6 Michigan Cities Outsiders Just Can’t Pronounce Correctly

There are always certain tells that give you away as being an outsider to Michigan. Maybe it's the fact that you don't know how to play euchre. Or the fact that you call it soda instead of pop.

Or maybe it's when you very confidently butcher the names of certain Michigan cities.

Most Mispronounced Michigan City Names

As Michiganders, we've heard it all before... all the various ways that visitors and newcomers attempt to pronounce the names of our cities. And sometimes, it ain't pretty.

So, if you're new to town and you want to make sure that you don't stick out like a sore thumb, there's one main thing you need to remember: Michigan place names aren't always pronounced the way that they're spelled.

Can You Pronounce These Michigan Cities?

Here are some of the most commonly mispronounced names in Michigan:

1. Mackinac - pronounced "MACK-in-aw": This is the ultimate Michigan pronunciation test because if you pronounce that hard "c" sound at the end of word, your cover is blown.
2. Ypsilanti - pronounced "IP-suh-LAN-tee": That "y" at the front really seems to throw people off.
3. Okemos - pronounced "OH-kuh-miss": I can't tell you how much I cringe when I hear people say, "Oak-E-mose".
4. Sault Ste. Marie - pronounced "Soo Saint Marie": This one has to be one of the wildest spellings of them all.
5. Tecumseh - pronounced "tuh-KUM-see": This one looks easier than it actually is.
6. Charlotte - pronounced "shar-LOT": You'll catch a LOT of flack if you pronounce this like the city in North Carolina.

At the end of the day, you can tell a lot about someone by how they pronounce a Michigan city name... but mostly whether or not you're from Michigan.