Pronunciation of "Missouri"

A forum for discussing US dialects (accents).

How do you pronounce "Missouri"?

1. M(i)-zu-ri
4
80%
2. M(i)-zu-ra
0
No votes
3. M(i)-su-ri
1
20%
4. M(i)-su-ra
0
No votes
5. Other (please specify)
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 5

Audiendus
Wordmaster
Posts: 908
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:08 pm
Location: London, UK

Pronunciation of "Missouri"

Postby Audiendus » Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:57 am

As a Britisher, I am interested in the many possible variations in the pronunciation of this name. I would like to take a poll of the Americans on this site. Close approximations are sufficient for options 1-4.

User avatar
Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 8040
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
Location: Finger Lakes, NY

Postby Slava » Wed Sep 29, 2010 3:41 pm

I'm pretty sure #2 is how the natives pronounce it, but I believe the majority outside the state say #1.

Along the same lines, a city in NY, Oswego, is Ah-swee-go to most. It's Swe-ga to the locals.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

AnneBerbling
Junior Lexiterian
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:10 pm
Location: Missouri

Missouri Pronunciation

Postby AnneBerbling » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:18 pm

Missouri native here, and it's definitely the first choice down here in the "Bootheel" ~ (Cotton Country)...I think that goes for the rest of the state as well, with the possible exception of the University of Missouri/Columbia's Tigers bumper sticker, which says "Mizzou-RAH!" :wink:

Stargzer
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 2578
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:56 pm
Location: Crownsville, MD

Postby Stargzer » Sat Apr 02, 2011 11:08 pm

"Mi ZUR ee" to this native Warshintonian (Warshington, DC, pronounced with an "r"), who works outside of the port city of BAWla-mer.
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee

sluggo
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1476
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:58 pm
Location: Carolinia Agrestícia: The Forest Primeval

Postby sluggo » Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:32 pm

I've heard both #1 and #2 but have never heard it pronounced with an unvoiced S (3 & 4) anywhere.

A worthy companion poll might be one on the pronunciation of Louisville.
Stop! Murder us not, tonsured rumpots! Knife no one, fink!


Return to “The Rebel-Yankee Test”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests