We've all been there. Someone from out of town, or out of state, tries to say a word that we use practically every day, and blows the pronunciation completely. It's dead giveawy that you're not actually from here, and the results can sometimes be comical.

Only in Louisiana has some words that are commonly mispronounced, and sometimes even spelled wrong, all the time. I say give this list to your friends who aren't from here so that they can feel like locals from now on!

  • Lake Pontchartrain. Yes, the one near New Orleans. Pronounced pon-cha-train
  • Bogue Falaya. The 28 mile river that runs through St Tammany and Washington parishes is pronounced bowg-ah fal-aya
  • Ouachita. The river, and the parish in north Louisiana are pronounced wash-uh-taw
  • Tchoupitoulas. The street in New Orleans, and a Mardi Graw krewe. Pronounced chop-ah-too-lus.
  • Natchitoches. The oldest city in Louisiana. Pronounced Nack-o-dish
  • Atchafalaya. The biggest river swamp in the United States. Pronounced Ah-cha-fa-laya
  • Tangipahoa. A river, and also a parish in the state. Pronounced tang-ah-pah-oa.
  • Opelousas. A St Landry parish city known for zydeco music, friendly people, and yams. Pronounced op-uh-loo-suhs
  • Bogue Chitto. A beautiful state park and river in Louisiana. Pronounced bow-guh chit-uh
  • Tchefuncte. A river in southwest Louisiana. Pronounced cha-funk-tah

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