The Official Guide to Pronouncing words in Utah (accent, drivers)

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

Hmm. Does that carry over to kitten as "ki-in", mitten as "mi-in" etc?

Yeah, it sort of does.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

And while we're at it, for us it's "Ca-lo-rah-do", not "Ca-lo-rad-o" and "Nuh-vah-duh" not "Nuh-vad-uh."

Both of which would be incorrect according to the people who live there.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by elcee499

Hooper - HUP-per

That implies that it rhymes with upper, though, which it doesn't. I'd say the double-O would be pronounced like the double-O in book, foot, cook or look.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Both of which would be incorrect according to the people who live there.

Well, ok..... But don't us in the dark, what would be the correct local pronunciation?

[CCSLC]

I can't speak for our eastern neighbors as I hear both "Ca-lo-rah-do" and "Ca-lo-rad-o" here in Utah (and I, a native Utahn, say "Ca-lo-rah-do").

I am CERTAIN, however, that Nevadans say "Nuh-vad-uh." Nothing will mark you as an outsider to the west faster than saying "NeVAHda."

[MisfitBanana]

Originally Posted by CCSLC

I can't speak for our eastern neighbors as I hear both "Ca-lo-rah-do" and "Ca-lo-rad-o" here in Utah (and I, a native Utahn, say "Ca-lo-rah-do").

I am CERTAIN, however, that Nevadans say "Nuh-vad-uh." Nothing will mark you as an outsider to the west faster than saying "NeVAHda."

This. I know multiple people who have lived there their whole lives, and it's never ne-VAW-duh or ne-VAH-duh - however you want to make it.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

Well, ok..... But don't us in the dark, what would be the correct local pronunciation?

Nuh-VAD-duh
Cahl-lor-AD-doh

In both cases, the accented syllable has a short 'a' sound, like in the word 'cat.' In other words, the sound would me more like 'add' than 'odd.'

[Katzpur]

I just thought of a few more...

Alta is pronounced AL-tuh (the first syllable being pronounced like the man's name, Al), not AHL-tuh. Again, a short 'a'. We can always stop an out-of-state skier by the way the pronounce this resort name.

I heard a tourist stumble over 'Lehi' once; it sounded something like "LEH-hee." This Book of Mormon name is pronounced "LEE-high." Likewise, 'Nephi,' isn't "NEF-ee"; it's "NEE-figh."

[kaytidid]

NEF-ee? LEH-ee? *giggles*

[jfitt]

I lived for 55 years in MA and it was always You-TAR never herd the You-TAW until I moved to NevADah---don't say Ne-VAH-da or folks will know you are not from this state. Just tune into a Las Vegas news station sometime and listen to the intro.

OH WELL, POTATO, POTAHTO---

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

This has to be some kind generalized regional thing depending on where those out-of-staters are from. Southern? Midwestern? California? I can't ever, ever recall anybody in the northeast calling it anything other than You-taw. Neither can my wife.

And while we're at it, for us it's "Ca-lo-rah-do", not "Ca-lo-rad-o" and "Nuh-vah-duh" not "Nuh-vad-uh."
What's the local pronunciation of these neighboring states with far inferior snow?