There’s a certain pride that comes with being able to say that you’re a New Yorker, and have state-specific knowledge as well. After living in the Empire State, you’ll gain the power to pronounce some of the most difficult destinations that your eyes have ever scanned across. With major influences from Native Americans and their language, you’ll find that some places in our state can be quite the mouthful to pronounce. Check out our list of hard to pronounce New York towns and see how many of these names you can say for yourself!

  1. Coxsackie

SampleASample/TripAdvisor Out of all the hard to pronounce names of places that you’ll find in New York, this small town in Greene County normally makes people laugh the most. Pronounced “cook-sock-ee” or “cook-sack-ee” depending on what neck of the woods you’re from, you can use your imagination to figure out all the different ways that this town is pronounced. The name comes from and Algonquin Indian word possibly meaning “Place of Owls,” or “Migrating Geese.” We’re still waiting to hear from the locals whether they have particularly large owl or geese populations.

  1. Chautauqua

henrys54/Flickr Way out in Western New York there’s a hard to pronounce town, county, and lake that often leaves people a bit tongue-tied. To break it down for you, you simply say this name like “sha-talk-wuh”. Despite the difficult name, Chautauqua is a beautiful lakeside resort community and a popular vacation spot.

  1. Skaneateles

Joe Shlabotnik/Flickr One of our most stunning lakes and waterfront towns, Skaneateles often ignites debates within the households of New York over its pronunciation. In the Empire State, you’ll either people saying “scan-ee-atlas” or “skinny-atlas”. Which side are you on?

  1. Oneonta

Kent Kanouse/Flickr For residents, this small city’s name may not seem like one that’s too hard to pronounce - yet oftentimes when out-of-towners come to attend the local colleges here you’ll find them saying this destination in all sorts of ways. Take a deep breath, all you have to do is say “own-knee-on-tuh”. Oneonta is in a prime upstate New York location, benefiting from the natural beauty of being both near the Catskill Mountains and on the banks of the Susquehanna River.

  1. Taughannock

Barbara Friedman / Flickr A beautiful state park and waterfall in New York, Taughannock Falls often leaves people scratching their heads. While you’re gazing at one of our state’s tallest waterfalls, just say “tuh-gan-uck”. Don’t forget to explore the many beautiful hiking trails, picnicking spots, and bird watching locales within the state park as well.

  1. Canajoharie

diane cordell/Flickr Out along the Mohawk River, the town of Canajoharie stumps travelers with its name. As hard as it may be, try saying “canna-jo-harry”, you’ll also hear people pronouncing it like “canna-jo-har-ee”. The quiet town has a population of just over 2,000 people.

  1. Schoharie

TheTurducken/Flickr Speaking of towns that end with “harie”, Schoharie is another destination that people have difficulty saying. Similar to Canajoharie, you’ll pronounce Schoharie like “skuh-hair-ee”. The small town is nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Catskills Mountains, making for a stunning backdrop to small town life.

  1. Poughkeepsie

Brian Godfrey/Flickr Another fun place to watch people attempt to pronounce, Poughkeepsie is said like “poe-kip-see”. Poughkeepsie is home to a number of important academic institutions including Vassar College and Marist College among others.

  1. Valatie

Robert / Flickr This is one name I won’t knock anyone for mispronouncing. If it wasn’t for the fact that I grew up in the surrounding area, I’d be saying this one wrong too! While you might here visitors saying this village’s name like “valla-tye”, you’d only be correct if you pronounced it “vuh-lay-shuh”. We have to admit, it does make it sound fancier.

  1. Chili

Wikimedia Commons Don’t fool yourself into thinking you know how to pronounce this not-so-easy town name. Pronounced a bit differently than the dish, the town in New York is said as “chye-lie” - with a big emphasis on the i’s. Just when you think it’s getting easier New York trips you up.

  1. Oswegatchie

David Casteel/Flickr An over 130-mile long river up north, the Oswegatchie River isn’t our easiest body of water to pronounce. Clear your mind and before you know it you’ll be saying “os-weh-got-chee” like a pro. It may be tricky to say but it’s a beautiful river that’s been painted many times by artists.

  1. Chateaugay

Doug Kerr/Flickr A small town out in Franklin County, you’ll pronounce this destination like “shat-oh-gay” if you want to sound like a longtime resident. A little practice and they won’t be able to distinguish you from the residents.

  1. Irondequoit

Keith Ewing/Flickr Friends and family around the Rochester area may be able to say this town’s name with a breeze, but not everyone can say the same! Out along Lake Ontario, you’ll pronounce Irondequoit like “ear-rahn-deh-koyt”. This name has Iroquois origins and means “where the land meets the water,” an apt description for the region.

  1. Schenectady

Doug Kerr/Flickr This one may seem easy to those who live in or around the Capital Region, but not all visitors of the area say this city’s name with ease. Also a New York County, you’ll pronounce Schenectady like “skuh-neck-tuh-dee”. This region has a lot to offer apart from a challenging name, it’s convenient location near Albany means lots of cool restaurants and cocktail bars.

  1. Cattaraugus

Wikimedia Commons Get ready to stretch your mouth out with this one, Cattaraugus is a village and county in New York that’s pronounced like “cat-uh-rawg-us”. Located in Western New York, one side of this region borders Pennsylvania.

  1. Kaaterskill

Phillip/Flickr According to some, the name Kaaterskill is the origin of Catskill. Now a name of one of our state’s most popular waterfalls to visit, Kaaterskill is pronounced “cat-er-skill”. This two-stage waterfall reaches 231 feet high and makes for an incredible photo opportunity.

How many of these are you able to pronounce? To discover more ways to weed through who’s a tourist and who’s really a New Yorker read about these 10 Surefire Ways To Always Spot A Tourist In New York!

SampleASample/TripAdvisor

Out of all the hard to pronounce names of places that you’ll find in New York, this small town in Greene County normally makes people laugh the most. Pronounced “cook-sock-ee” or “cook-sack-ee” depending on what neck of the woods you’re from, you can use your imagination to figure out all the different ways that this town is pronounced. The name comes from and Algonquin Indian word possibly meaning “Place of Owls,” or “Migrating Geese.” We’re still waiting to hear from the locals whether they have particularly large owl or geese populations.

henrys54/Flickr

Way out in Western New York there’s a hard to pronounce town, county, and lake that often leaves people a bit tongue-tied. To break it down for you, you simply say this name like “sha-talk-wuh”. Despite the difficult name, Chautauqua is a beautiful lakeside resort community and a popular vacation spot.

Joe Shlabotnik/Flickr

One of our most stunning lakes and waterfront towns, Skaneateles often ignites debates within the households of New York over its pronunciation. In the Empire State, you’ll either people saying “scan-ee-atlas” or “skinny-atlas”. Which side are you on?

Kent Kanouse/Flickr

For residents, this small city’s name may not seem like one that’s too hard to pronounce - yet oftentimes when out-of-towners come to attend the local colleges here you’ll find them saying this destination in all sorts of ways. Take a deep breath, all you have to do is say “own-knee-on-tuh”. Oneonta is in a prime upstate New York location, benefiting from the natural beauty of being both near the Catskill Mountains and on the banks of the Susquehanna River.

Barbara Friedman / Flickr

A beautiful state park and waterfall in New York, Taughannock Falls often leaves people scratching their heads. While you’re gazing at one of our state’s tallest waterfalls, just say “tuh-gan-uck”. Don’t forget to explore the many beautiful hiking trails, picnicking spots, and bird watching locales within the state park as well.

diane cordell/Flickr

Out along the Mohawk River, the town of Canajoharie stumps travelers with its name. As hard as it may be, try saying “canna-jo-harry”, you’ll also hear people pronouncing it like “canna-jo-har-ee”. The quiet town has a population of just over 2,000 people.

TheTurducken/Flickr

Speaking of towns that end with “harie”, Schoharie is another destination that people have difficulty saying. Similar to Canajoharie, you’ll pronounce Schoharie like “skuh-hair-ee”. The small town is nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Catskills Mountains, making for a stunning backdrop to small town life.

Brian Godfrey/Flickr

Another fun place to watch people attempt to pronounce, Poughkeepsie is said like “poe-kip-see”. Poughkeepsie is home to a number of important academic institutions including Vassar College and Marist College among others.

Robert / Flickr

This is one name I won’t knock anyone for mispronouncing. If it wasn’t for the fact that I grew up in the surrounding area, I’d be saying this one wrong too! While you might here visitors saying this village’s name like “valla-tye”, you’d only be correct if you pronounced it “vuh-lay-shuh”. We have to admit, it does make it sound fancier.

Wikimedia Commons

Don’t fool yourself into thinking you know how to pronounce this not-so-easy town name. Pronounced a bit differently than the dish, the town in New York is said as “chye-lie” - with a big emphasis on the i’s. Just when you think it’s getting easier New York trips you up.

David Casteel/Flickr

An over 130-mile long river up north, the Oswegatchie River isn’t our easiest body of water to pronounce. Clear your mind and before you know it you’ll be saying “os-weh-got-chee” like a pro. It may be tricky to say but it’s a beautiful river that’s been painted many times by artists.

Doug Kerr/Flickr

A small town out in Franklin County, you’ll pronounce this destination like “shat-oh-gay” if you want to sound like a longtime resident. A little practice and they won’t be able to distinguish you from the residents.

Keith Ewing/Flickr

Friends and family around the Rochester area may be able to say this town’s name with a breeze, but not everyone can say the same! Out along Lake Ontario, you’ll pronounce Irondequoit like “ear-rahn-deh-koyt”. This name has Iroquois origins and means “where the land meets the water,” an apt description for the region.

This one may seem easy to those who live in or around the Capital Region, but not all visitors of the area say this city’s name with ease. Also a New York County, you’ll pronounce Schenectady like “skuh-neck-tuh-dee”. This region has a lot to offer apart from a challenging name, it’s convenient location near Albany means lots of cool restaurants and cocktail bars.

Get ready to stretch your mouth out with this one, Cattaraugus is a village and county in New York that’s pronounced like “cat-uh-rawg-us”. Located in Western New York, one side of this region borders Pennsylvania.

Phillip/Flickr

According to some, the name Kaaterskill is the origin of Catskill. Now a name of one of our state’s most popular waterfalls to visit, Kaaterskill is pronounced “cat-er-skill”. This two-stage waterfall reaches 231 feet high and makes for an incredible photo opportunity.

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Hard To Pronounce New York Towns December 14, 2022 CC What are other hard to pronounce New York words?

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Hard To Pronounce New York Towns

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What are other hard to pronounce New York words?

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