Mispronounced Localities in NM (Ruidoso, Raton: versus, radio, best)

[Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by GregW

North of Silver City is a tiny town spelled Mogollon. I have wondered how it is pronounced. Mogolon or Muggy-On?

moe-go-YONE.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by GregW

North of Silver City is a tiny town spelled Mogollon. I have wondered how it is pronounced. Mogolon or Muggy-On?

I've never heard it any other way than: muggy-own.

[TKO]

Moe go yone is correct.

I hear Donna Ana County all the time.

[tangelag]

Originally Posted by GregW

North of Silver City is a tiny town spelled Mogollon. I have wondered how it is pronounced. Mogolon or Muggy-On?


We were there eight years ago and would like to visit again (and take the Bursum Road) to Rt 60 but I read that floods had closed the roads to all but heavy duty 4WD trucks and similar. We usually rent a small FWD compact so our travels are a bit limited.

The Anglo pronunciation I have heard is "muggy yone". In Spanish the pronunciation is "mo go yon " (rhymes with lone), which I prefer.

[tangelag]

Another I hear is 'ri-uh-do-so' instead of 'rue -ee-doe-so' for Ruidoso.

[WestGuest]

Tajique ? Looks like a pretty place.

[Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by WestGuest

Tajique ? Looks like a pretty place.

Pretty close to the recent dog head fire, so may not look as pretty now.

ta-HEE-kay.

[Cactus Hibs]

Originally Posted by GregW

North of Silver City is a tiny town spelled Mogollon. I have wondered how it is pronounced. Mogolon or Muggy-On?


We were there eight years ago and would like to visit again (and take the Bursum Road) to Rt 60 but I read that floods had closed the roads to all but heavy duty 4WD trucks and similar. We usually rent a small FWD compact so our travels are a bit limited.

"Mogollon" is actually used more broadly to refer to the entire mountainous area from the Black Range/Gila west and northwest into Arizona and up almost to I-40 near Flagstaff. It's also used by archaeologists and historians to refer to the prehistoric people who lived in this area (ancestors of the Hopi and Zuni, and maybe the Navajo).

As others have said it's "Muggy-own" in English and "Moe Go-YONE" in Spanish. I don't think I've ever heard anyone pronounce the double LL's as an English "L" unless it was the very first time they encountered the word.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by tangelag

Another I hear is 'ri-uh-do-so' instead of 'rue -ee-doe-so' for Ruidoso.

I don't usually hear the "ee" - rather it's slurred to be closer to "rue-ih-doe-suh.

Thought I'd add, for those who don't know, "ruidoso" is Spanish for "noisy" and references the Rio Ruidoso, which is more "babbling" than "noisy" IMO.

[GregW]

I guess we will just have to go back and listen to the residents. Have they repaired the washed out road enough that a small rental sedan can be used?