Pittsburgh certainly does have its fair share of places and words that are, well, difficult to pronounce. That’s just part of the uniqueness of life in Pittsburgh. We’ve all probably heard non-Pittsburghers or newbies to the city trip over the pronunciation of names and words that just glide off of our tongues. Maybe we’ve even tripped over them once or twice or, at the very least, had a few challenges learning to spell them when we were in grade school. Take a peek at the following list. Do you agree that those of us who live in Pittsburgh can undoubtedly pronounce these eight words?

1. Duquesne

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Chances are you've heard non-Pittsburghers pronounce (or butcher, if you prefer) Duquesne in a variety of ways. But, we natives know it's doo-kane. It's a suburb of Pittsburgh, a university, and perhaps the more recognized of the two inclines.

2. Zelienople

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The charming town of Zelienople sits 29 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. We, Pittsburghers, know it well and pronounce it zee-lee-en-o-ple. Or, to make it easier, we just call it Zelie.

3. North Versailles

Flickr/Jon Dawson
The Palace of Versailles (silent l's and s) sits outside of Paris, France. The Western Pennsylvanian suburb of North Versailles is pronounced in its own Pittsburgh way: ver-sales.

4. Monongahela

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It's one of the three rivers - along with the Allegheny and the Ohio - so, of course, we know how to properly pronounce Monongahela (muh-nong-guh-hey-luh). Now, spelling it...well, that's another story altogether.

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5. Charleroi

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Coincidentally, our next hard-to-pronounce name sits along the Monongahela River. Home to less than 4,000 residents, the town of Charleroi (shar-luh-roy) is only 30 miles from downtown Pittsburgh.

6. Punxsutawney

Flickr/Doug Kerr
It might be a bit easier to pronounce Punxsutawney (puhngk-suh-taw-nee) than it is to spell. But, that might be due to that lovable little fella, Phil, who has put the small Pennsylvania town on the map.

7. Kielbasa

Flickr/Matt
Pittsburgh is a city rich in Polish heritage. That makes it easier for us to know how to properly pronounce kielbasa ( kiel-ba-sa). But, some of us have our own way of saying kielbasa. How do you pronounce it? Kiebasa or kil-bossy?

8. Jeet jet?

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Let's face it. We can't talk about words and pronunciation without giving a shout-out to Pittsburghese. If you ask others jeet jet and understand what it means, you've definitely lived in Pittsburgh too long (not that that's a bad thing, is it?).

Life in Pittsburgh means having our own twist on the language (Pittsburghese, if you will) and knowing how to pronounce other words – like these eight – that most others don’t. What other words can only Pittsburghers pronounce properly? Share below to add to the list. Then, see how many of these words you’ll only understand if you’re from Pittsburgh.

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Life In Pittsburgh

Beth Price-Williams | February 05, 2024

What is life in Pittsburgh like?

If you’re not from the city, you might wonder what life in Pittsburgh is like. Well, it tends to spoil you a bit. Here are a few ways that Pittsburgh spoils you for life:

  • Pittsburgh boasts one of the best city skylines in the United States. Just head to the top of Mount Washington to drink it in. (Try to check it out at night when the city is glittering against the dark sky.)
  • Did you know that Pittsburgh is known as the City of Bridges? With 446, it has more bridges than even Venice, Italy.
  • Pittsburgh is brimming with natural attractions, including two of the most popular, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.
  • Pittsburghers eat pretty darn well – pierogis, fries on sandwiches and salads, and smiley cookies, we’ve got it all.
  • We don’t do things like other cities. Our New Year’s Eve ball? It goes up, not down.
  • Pittsburghers speak Pittsburghese. What’s your kielbasa punctuation in Pittsburgh?

What are some of the best reasons to live in Pittsburgh?

Whether you’re considering moving to Pittsburgh or want to remember why you moved here, keep the best reasons to live in Pittsburgh in mind:

  • Pittsburgh has an excellent healthcare system.
  • It is home to some of the best universities, including Carnegie Mellon, in the country.
  • Known as the City of Champions, Pittsburgh has also been called the Hollywood of the East.
  • With amusement parks, museums, and parks, Pittsburgh is kid-friendly and family-friendly.

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