Whether you have lived in Arizona for decades or are a newcomer, there are certain words that may trip you up. You might have pronounced Gila Monster with great authority, only to have people chuckle or raise an eyebrow. And don't get us started on Prescott. We've all been there. To make things as confusing as possible, some Arizona words randomly take on the English pronunciation, while others take on Spanish.
To make life a little easier, we rounded up 27 words, including the names of towns, canyons or rivers, that often trip people up. Use it next time you're playing good tour guide or when you want to flex your locals-only Arizona knowledge.
Here's your guide to some of the most commonly mispronounced Arizona words.
Ajo
Ajo is the Spanish word for garlic and is pronounced "A-ho."
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Agua Fria
Say "ah-gwah" with a very soft g and roll the r in "free-ah."
Ahwatukee
Ahwatukee, pronounced "ah-wuh-too-kee," is an urban village in the southernmost part of Phoenix. Aside from outdoor activities, it's known for a three-day annual chili fest sanctioned by the International Chili Society.
Aravaipa
The word is Apache for "laughing waters," and there is an "air-uh-vai-paw" canyon and a perennial creek, which is rare in Arizona. Aravaipa Canyon is located about 50 miles northeast of Tucson.
Canyon de Chelly
Canyon "du-Shay" is a national monument located in the Navajo Nation in the northeast part of Arizona.
Casa Grande
The name belongs to a city halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, with a population of 50,000. The correct pronunciation of the city, which is named after Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, is "cass-uhgrand."
Diné
Diné (dee-neh), means "The People" and is what many from the Navajo Nation call themselves.
Estrella
The double "L" in the name of a Goodyear mountain park, parkway and development as well as an Avondale community college is pronounced as "y." The word "ehs-treh-yah" means star in Spanish.
Fort Huachuca
Fort Huachuca (wa-CHOO-kuh), in southeast Arizona, was established as a cavalry camp in 1877. Today, it is the largest military base in Arizona and plays a major role in defense missions.
Gammage
It's tempting to think about a French pronunciation rhyming with homage, but the name of this Arizona performing arts center in Tempe is "ga-medge."
Gila monster
The large desert-dwelling venomous lizard is not a Gila but a "hee-la" monster.
Guadalupe
Though Texans may end the word with a loop, in Arizona, the Yaqui community located south of Tempe ends with "loo-peh."
Hopi
The name of the indigenous people, members of one of the oldest tribes, who now live in northeast Arizona, is not Hoppy, but "HO-pee."
Mazatzal
Mazatzal (Mah-zaht-zahl) is a word that originates in ancient Mexican Indigenous culture and translates to "land of the deer." Composed of Tonto and Coconino National Forests, Mazatzal was established in 1940 and grew to its current range of 252,000 acres in 1984.
Mesa
The name of this city in the East Valley is pronounced "may-sa" not "mess-a." While there, grab a drink at Espiritu.
Mogollon Rim
There are several ways to pronounce the rim that spans 200 miles from Flagstaff to the New Mexico border. But Mongolian is not one of them. Here are some of the correct ways: "moe-gee-yawn" or "mug-e-own." Aside from beautiful scenery and cooler temperatures, the area offers hiking trails, lakes for boating and fishing and horseback trails.
Navajo
The Navajo (nah-vuh-hoe) Nation, according to Navajo Nation Government, is the largest Indian reservation. From Arizona to Utah to New Mexico and Colorado, it measures 27,000 square miles.
Nogales
no-GAL-es is a city that straddles Arizona and Mexico. Its name translates into walnut and refers to the walnut trees that grew in abundance in the area.
Prescott
The "o" in this central Arizona city trips people up. To avoid dirty looks, pronounce it "press-kitt" like a local.
San Xavier
This one all depends on where you are. The Catholic College Preparatory school in Phoenix is pronounced "Ex-ay-vier." San Xavier del Bac Mission, a Catholic church in south of Tucson, which was created to serve the Tohono O'odham tribe, is pronounced San "Havee-air."
Saguaro
One of the symbols of the southwest desert, the saguaro (suh-WAR-oh) cactus can live up to 200 years. It flowers when it turns 50 years old and grows its first branch after turning 75.
Sahuarita
The name of this town, which is located about 20 miles south of Tucson, is pronounced "saa-wuh-ree-tuh" and means little saguaro.
Sonoita
This area in southern Arizona is home to several vineyards and is pronounced "Suh-noy-tuh"
Tempe
"tem-Pee" is a city located east of Phoenix and home to Arizona State University.
Tlaquepaque
The arts and crafts village in Sedona is pronounced "T-lockey-pockey," which means “best of everything,”according to its website. Built in the 1970s, it is home to 45 shops and various restaurants, all connected with cobblestone pathways beneath sycamore trees.
Tohono O'odham
This Indigenous tribe of 28,000 that occupies Southwestern Arizona is pronounced "to-HO-no awe-thum," which translates into "desert people."
Tucson
The name of this UNESCO city of gastronomy, located southeast of Phoenix and home to the University of Arizona is located is pronounced "two-sahn."
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Reach the reporter atBAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow@banooshahronX, formerly Twitter.
