Nevada - listen here to pronounce it correctly

[LVZ]

Correct pronunciation: Ne-va-duh ("a" as in cat) Click image to listen.

http://ideaboomer.com/wave-player.html?nevada.wav">

The far too common incorrect pronunciation of our state has been perpetuated by the provincial nature of the East Coast news media. East Coast "talking heads" learn how to pronounce Kazakhstan but won't take 20 seconds to do a little regional research to learn how to pronounce western states Nevada and Colorado.

Any news anchor who would mispronounce Illinois as "Illi-noise" or New Hampshire as "New Hamp-shy're" or Des Moines, Iowa as "Dez Moynz" would be laughed at. That person would not likely be working very long on television if it became a habitual mistake. Yet almost half of the national news media have not made any effort at basic regional education about proper pronunciation of Nevada and Colorado.

IMO, national journalists disrespect the western United States when they don't care enough to be educated about this region of the country. They also serve as bad examples to the average citizen, who unfortunately rely on them for a presumably "better informed" knowledge of world events and culture.

When George W. Bush came to Nevada in 2003 and repeatedly mispronounced Nevada, he was rightly criticized by local media, including the conservative Las Vegas Review-Journal. Why should we hold a bumbling Bush to a higher standard than the national news media?

Many, if not most, names of cities, states, and nations of Spanish origin have a different pronunciation in English. Supposedly educated national journalists have no trouble with the American vs Spanish pronunciation of Mexico, Cuba, Los Angeles, Tucson, Toledo, Loma Linda, Santa Monica, California, Montana, or Florida.

The East Coast media also have no trouble with the American pronunciation of words like 'rodeo' of Spanish origin. Why then, do so many journalists have so much difficulty with proper pronunciation of Nevada and Colorado?

After so many decades, isn't it time that "journalists" educate themselves?

Those who say it right:

Tim Russert, Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell, Chuck Todd, Keith Olbermann, Contessa Brewer, Bill Wolfe, Norah O'Donnell, Wolf Blitzer, Candy Crowley, Anderson Cooper, Richard Lui, Lou Dobbs, Shepard Smith, and more

Those who need education:

Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams, Joe Scarborough, Dan Abrams, John Harwood, Monica Navotny, Dana Milbank, Willie Geist and many more

Listen to pronunciation: http://ideaboomer.com/wave-player.html?nevada.wav

[cali]

1. How can I say this?

I don't give a shit how people pronounce it. And for the record, having spent my early childhood in CA, I pronounce it in a way that would please you.

You've posted at least 4 of these ridiculous threads in the last couple of days. This issue has gotta be up there on the list of most inane topics posted on DU.

[parasim]

2. I find it kind of funny.

I just moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida and although I have always said mel-born, I've noticed some locals say mel-burn.

So, I asked a local the other day, how I should pronounce it because I didn't want to say it wrong and he said, "Who cares? Pronounce it how you want."

You say Ne-va-da, I say Ne-vah-da, oh, let's just call the whole thing off.

[cali]

3. Newcomers to Vermont

consistently mispronounce Calais. My mother still misprounces Montpelier. It's just silly harping on this stuff.

[ChiciB1]

43. Well Gee... I Want to Play Too... How Do You Pronounce Nokomis??

[nvnusman]

48. Nokomis

I'll try: nuh KOH miss

[LVZ]

37. Anger Management?

Earlier post - variations on a theme. This post is more comprehensive.

The purpose is quite simple - something I would call "viral education".

Resistance is futile! :kick:

[TankLV]

41. Figure YOU'd say it.

disgusting...

oh, and FUCK YOU, too for your lack of concern...

[Arkansas Granny]

4. Oh, I see. You're talking about the state. Interestingly, there is

a small town in Missouri not to far from where I grew up that pronounces the name completely different.

Nevada Missouri, pronounced "nuh-VAY-duh," is a city in Vernon County, Missouri, United States. Nevada is characterized by its friendly atmosphere, development opportunities, civic pride and responsive government.

http://www.nevadamo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=127

It was very confusing for me when we studied geography in grade school.

[Ravy]

25. Us Missourians pronounce a lot of our town names differently.

Versailles comes to mind.

[qnr]

33. Yeah, similar to how they pronounce Las Vegas, New Mexico - totally different. n/t

[cboy4]

5. I noticed (during one broadcast this past week),

that Brian Williams is no longer pronouncing it Ne-VAH-da, thank goodness.

I heard it no fewer than a dozen times that evening and it was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Having said this, I don't think mispronouncing the state is a reflection on anyone's journalism skills.

It's just irritating.

P.S. Calm down Cali. You're so uptight about this.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. I'm going to START pronouncing it incorrectly

Just because I'm so sick of this topic.

For spite, ya heard?

[cboy4]

10. If I were you, I'd concentrate on spelling "ya" correctly.

Plus, "start" is not capitalized, unless you're referring to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Just trying to help.

[rucky]

12. Why do you hate Minnesotans? n/t

[cboy4]

14. I love Minnesotans. Almost as much as I love the people in

Ore-GONE. :bounce:

[Arugula Latte]

44. Hey! That's Ore-uh-gun! NOT Ore-eh-gone!

:)

[LVZ]

40. American Heritage: Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon (listen)

American Heritage Dictionary pronunciation

CO http://lasvalley.com/audio-player.html?colorado.wav
MN http://lasvalley.com/audio-player.html?minnesota.wav
MO http://lasvalley.com/audio-player.html?missouri.wav
NV http://lasvalley.com/audio-player.html?nevada.wav
OR http://lasvalley.com/audio-player.html?oregon.wav

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[alcibiades_mystery]

23. Thanks for your feedback

:hi:

[cboy4]

24. Of course!! I'm here to help.

:hi:

[ChazII]

7. Hi Neighbor,

Since I live in the same region, our journalists pronounce it correctly. Face it, to some people in the media any state west of the Mississippi River is unimportant. California being the exception. (Before I get flamed, I did say SOME) Remember in the last general election NYT mixed up AZ and NM on their map of showing who won each state. That being said, it really doesn't bother me and I think Oregon faces the same problem.

[NashVegas]

8. Persecution Complex?

Lot of French place-names that get horribly mis-pronounced where I live.

Yet, I don't see our locals try to correct anyone from out of town into saying "la - FAY - it."

[last_texas_dem]

9. Interesting

Someone from my part of the country who pronounced Nevada "properly" would stick out like a sore thumb. That pronunciation just seems kind of... whiny, or something, to me. I don't mean any offense by that at all; just my impression of the pronunciation. Being from the south I pronounce plenty of things oddly myself.

[rucky]

11. Should we call foreign countries by their native names?

They don't seem to mind when we call them Germany, Japan, Finland, etc

:shrug:

[LVZ]

46. yes, if you are speaking German, Japanese or Finnish (your examples) or ...

it would also be considerate to use the native pronunciation, even when speaking English, if you are speaking to a German, Japanese or Finnish person.

::

[Rydz777]

13. Yours is the definitive comment on the subject. eom

[Phx_Dem]

15. It's a spanish word

but Nevadans don't want to use the spanish pronunciation. God forbid. :eyes:

[LVZ]

16. Los Angeles, Tucson, Toledo, California, Montana, Florida

All pronounced different in English.

[Phx_Dem]

18. not really

the only sig difference is with LA. All the rest sound pretty much the same, especially the vowels.

[LVZ]

19. wrong - none are the same n/t

[Girlieman]

22. Really

Toledo = toe lay doe

California = Kah lee for nee ah

Florida = Floor ee dah

etc...

[Phx_Dem]

27. Very minor differences

Lets look at some CA cities:

ALHAMBRA ALTURA ALTADENA ALTURAS AZUZA

CALLIMESA CAMMARILLO CHICO CHULA VISTA COSTA MESA

EL CAJON EL CENTRO EL DORADO EL MONTE ESCONDIDO

LA HABRA LE PUENTE LOS GATOS LOS MOLINOS LOS OSOS

MILPITAS MIRA LOMA MODESTO MOJAVE

RANCHO CORDOVA RANCHO CUCOMONGA RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA

SAN ANDREAS SAN BERADINO SAN BRUNO SAN CLEMETE SAN DIEGO SAN FERNANDO

SAN JOSE SAN LUIS OBISPO SAN MARCOS SAN PABLO SAN PEDRO SAN RAMON

SAN YISEDRO SANTA ANA SANTA CRUZ SANTA CLARITA SANTA ROSA

The VAST majority of CA spanish place names are pronounced like in spanish. That is sort of the expectation imo, when one picks a spanish name in the first place.

[LVZ]

29. first 'a' in Nevada (English) is the same as with all San [name] cities - not the Spanish way

[IDemo]

28. "Nueva York", anyone?

[cboy4]

17. Right. I'm sure when it comes to Los Angeles and

San Francisco, you utilize the "spanish pronunciation," ha?

Do you pronounce New Mexico:

"New Mexi-coe" OR "New Meh-he-coe?"



on edit...typo

[mrmx9]

21. How to Hispanics in Nevada pronounce the state when speaking Spanish

Just wanted to know - its a Spanish word so why not use the Spanish pronounciation. Maybe in should be Las Begas (i.e. pronounce the v like a b).

[cboy4]

26. They pronounce it "NEB-AH-THAH." --- I mean, at

least that's using the correct Spanish pronunciation.

What is "Nev-AH-Da?"

As you point out, the "v" is supposed to be pronounced like a "b" if the intent is to use the Spanish pronunciation.

Nev-AH-da is nothing other than "Spinglish."

[LVZ]

47. It takes a lot of chutzpah to try to tell Nevadans how to pronounce their own state. n/t

[JohnnyLib2]

20. Hang tough, LVZ--it's a "teachable moment."

I moved from the west to Kentucky and learned to say "Ver-sales" when speaking about Versailles, KY. It isn't that big a sacrifice!

:evilgrin:

[LVZ]

45. NBC Brian Williams - one down, 100 "talking heads" to go --- n/t

[Colobo]

30. Nevada is just a Spanish word. Pronounce it as if you were speaking Spanish.

[LVZ]

32. Sheesh - some East Coasters just don't get it. We live here and we make the decision, not you.

Outsiders don't decide what is the proper pronunciation of our state.

The Spanish pronunciation of Mexico, Cuba, Los Angeles, Toledo, California, Montana, Florida, Nevada and Colorado is not the same as how these places are pronounced in English.

[Phx_Dem]

34. How do you pronounce Missouri?

because the Missourians insist it's "Missourah"

[LVZ]

35. I think that you will find it varies depending upon which part of Missouri you reside.

http://inogolo.com/pronunciation/d392/Missouri

Notes: All authorities consulted prefer the pronunciation mih-ZUR-ee.

An alternate pronounciation preferred by some Missourians is mih-ZUR-uh.

In The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations (Elster), Charles Elster discusses in detail the ongoing debate about the correct pronunciation of the last syllable Missouri. Is it -ee or -uh? In June 1976 and again in 1989 the Midwest Motorist magazine conducted a poll of Missourians from all over the state for their preferred pronunciation of their state.

In 1976, 60 percent of Missourians chose -ee as preferred.

In 1989, 66 percent of Missourians chose -ee as preferred.

There is no such debate in Nevada. Nevada is pronounced Ne-va-duh. ('a' as in cat).

http://inogolo.com/pronunciation/d125/Nevada

Nevada
western state in the United States

Name: Nevada
Phonetic Pronunciation: neh-VA-duh

Tags: US states nevada

Notes: Sometimes mispronounced as neh-VAH-duh.

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[nvnusman]

49. Miss?ourah

Thought they said Mizzourah.

[Girlieman]

38. "Outsiders don't decide what is the proper pronunciation of our state."

Ha ha, that's funny. When did you decide how your state's name would be pronounced?

FYI, "insiders" don't get to dictate how the name of their state is pronounced *outside* the borders of their state.

So there. <sticking out tongue>

[LVZ]

39. Yes, one can always opt for cultural ignorance, in fact, that's a common world opinion of Americans

A common European joke:

Q: What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
A: bilingual

Q: What do you call someone who speaks three languages?
A: trilingual

Q: What do you call someone who only speaks one language?
A: American :patriot:

[nvnusman]

50. Riiiight!

That's right.

That's how we identify them as furrinurrs and charge them extra!

[LVZ]

42. Re: Spanish word. Then presumably, when you speak English ...

When you speak English, do you also say ...

Lows-an-heh-les (Los Angeles) ::: Sawn-frawn-see-skow (San Francisco) ::: Toe-lay-doe (Toledo)

Tuck-sun (Tucson) ::: Caw-lee-four-nee-ah (California) ::: New Meh-he-coe (New Mexico)

Floor-ee-dah (Florida) ::: Coe-low-raw-dough (Colorado) ::: Moan-tawn-yuh (Montana)

::: Coo-buh (Cuba)

or, like almost all Americans do you instead use the standard anglicized versions of these places?

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[Quixote1818]

31. Thats the way I pronounce it, however my Dad was born in Lovelock, NV

and grew up in Reno.

[LVZ]

36. inogolo.com - "English Pronunciation Guide to the Names of People, Places, and Stuff"

Nevada
western state in the United States

Name: Nevada
Phonetic Pronunciation: neh-VA-duh
Audio Pronunciation: http://inogolo.com/audio/Nevada_631.mp3

Tags: US states nevada

Notes: Sometimes mispronounced as neh-VAH-duh.

http://inogolo.com/pronunciation/d125/Nevada

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