10 Local Names That Out-Of-Towner’s Have No Clue How To Pronounce

You may not think about it much, or at all, but you are an expert when it comes to pronouncing community, places, and waterway names in the Southern Tier that outsiders would have no clue how to pronounce correctly, much less spell correctly.

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Take from me, who up until the late 1970s was not from this area, there are many names that I just butchered when I landed for the first time on the shores of the greater Binghamton area. Okay, I arrived by car. It just sounded better.

Each of the following community names, places, or bodies of water was not easy for me to learn, and you know out-of-towners who try, have the same issues at our expense of a good old laugh.

Here are just a few of many others that an out-of-towner would have a hard time pronouncing correctly.

Let's start with Binghamton. No, it's not like South Hampton. There is no Hampton in Binghamton. You and I can't count how many times non-residents stumble over this word. And what are the odds an out-of-towner spells it with a 'P?' Just say it fast - Bing-am-tun.

Spieide. Even I screw up the spelling sometimes. I've heard 'Spidy', and 'Speed-eye' a few times. Sometimes I get weird looks just explaining what a Spiedie is. Is it that difficult to understand? So simple - Speedy.

Canasawacta. Yes, I can definitely understand the problem of figuring this pronunciation out. It's a creek, a golf club, a nursing home, a street, and who knows what else. I like to pronounce it and listen to out-of-towners stumble at trying. Give it a try - Can-ah-sah-wok-ta.

Genegantslet. Probably my favorite tough area name to pronounce. It took me a while to learn to get it right and spell it correctly. And the look on the face of our-of-towners is priceless. Yes, go ahead and give that name a try, I will ask. Just don't get mad when I burst out laughing. Yea, I can be cruel. Go ahead - Jenna-gant-slet.

Otsiningo/Otsinengo. Two names, same pronunciation. A park, a street, and another name for those not familiar with will most likely mess up big time. Pronounce it - Ot-si-ning-go.

Owego. One-go, We-go, Oh-ee-go. Oswego. Oh my gosh, please stop. Oh-we-go. You know, like what the soldiers were chanting in the movie 'The Wizard of Oz?' Sorry, just a bit of humor there.

Apalachin. Appalachian. Does it look like we are in the Appalachian Mountains? If you are like me, you have become numb to this mixup of names from this Tioga County community and a huge mountain range that runs through many eastern states. Appa-lake-in. Or as my wife says - Apple-ache-in.

En-Joie. I used to spell this Enjoie in my early years. Finally, I straightened up. I've heard En-Joey and En-Joe. Make it simple for out-of-towners. Just spell it out as N-Joy. We'll all be 'joy' full for it. Enjoy pronnouncing it correctly.

Nineveh. Nine-vah. Ninny-vay. No way. 'Nin' like 'tin' - 'e' - 'vah' like pa with a v. And there you go.

Ouaguaga. Confession - I had to look this one up for the correct spelling. Whatever. Owe-gua-ga. Wa-guaga. Oua-goa-ga. Nah. Simply Oh-Kwag-Ah.