However, let's look beyond geography to include people, families, and institutions that define the state. One name stands out as the ultimate cultural shibboleth—a pronunciation test that instantly identifies an authentic Pennsylvanian.
The Winner: Yuengling
Correct Pronunciation: YING-ling
It is the name of America's oldest brewery, and the family that founded it. Yet, this German surname (D.G. Yuengling & Son) is butchered by outsiders daily.
- The Trap: Visitors often try to read the name phonetically, resulting in "YOO-eng-ling," "Yang-ling," or even "Yo-Eng-ling."
- The Shibboleth: The correct pronunciation, YING-ling (rhymes with "shingling"), is clipped, quick, and completely non-intuitive for those unfamiliar with Pennsylvania Dutch and German-American pronunciation shifts.
- The Proof: In recent years, political candidates who have sought office in Pennsylvania have instantly disqualified themselves by mispronouncing it on the campaign trail, proving that correctly ordering a "lager" is a requirement for understanding the state's culture.
Honorable Mention: The Perpetual Place Name Test
While the question asked for a "name," it's impossible to discuss Pennsylvania mispronunciations without mentioning the ultimate geographic name challenges that locals use to test outsiders.
1. Wilkes-Barre
The Mispronunciation: Wilks-Bar or Wilkes-Ba-RAY The Correct Local Way: Wilkes-BEAR-ee or Wilkes-BEAR
The city was named after 18th-century British politicians John Wilkes and Isaac Barré. While the latter's name was French, the local pronunciation has completely anglicized over two centuries, resulting in a fractured pronunciation in which even residents can't agree on the "bear" versus "berry" sound.
2. North Versailles
The Mispronunciation: North Ver-SIGH (like the French palace) The Correct Local Way: North Ver-SAYLZ
This is the ultimate example of a name that locals aggressively mispronounce in defiance of international standards. The insistence on pronouncing the 'l' and 's' makes it the most famous example of Western Pennsylvania's commitment to anglicizing French names.
3. Schuylkill
The Mispronunciation: Shool-Kill or Skeel-Kill The Correct Local Way: SKOO-kill
Derived from a Dutch name meaning "Hidden River," the spelling is a nightmare for English speakers. The Schuyl sound is almost always the phonetic barrier that outsiders fail to cross.
The Names of Note: Politicians and Figures
In the world of Pennsylvania politics and public life, names are often mispronounced simply because they are unfamiliar, though they usually follow standard English rules.
- Senator Bob Casey: While his name is familiar, some outsiders mistakenly stress the last syllable. It is correctly pronounced KAY-see, with the emphasis on the first syllable.
- Former Senator Pat Toomey: His surname is occasionally misread as TOO-meed, but it is the straightforward TOO-mee.
The Verdict
In Pennsylvania, names—whether they belong to a family, a company, or a river—are treated as local property, governed by regional dialects, immigrant history, and a stubborn refusal to follow European spelling rules.
If you can confidently order a YING-ling and accurately navigate to Wilkes-BEAR, you've passed the Keystone State's most famous pronunciation test.
