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How to correctly pronounce Michigan cities, streets, people and other things

Don’t be the guy who pronounces the last C in Mackinac

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Michigan is filled with places, streets, people and other things even Michiganders have trouble pronouncing.

The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Braille and Talking Book Library, along with LARA, developed a Michigan pronunciation guide to help us all correctly pronounce those tough words.

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"In addition, whether you’ve lived here all your life, just moved here, or happen to be visiting or planning a vacation to this great state, the below directory can help you with the correct pronunciation of Michigan’s many unique cities and places."

Here are some commonly misspoken words on the list:

  • Au Gres (Ō GRĀ)
  • Au Sable (OU SÄB-əl)
  • Au Train (Ô TRĀN)
  • Charlevoix (SHÄR-lə-VOI)
  • Cheboygan (shə-BOI-gən)
  • Chesaning (CHES-ə-ning)
  • Clio (KLĪ-ō)
  • Cohoctah (kō-HOK-tə)
  • Decatur (də-KĀ-tûr)
  • Dequindre (də-KWIN-dûr)
  • Dowagiac (dō-WÄ-jak)
  • Epoufette (EP-oo-FET)
  • Evangeline (ē-VÂN-gel-ēn)
  • Gibraltar (JIB-räl-tûr)
  • Goetzville (GĀTZ-vil)
  • Gogebic (gō-GĒ-bik)
  • Hiawatha (hī-ə-WÄ-thə)
  • Kawkawlin (KÔ-KÔ-lin)
  • Kenockee (KEN-ə-kē)
  • Keweenaw (KĒ-wə-NAW)
  • Kitch-iti-kipi Springs (kich-ə-TI-KIP-ē SPRINGZ)
  • Koegel's (KŌ-gəlz)
  • Koehler (KŌ-lûr)
  • Lachine (lə-SHĒN)
  • Lafayette (lä-fā-ET)
  • LaGrange (lə-GRÂNJ)
  • Lahser (LÄ-sûr)
  • L'Anse (LÄNS)
  • Leonidas (lē-ō-NĪ-das)
  • Les Cheneaux Islands (LĀ shə-NŌ Ī-landz)
  • Livernois (LIV-ûr-noi)
  • Macatawa (mak-ə-TOU-ə)
  • Mackinac (MAK-in-ô)
  • Mackinac Bridge (MAK-in-ô BRIJ)
  • Mackinac Island (MAK-in-ô Ī-land)
  • Mackinaw (MAK-in-ô)
  • Mackinaw City (MAK-in-ô SI-tē)
  • Manistee (mân-əs-TĒ)
  • Manistique (mân-əs-TĒK)
  • Michilimackinac (mish-il-ə-MAK-in-aô)
  • Novi (NŌ-vī)
  • Oceola (os-ē-Ō-lə)
  • Ocqueoc (ÔK-kē-ôk)
  • Ogemaw (Ō-gə-maw)
  • Okemos (ŌK-ə-məs)
  • Onaway (ON-ə-wā)
  • Oneida (ō-NĪ-də)
  • Onekama (ō-NEK-ə-mə)
  • Onondaga (ON-ən-DĀ-gə)
  • Onota (ō-NÄ-tə)
  • Osceola (OS-Ē-ōl-ə)
  • Oscoda (o-SKŌ-də)
  • Oshtemo (OSH-tə-mō)
  • Osseo (OS-ē-ō)
  • Ossineke (ä-sin-ĒK)
  • Otisco (ō-TIS-kō)
  • Peshawbestown (SHÔ-bē-toun)
  • Petoskey (pə-TOS-kē)
  • Pewamo (pə-WÄM-ō)
  • Pinconning (pin-KON-ing)
  • Pointe Aux Barques (POINT Ô BÄRKS)
  • Pointe Aux Pins (POINT Ô PIN)
  • Pokagon (pō-KĀ-gən)
  • Polkton (PŌLK-tən)
  • Pompeii (pom-pē-Ī)
  • Ponshewaing (PON-shə-wāng)
  • Pontiac (PON-[t]ē-ak)
  • Potowatomi (pot-ə-WÄT-ə-mē)
  • Quanicassee (KWAN-ə-kə-SĒ)
  • Reuther, Walter (ROO-thûr, WÄL-tûr)
  • Romulus (ROM-yoo-lus)
  • Sanilac (SÂN-ə-LAK)
  • Saranac (SÂR-ə-NAK)
  • Sauble (SOU-bûl)
  • Saugatuck (SÔ-gə-tuk)
  • Sault Ste. Marie (SOO SĀNT mə-RĒ)
  • Sebewa (SIB-ə-wə)
  • Sebewaing (SĒB-wing)
  • Secord (SĒ-cōrd)
  • Seney (SEN-ē)
  • Seul Choix Point (si-SHWÔ POINT)
  • Seville (sə-VIL)
  • Tahquamenon Falls (tə-KWÄM-i-nän FÄLZ)
  • Tecumseh (tə-KUM-sē)
  • Tekonsha (tə-KON-shə)
  • Tittabawassee (tit-ə-bə-WÄ-sē)
  • Tuscarora (tus-kə-RŌR-ə)
  • Tuscola (tus-KŌL-ə)
  • Ubly (UB-lē)
  • Unadilla (oon-ə-DIL-ə)
  • Vergennes (vûr-JENZ)
  • Wabaningo (WÔ-bə-NING-ō)
  • Wacousta (wô-KOO-stə)
  • Waishkey Bay (WĀSH-kē BĀ)
  • Wequetonsing (wek-wə-TON-sing)
  • Zilwaukee (zil-WÔ-kē)

You can check out the full list here.


About the Author
Ken Haddad headshot

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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