach my destination I clearly hadn’t done my research. I didn’t even know how to pronounce the place I was visiting!
So, to save anyone else from making the same mistake I did, I’ve put together a brief guide for the proper pronunciation of the most commonly mispronounced places. Enjoy, learn, and send me a message if there’s anywhere you think I should add!
Edinburgh, Scotland: Commonly Pronounced: Ed-in-burg Correctly Pronounced: Ed-in-burrah or Ed-in-bra
Cairnes, Australia Commonly Pronounced: Karens Correctly Pronounced: Can
Iraq: Commonly Pronounced: i-rack Correctly Pronounced: i-rock
Phuket, Thailand: Commonly Pronounced: (Im sure you can guess!) Correctly Pronounced: Foo-get
Spokane, Washington: Commonly Pronounced: Spo-kane Correctly Pronounced: Spo-can
Versailles, France: Commonly Pronounced: Ver-sails Correctly Pronounced: Ver-sigh
The Maldives: Commonly Pronounced: Mall-dives Correctly Pronounced: Mall-deeves
Oregon: Commonly Pronounced: Or-e-gone Correctly Pronounced: Ore-gun
Gloucester, UK: Commonly Pronounced: Gloo-kester Correctly Pronounced: Gluh-ster
Marbella, Spain: Commonly Pronounced: Mar-Bell-ah Correctly Pronounced: Mar-bey-ah
Newfoundland, Canada: Commonly Pronounced: New-Found-Land Correctly Pronounced: New-fund-land
New Orleans, US: Commonly Pronounced: New Ore-Leans Correctly Pronounced: Naw-lins
