Talk Like A Local: This Is How To Pronounce Minneapolis And Other Cities In Minnesota

Think you know how to say Minneapolis? Think again! Master the art of Minnesota city pronunciations with tips and tricks from locals!

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Hey, it’s Jack from JackAndKitty.com! I was born and raised in Minneapolis and am so Minnesotan I have lutefisk in my blood and tater tot hotdish for brains. Speaking of my brains, that reminds me of a little story…

Years ago, I was busy flunking my way towards an English degree at Winona State University. One day I had to read a story I had written out loud to the entire class.

I vividly remember one of my professors laughing at me because I didn’t know how to correctly pronounce a word I had used in my story. This didn’t make sense to me at all. Why was he laughing?

There’s No Shame In Mispronounced Words!

From my way of thinking, this just showed my professor’s bloated – and limited – point of view. You see, I read a lot. Usually a book every day or two. And there’s a ton of words that I’ve read that I’ve never heard spoken before.

I’m telling you this story because if you mispronounce a word – it’s not funny or something to be ashamed of – it just means you’ve read that word, but never heard it said out loud! I mean, think about it: how would you know how to pronounce words like Wayzata or Edina unless you’re a local to the Twin Cities?

I’ve always been proud when I mispronounce words… it just shows I read a lot. And there ain’t no shame in that! By the way, my professor said I’d never make it as a writer. I’m proud to say I’ve made my living as an author for the past two decades now. Anyways, let’s get into the article!

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How to Pronounce Minneapolis

A lot of people have a hard time pronouncing the name of our largest city, so let me help you.

Minneapolis is pronounced as “min-ee-ap-uh-lis.”

You can think of it like a mini bag of apple-police! It kinda sounds like that.

How to pronounce Minnesota?

Oh, in case you’re wondering…

Minnesota is pronounced as “min-uh-soh-tuh.”

If you have a hard time remembering, just picture a mini can of soda pop!

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These are the Hardest Cities in Minnesota to Pronounce

There’s a lot of cities in Minnesota with names that are a bit hard to pronounce, especially if you’ve never heard them spoken out loud before! Let me tell you a few…

1. Wayzata – pronounced as “why-zet-uh”

2. Mahtomedi – pronounced as “mah-toh-mee-die”

3. Shakopee – pronounced as “shahk-uh-pee”

4. Burnsville – pronounced as “burns-vil”

5. Chanhassen – pronounced as “chan-hass-en”

6. Edina – pronounced as “ee-die-nuh”

7. Owatonna – pronounced as “oh-wuh-tawn-uh”

8. Brainerd – pronounced as “bray-nerd”

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9. Bemidji – pronounced as “buh-mij-ee”

10. Sauk Rapids – pronounced as “sock rap-ids”

Why Does Minnesota Have Such Hard City Names to Pronounce?

Maybe you’re wondering: why does Minnesota have such hard city names to pronounce? Well, the difficult city names in Minnesota can be attributed to several factors, including:

Indigenous Influence

Many of Minnesota’s city names have roots in the Native American languages spoken in the region. These languages often have unique sounds and pronunciations that can be difficult for non-native speakers to master.

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European Influence

Minnesota was settled by European immigrants, who often gave cities names that reflected their cultural heritage. These names may include letters or sounds that are uncommon in English, making them challenging to pronounce.

Regional Dialects

Minnesota has a unique dialect that includes distinct vowel sounds and intonations. This dialect can make city names sound different from how they would be pronounced in other parts of the country.

Overall, the difficulty of pronouncing Minnesota’s city names is a result of its complex history and the influence of various cultures and languages in the region…which, if you think about it, is actually pretty cool.

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Will Minnesotans Laugh at Me if I Mispronounce a City Name?

Heck no! Minnesotans most likely will not laugh if you mispronounce a city name. Folks here are generally friendly and welcoming, and they are used to hearing mispronunciations of their city names from people who are not from the area.

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Most people in Minnesota would not find it rude or offensive if someone mispronounced a city name. In fact, many Minnesotans would be happy to help someone learn the correct pronunciation.

So, if you are visiting Minnesota and struggling with a city name, don’t be afraid to ask a local for help – they will likely be happy to assist you.

What is the Best Way to Ask if I am Pronouncing Something Correctly?

If you are unsure about the correct pronunciation of a word or city name in Minnesota, the best way to ask if you are pronouncing it correctly is to simply ask the person you are speaking with.

You can say something like:

“Excuse me, I’m not from around here and I’m not sure if I’m pronouncing this correctly. Could you tell me how to say Way-z-ata?”

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Or, you could try:

“I’m sorry if I’m mispronouncing this, but could you tell me how you say E-din-a?”

By showing that you are aware that you might be mispronouncing the word or city name and asking politely for help, most people will be happy to assist you and will appreciate your effort to get it right.

Video Guide: How to Pronounce Minnesota Cities

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Eat Some Hot Dish and Have a Good Time

At the end of the day, Minnesotans are pretty laid back and won’t care if you know how to pronounce a city’s name… so don’t let it stress you out. Just come here, eat some tater tot hot dish and have a good time. Hope this helps. Lemme know in the comments the weirdest Minnesota city names you’ve encountered. Talk to you soon! 

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