Bexar County, Texas

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If it's not Bex-ar or Becks are then it should be renamed by force.

I actually pronounce it Bex-er but I can respect the locals enough to make it -ar. But the X is either pronounced or gone from the name.

Alcohol or Aspirin, that is the question.
I discovered that anomaly by sheer chance when I wanted to inform myself about Bayer County. Henceforth, I'll start pronouncing Texas like Tejas.

[muon2]

If it's not Bex-ar or Becks are then it should be renamed by force.

I actually pronounce it Bex-er but I can respect the locals enough to make it -ar. But the X is either pronounced or gone from the name.

Alcohol or Aspirin, that is the question.
I discovered that anomaly by sheer chance when I wanted to inform myself about Bayer County. Henceforth, I'll start pronouncing Texas like Tejas.

States have no requirement for consistent pronunciation. A favorite of mine is near me and where I lived when I was very young. Des Plaines, Illinois is pronounced Dih Splaynz Illuhnoy. One s is pronounced s, one is pronounced z, and one isn't pronounced at all.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

States have no requirement for consistent pronunciation. A favorite of mine is near me and where I lived when I was very young. Des Plaines, Illinois is pronounced Dih Splaynz Illuhnoy. One s is pronounced s, one is pronounced z, and one isn't pronounced at all.

That's interesting. My English teacher and my geography teacher once had an argument over the correct pronunciation of "Des Moines"; we were covering the topics of American history and economy, respectively, at that time in those subjects. I guess "Des Plaines" is Spanish whereas "Des Moines" is French.

How was the Oktoberfest? I heard a Maß of beer costs about $13. 😨

[muon2]

States have no requirement for consistent pronunciation. A favorite of mine is near me and where I lived when I was very young. Des Plaines, Illinois is pronounced Dih Splaynz Illuhnoy. One s is pronounced s, one is pronounced z, and one isn't pronounced at all.

That's interesting. My English teacher and my geography teacher once had an argument over the correct pronunciation of "Des Moines"; we were covering the topics of American history and economy, respectively, at that time in those subjects. I guess "Des Plaines" is Spanish whereas "Des Moines" is French.

How was the Oktoberfest? I heard a Maß of beer costs about $13. 😨

Both cities' names derive from French, but the settlers took different approaches to pronunciation. There are many cities in IL and elsewhere that aren't pronounced the way you might expect. You would likely be amused to hear New Berlin pronounced new BUHRlun.

I did enjoy Oktoberfest, and the beers were that price. However I enjoyed my trip to Zugspitze and Mittenwald more as well as a day trip yesterday to Nuremberg. But now I'm on the plane for home.

[The Mikado]

States have no requirement for consistent pronunciation. A favorite of mine is near me and where I lived when I was very young. Des Plaines, Illinois is pronounced Dih Splaynz Illuhnoy. One s is pronounced s, one is pronounced z, and one isn't pronounced at all.

That's interesting. My English teacher and my geography teacher once had an argument over the correct pronunciation of "Des Moines"; we were covering the topics of American history and economy, respectively, at that time in those subjects. I guess "Des Plaines" is Spanish whereas "Des Moines" is French.

How was the Oktoberfest? I heard a Maß of beer costs about $13. 😨

Excessive literalism about the origin of names will end up leading to you being the person pronouncing St. Louis as San Louie.

[jimrtex]

Mexia

Palestine

Humble

Montague

Houston

Quitaque

Marathon

Boerne

New Braunfels

Refugio

Palacios

Nacogdoches

Burnet

Manor

Iraan

Study Butte

Waxahachie

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Awesome list of mean pronunciations. For some names I can understand why they are pronounced like that, but thise three names were only invited in order to literally troll posterity... 😡

Mexia
Refugio
Study Butte

Moreover, there are 10 further Palestines in the US (including the compound names and a lake near Dallas). Are they all pronounced like the Texan town, or are they all pronounced correctly?

[jimrtex]

Awesome list of mean pronunciations. For some names I can understand why they are pronounced like that, but thise three names were only invited in order to literally troll posterity... 😡

Mexia
Refugio
Study Butte

Moreover, there are 10 further Palestines in the US (including the compound names and a lake near Dallas). Are they all pronounced like the Texan town, or are they all pronounced correctly?

Add:

Buda

Balmorhea

Pedernales

Llano

Miami

Leakey

Salado

Bogata

Erath

[jimrtex]

Awesome list of mean pronunciations. For some names I can understand why they are pronounced like that, but thise three names were only invited in order to literally troll posterity... 😡

Mexia
Refugio
Study Butte

Moreover, there are 10 further Palestines in the US (including the compound names and a lake near Dallas). Are they all pronounced like the Texan town, or are they all pronounced correctly?

A couple were traveling up I-45 and got into an argument about the name of a town, so they turned west at Fairfield to get a local opinion. One insisted it was Me-HAY-uh, while the other stood behind ME-Hair. When they reached Mexia, they ran into a restaurant that was open and asked the clerk behind the counter, "what's this place called?".

She drawled, "Dairy Queen".

Study Butte and Gruene were named for Mr. Study and Mr. Gruene, respectively.

Palestine, Texas was named by its founder whose home town was Palestine, Illinois.

Hope this helps!

At least a couple of newcomers were getting their cars registered in San Antonio, and when asked what county they lived in replied, "Becks-ar". When asked where, they again replied, "Becks'ar". The clerk then informed them that there was no Becks-ar County in Texas, and told them to come back when they found out where they lived.

[kcguy]

A couple were traveling up I-45 and got into an argument about the name of a town, so they turned west at Fairfield to get a local opinion. One insisted it was Me-HAY-uh, while the other stood behind ME-Hair. When they reached Mexia, they ran into a restaurant that was open and asked the clerk behind the counter, "what's this place called?".

She drawled, "Dairy Queen".

I heard that same joke about 25 years ago, with a few variations:
1.  They were German tourists.
2.  The punchline was "Burger King".
3.  The place was Salina (rhymes with "Dinah"), Kansas, which is located in Saline (rhymes were "praline") County.

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Following up on earlier posts in this thread:

Even our states aren't consistent between their pronunciations.  That's why people in Wichita pronounce their local river as the "Ar--Kansas".

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At least a couple of newcomers were getting their cars registered in San Antonio, and when asked what county they lived in replied, "Becks-ar". When asked where, they again replied, "Becks'ar". The clerk then informed them that there was no Becks-ar County in Texas, and told them to come back when they found out where they lived.

That clerk was clearly a douchebag. 😡

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

Following up on earlier posts in this thread:

Even our states aren't consistent between their pronunciations.  That's why people in Wichita pronounce their local river as the "Ar--Kansas".

The county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, is also pronounced strangely, and its demonym again has a totally divergent pronunciation.

Moreover, I only know the pronunciation of the name of the third most populous city in Alabama (according to the 2010 census)  thanks to that one Cher song.

[Kingpoleon]

Following up on earlier posts in this thread:

Even our states aren't consistent between their pronunciations.  That's why people in Wichita pronounce their local river as the "Ar--Kansas".

To be fair, in New Jersey I was informed I was mispronouncing my home state, and it is, in fact, Ar-kansas.

Moreover, I only know the pronunciation of the name of the third most populous city in Alabama thanks to that one Cher song.

How on earth were you pronouncing Huntsville?!

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Moreover, I only know the pronunciation of the name of the third most populous city in Alabama thanks to that one Cher song.

How on earth were you pronouncing Huntsville?!

I see what you did there!

[jimrtex]

Moreover, I only know the pronunciation of the name of the third most populous city in Alabama (according to the 2010 census)  thanks to that one Cher song.

If you had heard Guitar Man by Jerry Reed or Elvis Presley, you would have already known that it rhymes with 'kill'

[Sol]

The most chaotic pronounciation I know in this country is Natchitoches.

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The most chaotic pronounciation I know in this country is Natchitoches.

Whoa! I would never have guessed the correct pronunciation of that city/parish.
It's like the American Worcester.

[Sol]

http://robslink.com/SAS/democd73/mispronounced_north_carolina.htm

[jimrtex]

Occasionally you will see early 19th century texts where they say they went to Bexar, and the modern editor will add "(San Antonio)"

I've also read that the rally cry at San Jacinto was Remember Bexar!, Remember Bahia!, rather than Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad.

Jacinto is of course pronounced with a hard J (hard for anyone who is not an English speaker).

And San Jacinto College is pronounced "San Jack", with the dance team the "San Jans".

People from much of the country can't pronounce Massachusetts like a Texan.