What's the Most Mispronounced Word in Oregon?

While it's hard to crown a single "winner," the most mispronounced word depends entirely on who you're talking to—a tourist or a transplant.

The Obvious King: Oregon

For the vast majority of people outside the Pacific Northwest, the most mispronounced word is, without a doubt, Oregon.

The mistake is almost always the same: placing the emphasis on the wrong syllable and changing the vowel sound.

• The Wrong Way: Or-eh-GAHN (Sounds like the gas, Argon)
• The Right Way: OR-eh-gun (or OR-ih-gun)

The emphasis is heavy on the first syllable (OR), and the last syllable is a soft "gun" or "gin," not a hard "gone."

It’s a point of fierce, if slightly weary, local pride. Listen to any national broadcaster stumble over "Or-eh-GAHN" during a sports game or election night, and you can almost hear the collective groan from Portland to Pendleton.

A Local Mnemonic: If you need help remembering, just think of the old Oregon Trail slogan: "It's Oregon, not Ore-gone."

The Local Litmus Test: Willamette

Ask a long-time resident, and they might say the state's name is too easy. The real shibboleth—the word that separates the locals from the newcomers—is Willamette.

This word, derived from a Native American term, names the river that forms the state's most populous region, the Willamette Valley.

• The Wrong Way: Will-uh-MET (Like a "will" and the baseball team)
• The Right Way: Will-AM-it (Like the phrase, "It's Willamette, dammit!")

The emphasis is on the second syllable (AM), and the "e" at the end is pronounced like a soft "it." This one is so commonly mispronounced by new residents and visitors that getting it right is an immediate sign that you've done your homework.

Honorable Mentions: The "Gotcha" List

Of course, Oregon is packed with tricky place names, many derived from the region's rich Native American heritage or the quirks of early settlers. While "Oregon" and "Willamette" are the big two, these runners-up regularly trip people up:

• Couch Street: A famous trap in Portland. It's not "Cowch." It's "Kooch." (Named after founder John H. Couch).
• Yachats: A tiny, beautiful coastal town. It's not "Ya-chats." It's "YAH-hahts."
• The Dalles: A city on the Columbia River. It's not "The DALL-es." It's just "The DALZ."
• Coquille: A town and a river. It's not "Co-KWILL." It's "Ko-KEEL."
• Umpqua: A famous river and bank. It's "UMP-kwah."

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So, what's the most mispronounced word? If you're talking to the rest of the world, it's Oregon. If you're trying to prove you belong, it's Willamette.