As a city founded by French immigrants along a major port, most of our streets are named in foreign languages -- and we pronounce them in a bastardized fashion. And then sometimes our country grammar causes a uniquely Midwestern weirdness with vowels that further complicates our St. Louis dialect. Welcome to STL; some words just come out weird around hurre.
21 Words That St. Louis Natives Can’t Pronounce for Shit
By Riverfront Times Staff on Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 6:16 pm
As a city founded by French immigrants along a major port, most of our streets are named in foreign languages -- and we pronounce them in a bastardized fashion. And then sometimes our country grammar causes a uniquely Midwestern weirdness with vowels that further complicates our St. Louis dialect. Welcome to STL; some words just come out weird around hurre.
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44
In St. Louis, it is very common to change "o" sounds to "a" sounds. This means that when some people say "Highway 44" it sounds like "Highway Farty Far."
Photo courtesy of Doug Kerr / Flickr
In St. Louis, it is very common to change "o" sounds to "a" sounds. This means that when some people say "Highway 44" it sounds like "Highway Farty Far."
Photo courtesy of Doug Kerr / Flickr
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Wash
You know you're old-school St. Louis if you drop an "R" into the middle of "wash." Like, "I need to warsh these clothes."
Photo courtesy of Rob D / Flickr
You know you're old-school St. Louis if you drop an "R" into the middle of "wash." Like, "I need to warsh these clothes."
Photo courtesy of Rob D / Flickr
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Herre and Thurr
Nelly famously exaggerated this very STL drawl, where we use a whole bunch of "R"s everywhurr.
Photo courtesy of YouTube
Nelly famously exaggerated this very STL drawl, where we use a whole bunch of "R"s everywhurr.
Photo courtesy of YouTube
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Born
This is always a problem. Here, "born" in all forms sounds like "barn." Talking about a newborn might have people thinking that you've built a new house for your horses.
Photo courtesy of smilla4 / Flickr
This is always a problem. Here, "born" in all forms sounds like "barn." Talking about a newborn might have people thinking that you've built a new house for your horses.
Photo courtesy of smilla4 / Flickr
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Spoede
If you're driving down highway farty and you say take the SPAY-dee exit, people will know what you mean. But if you pronounce it properly (SPOH-duh), nobody is going to know what you're talking about.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
If you're driving down highway farty and you say take the SPAY-dee exit, people will know what you mean. But if you pronounce it properly (SPOH-duh), nobody is going to know what you're talking about.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
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Creve Coeur
We know this one should be "Crehv-curr" but we're stuck on "Creeve-core."
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
We know this one should be "Crehv-curr" but we're stuck on "Creeve-core."
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
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Fork
If someone in St. Louis says "hand me that fark," what they mean is "hand me that thing that usually hangs out next to a spoon."
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
If someone in St. Louis says "hand me that fark," what they mean is "hand me that thing that usually hangs out next to a spoon."
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
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Bellefontaine
It should be "Bell-fon-TAINE" but here it's just "Bell-fountain." Or sometimes even "Bell-E-fountain."
Photo courtesy of henskechristine / Flickr
It should be "Bell-fon-TAINE" but here it's just "Bell-fountain." Or sometimes even "Bell-E-fountain."
Photo courtesy of henskechristine / Flickr
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Gravois
Your map app will always say this as "Grav-WAH" but that makes us giggle because it's clearly "Grav-OY" or even "Grav-OIZE" here.
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
Your map app will always say this as "Grav-WAH" but that makes us giggle because it's clearly "Grav-OY" or even "Grav-OIZE" here.
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
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Chouteau
Apparently, this is supposed to sound like "shoe-TOE" but we're sticking with "SHOW-toe."
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Apparently, this is supposed to sound like "shoe-TOE" but we're sticking with "SHOW-toe."
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
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DeBaliviere
We've said this as "Duh-BOLL-uh-ver" so long that we have no idea how to properly prounounce it.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
We've said this as "Duh-BOLL-uh-ver" so long that we have no idea how to properly prounounce it.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
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Missouri
Politicians running for office will sometimes pronounce this as "Missourah" when they're trying to appeal to their rural constituents outside the city. Hey, whatever works.
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
Politicians running for office will sometimes pronounce this as "Missourah" when they're trying to appeal to their rural constituents outside the city. Hey, whatever works.
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
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Goethe
Literature lovers know that this word is properly said "GURR-tah" but even people who live on this street insist on calling it "Go-thee."
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Literature lovers know that this word is properly said "GURR-tah" but even people who live on this street insist on calling it "Go-thee."
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
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Gratiot
This should be "Grah-see-oh" but everybody around here always says "GRATSH-it." Like, rhymes with ratchet.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
This should be "Grah-see-oh" but everybody around here always says "GRATSH-it." Like, rhymes with ratchet.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
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Illinois
Some people around here really think that you're supposed to prounounce the "S" and make it "Ill-en-NOISE"
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Emerson / DVM
Some people around here really think that you're supposed to prounounce the "S" and make it "Ill-en-NOISE"
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Emerson / DVM
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Jungermann Road
We really use that "J" in Jungermann. Apparently it's supposed to be a "Y" sound but we're Midwesterners, not Scandinavians.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
We really use that "J" in Jungermann. Apparently it's supposed to be a "Y" sound but we're Midwesterners, not Scandinavians.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
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Northwest Plaza
This might be the Gateway to the West, but it's "north" that comes out funny. Like when people say "Northwest Plaza" it often sounds like "Narthwest Plaza."
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
This might be the Gateway to the West, but it's "north" that comes out funny. Like when people say "Northwest Plaza" it often sounds like "Narthwest Plaza."
Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr
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Koeln
This is a German word that is supposed to sound like "Kouln," but if you talk to any of your Carondelet friends, it is most certainly "KELL-in."
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
This is a German word that is supposed to sound like "Kouln," but if you talk to any of your Carondelet friends, it is most certainly "KELL-in."
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
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Pho
We've been blessed with so many pho spots in St. Louis, but everyone here says "foe" and thinks that they're pronouncing it correctly. It really should be more like "fuh."
Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen
We've been blessed with so many pho spots in St. Louis, but everyone here says "foe" and thinks that they're pronouncing it correctly. It really should be more like "fuh."
Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen
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St. Francois County
Drop the fancy airs, Frenchie. For some reason we pounounce this as "St. Frances County."
Photo courtesy of J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
Drop the fancy airs, Frenchie. For some reason we pounounce this as "St. Frances County."
Photo courtesy of J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
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