If You Can Pronounce These 7 Words, You've Lived In Florida For Far Too Long
By Marisa Roman|Published March 31, 2021
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
There are some very common words you’ve likely come across if you live or have lived in Florida. For some transplants, these words tend to go in one ear and out the other. Or, visitors just go on mispronouncing them without any sort of correction. But, if you’re pronouncing certain words correctly, then you’ve likely lived in Florida for way too long. Does Okeechobee just roll off the tongue? Do you know exactly what to emphasize when you pronounce Dunedin? If you’re answering yes, then you’ll likely get a kick out of these words below.
You might want to pronounce it as you see it, but if you’re from Florida then you already know it isn’t that simple. This beautiful city in Pinellas County is pronounced "DUH-nee-din" despite how badly you'd want to say "Dune-din."
This isn’t a city. This isn’t a town. This isn’t a name you call someone who cuts you off in traffic. If you’re from Florida, you know exactly what these little bugs are and just how annoying they can be. Even if you don’t see them—you know they’re there.
With so many people flocking to this city or passing through due to its proximity to Disney World, you’d think they’d know how to pronounce it. But if you’re from Florida, then you know that it isn’t "KISS-i-mee" but rather "KUH-sim-EE."
This small town in Putnam County might not be too well-known, especially in comparison to Kissimmee. However, if you’re from Florida then you should already know that It’s not "latch" anything, but pronounced "in-ter-LOCK-in."
Okay, so this might be a South Florida thing, but if you’ve heard someone say irregardless or if you’ve used it yourself, then there is no mistaking where you’re from or where you’ve been. We see you…
This Old Florida fishing village is as adorable as it gets. Filled with colorful art galleries, boutiques and, incredible restaurants, you’ll want to visit. Plus, if you already know how to pronounce the name then you’re in luck. While you might want to take a note from Interlachen on how to pronounce it, it’s actually a bit different. Floridians know it’s pronounced "MAT-la-shay."
While this Gulf County city doesn’t really roll off the tongue easily, if you’re from Florida then you probably already know where to enunciate. Once you say it a few times—"WEE-wah-HITCH-kuh" then you’ll have it in the bag.
So, how many of these Florida words did you pronounce correctly? Do you have more that you’d like your fellow Floridians to try? Make sure to add them to the comments section! We’d love to do part two with your suggestions.
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