Vermont is known for maple syrup, Ben & Jerry’s, and an overwhelming number of cows. But if you really want to prove you’re from the Green Mountain State, you need to master its trickiest place names. With a mix of French, Native American, and good ol’ New England slurring, some of these words sound nothing like they look—so if you can say them all effortlessly, congratulations, you might just be a true Vermonter.
14 Words Only True Vermonters Can Pronounce
Vermont (Ver-MONT)
No fancy accents, no extra syllables, just keep it simple.
Calais (Callus)
Forget everything you learned in French class.
Montpelier (Mont-PEEL-yer)
If you say “Mont-pell-ee-ay,” you’re thinking too hard.
Charlotte (Shar-LOT)
Not “Char-lut” like in North Carolina.
Vershire (VER-shur)
No, it’s not “Ver-shire,” this isn’t England.
Chittenden (CHIT-n-den)
Say it fast and pretend those extra letters aren’t there.
Glover (GLOW-ver)
If you said “GLUH-ver,” you just outed yourself.
Norwich (NOR-wich)
That second “w” is just for show.
Londonderry (LUN-den-dairy)
Looks fancy, but Vermonters keep it practical.
Hinesburg (HINES-burg)
If you drop the “s,” we’ll know you’re not local.
Quechee (KWEE-chee)
If you say “Queck-ee,” you need to go back to Massachusetts.
Passumpsic (Puh-SUMP-sick)
If you can say it, you probably fish there.
Brattleboro (BRAT-ul-burrow)
If you say every syllable, you’re trying too hard.
Rutland (RUT-lund)
Pronounce the “t” too hard, and you’ll get some looks.
If you got all of these right, congratulations—you’ve earned the right to roll your eyes at leaf peepers, debate the best creemee flavors, and remind outsiders that real maple syrup is the only option. You also know that winter starts in October, flannel is year-round attire, and every backroad eventually leads to a covered bridge. For everyone else, just listen, learn, and let a local do the talking—preferably over a maple latte and a fresh cider donut.
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