Louisiana is famous for its Cajun culture, Mardi Gras, and food that will ruin you for anything else. But if you really want to prove you’re a local, you have to master its mind-boggling place names. Thanks to a mix of French, Spanish, and pure Louisiana magic, some of these words don’t sound anything like they look—so if you can say them all without hesitation, congratulations, you might just be a true Louisianian.
14 Words Only True Louisianians Can Pronounce
Louisiana (Loo-zee-ANN-uh or Looz-ee-AN-nuh)
If you say “Loo-ee-zee-AH-nuh,” you’ve spent too much time with out-of-staters.
New Orleans (New OR-lins or New OR-lee-uns)
“New Or-LEENZ” is a one-way ticket to tourist status.
Natchitoches (NACK-uh-dish)
Looks like a nightmare, sounds smooth as butter.
Tchoupitoulas (CHOP-uh-too-lus)
If you can say it, you’re ready to drive it.
Atchafalaya (Uh-CHA-fuh-LIE-uh)
Bonus points if you can spell it, too.
Tangipahoa (TAN-jih-puh-HO-uh)
Just take it slow, and don’t panic.
Plaquemines (PLACK-uh-min)
Not “Plaque-mine,” and yes, people mess it up all the time.
Opelousas (Ah-puh-LOO-sas)
Say it right, and someone might just invite you to a crawfish boil.
Pontchartrain (PONCH-uh-train)
It’s a lake, it’s a bridge, it’s a mouthful.
Bourg (Boorg)
One syllable. Anything more is unnecessary.
Iowa, Louisiana (EYE-oh-way)
Unlike the state, we say all three syllables here.
Chalmette (Shal-MET)
If you add a fancy French accent, they’ll know you’re not local.
Bossier City (BOH-zhur)
If you say “Bossy-er,” you might get politely corrected (or just laughed at).
Thibodaux (TIB-uh-doh)
No, there is no “X” sound. Yes, it confuses everyone.
If you breezed through this list, congrats—you’re either a lifelong Louisianian or you’ve survived enough crawfish boils to earn honorary status. You know the difference between Cajun and Creole food, you’ve accepted that seasons don’t really exist, and you’re not afraid of a little lagniappe. For everyone else, just listen, learn, and let the locals handle the talking—preferably over a bowl of gumbo.
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