Proper Pronunciation of "Colorado" (Lakewood: mayor, economy, resident)

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by j96g

Maybe this will help. Click on the link and hear it for yourself!:

inogolo - Pronunciation of Colorado : How to pronounce Colorado

"Correct?" Only if you're some Midwesterner. In most of southern and western Colorado, you will hear predominantly the Spanish pronunciation, both among Anglos and Hispanics. Colorado is a Spanish word after all, much of the state was originally part of Mexico, a dozen and a half counties have Spanish names, etc., etc.

[rushhournewb]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

"Correct?" Only if you're some Midwesterner. In most of southern and western Colorado, you will hear predominantly the Spanish pronunciation, both among Anglos and Hispanics. Colorado is a Spanish word after all, much of the state was originally part of Mexico, a dozen and a half counties have Spanish names, etc., etc.

I bet you voted for "Co-lo-rah-do". The audio pronunciation that somebody linked us to is, surprisingly, correct. So what if Colorado is "a Spanish word". So is La Junta but it's not pronounced "La Hoonta".
And I've lived in Colorado most of my life and have no Midwest bones in my body. Hope you're OK with sounding like a transplant even though you describe yourself as a native.

[Gunluvver2]

I spent my first 17 years in Eastern Col-o-rad-uh. I was told by an English teacher living in Nebraska that the correct pronunciation was Col-o-rad-oh. The next time I visit relatives I will tell them they have been wrong for all these years.

GL2

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by rushhournewb

And I've lived in Colorado most of my life and have no Midwest bones in my body. Hope you're OK with sounding like a transplant even though you describe yourself as a native.

Well, I AM a Colorado native, and have probably lived here way longer than you. Where you hear the "short 'a'" pronuniciation is where the Midwest influence on Colorado is more pervasive, which includes the Front Range cities (not counting Pueblo) and most of the Eastern Plains. In most of western and southern Colorado, where the Spanish influence is more prounounced, you will hear the Spanish pronunciation predominantly. Guess where I live? Not on the Front Range.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

"Correct?" Only if you're some Midwesterner. In most of southern and western Colorado, you will hear predominantly the Spanish pronunciation, both among Anglos and Hispanics. Colorado is a Spanish word after all, much of the state was originally part of Mexico, a dozen and a half counties have Spanish names, etc., etc.

Not around Durango. However the originals there were mainly from the Midwest and they often used the "duh" on the end just as gunluvver2 said.

[rushhournewb]

I've been watching the USA Challenge bike race the past few days. Every single announcer pronounced our state name correctly. Well, except the guys from England but they're British you know.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by rushhournewb

I've been watching the USA Challenge bike race the past few days. Every single announcer pronounced our state name correctly. Well, except the guys from England but they're British you know.

Here's a big newsflash for you: Most TV announcers are trained to speak in a non-descript MIDWESTERN accent. No surprise that they would mispronounce Spanish place names. Also, few newscasters in Colorado are actually FROM Colorado, so they often don't know how to properly pronounce Spanish or Indian place names, either. Listen to how many of them butcher "Saguache" and "Huerfano," for example. As for the Brits, unlike Americans, most Europeans are required to learn more than one language in school. Maybe those Brits actually do know how to pronounce Spanish words. Did you ever think of that?

Of course, what do I know?--I'm just a half-century-plus Colorado native who also happens to be at least a little bit bi-lingual. I'll bet you don't even know what my status line says.

[j96g]

Well the link said this: Notes: The syllable with emphasis rhymes with 'bad'. All the authorities consulted list this as the preferred pronunciation. The pronunciation kah-luh-RAH-doe is sometimes used by non-natives.

It really doesn't say "correct", just preferred. I personally prounounce it with the "raw" sound. As in Co(llar)-la-raw-dough. But I was born and raised in Texas and just went with what newscasters and the WEather channel pronounced it. But then, I'm bilingual and know how to pronounce it the spanish way too, but usually use the above mentioned pronounciation.

[rushhournewb]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Here's a big newsflash for you: Most TV announcers are trained to speak in a non-descript MIDWESTERN accent. No surprise that they would mispronounce Spanish place names. Also, few newscasters in Colorado are actually FROM Colorado, so they often don't know how to properly pronounce Spanish or Indian place names, either. Listen to how many of them butcher "Saguache" and "Huerfano," for example. As for the Brits, unlike Americans, most Europeans are required to learn more than one language in school. Maybe those Brits actually do know how to pronounce Spanish words. Did you ever think of that?

Of course, what do I know?--I'm just a half-century-plus Colorado native who also happens to be at least a little bit bi-lingual. I'll bet you don't even know what my status line says.

I read it as they were trained to pronounce Colorado correctly, regardless of this Midwestern malarky you keep foisting on us. I've lived here longer than you, believe it or not. I also speak Spanish better than you. I read your "status line". It says "and I mispronounce our state name, so sue me!"

[SouthXSW]

I don't think it matters. Pronounce the way you see fit. I hear both all the time. Similar to Missour-ee and Missour-ah.