How to properly pronounce towns in New Jersey (Passaic: pre-school, transit)

[NEWARK MAGIC]

Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny

I've always said "e-liz-a-bith"; close to yours, but I have to be honest that the "beth" I pronounce "bith".



I dated a girl from Kearney years ago who said "noork". I, and everyone I've known in my part of NJ, have always said "NEW-erk". All my life that is how I heard it till this girl said "noork". So to tease her I used to call her town "KER-nee", even though I knew it was pronounced "CAR-nee", and I also called Newark "NEW-ARK", like the one in Delaware, lol.

Most non-Newarkers do say it the way you do. But most native Newarkers, especially the "Down Neck" crowd say "noork."

[skapur]

Who cares how it is pranownced???

[86Sebring]

how about Succasunna, naughnight, Carteret, Metedeconk...
Who came up with these names anyway
When we looked at a house in Wanaque, I pronounced it we ne ki ; the realtor was lauging

[EB2]

Originally Posted by 86Sebring

how about Succasunna, naughnight, Carteret, Metedeconk...
Who came up with these names anyway
When we looked at a house in Wanaque, I pronounced it we ne ki ; the realtor was lauging

More than likely, a lot of Native American names.

And I just Googled.

Succasunna is Lenni-Lenape, couldn't find info on the others, but Metedeconk sounds like it may be, as well.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by NEWARK MAGIC

Most non-Newarkers do say it the way you do. But most native Newarkers, especially the "Down Neck" crowd say "noork."

This is so funny. One of my roommates is originally from Kearny and she says "Noork". She also says "Stoorts", for "Stewarts", the Scottish food shop in Kearny.

I'll have to tell her she isn't alone.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by 86Sebring

how about Succasunna, naughnight, Carteret, Metedeconk...
Who came up with these names anyway
When we looked at a house in Wanaque, I pronounced it we ne ki ; the realtor was lauging

Carteret is the only one I know--definitely not a Native name.

The Duke of York leased what is now New Jersey to two pals of his, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley. A relative of Sir George's, Philip Carteret, became governor of the colony.

[cammyspot]

Originally Posted by Busch Boy

I'll start it off. I've heard many people pronounce Passaic as "Puss-sake". It should really be pronounced "Puss-say-ick". Another one is Kearny. A native told me it should be pronounced "Car-knee" and not "Ker-knee".

I was born and raised in that city and it should be pronouced Pa-sake, not the way you wrote it---Passaic. Thanks.

[cammyspot]

Originally Posted by Busch Boy

This one is hard to pronounce. The only reason I know how to pronounce it is because I'm a Rutgers guy and there's a building on the NB campus called Frelinghuysen.

ITA--Rutgers Alum here too!

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by cammyspot

I was born and raised in that city and it should be pronouced Pa-sake, not the way you wrote it---Passaic. Thanks.

THANK YOU. I thought I was wrong, but I didn't live there. It's ALWAYS been "Pa-sake" as far as I know, and we used to laugh (giving away my age here) because Corporal Agarn from F-Troop was supposedly from Passaic, NJ, and he pronounced it wrong.

The fake computer-woman voice on my NJ Transit train says it the three-syllable way, too. It annoys me.

[Busch Boy]

Originally Posted by cammyspot

I was born and raised in that city and it should be pronouced Pa-sake, not the way you wrote it---Passaic. Thanks.

IDK, I still stick by my pronunciation of Passaic as "Puss-say-ick". I also am a native of the town. I was born in General hospital (back when it was called that, LOL) and lived there for 11 years. My mother also lived there for 30 years and she pronounces it the same way.
We always get told "you guys are true natives" by others who grew up there b/c of our pronounciation.