If You Can Pronounce These 14 Words, You’ve Lived in Washington Too Long

Washington is known for its coffee, rain, and an ongoing battle to convince outsiders that we don’t all live in Seattle. But if you really want to prove you belong in the Evergreen State, you need to master its trickiest place names. With a mix of Native American, French, and Pacific Northwest “we do things our own way” influences, some of these words sound nothing like they look—so if you can pronounce them all effortlessly, congratulations, you might just be a true Washingtonian.

14 Words Only True Washingtonians Can Pronounce

Washington (WASH-ing-tun)

If you say “Warsh-ing-tun,” we know you’ve been hanging out with too many Oregonians.

Puyallup (Pew-AL-up)

If you can say it, you’ve probably survived the fair traffic.

Sequim (Skwim)

If you pronounce every letter, you’ve already failed.

Spokane (Spo-CAN)

If you say “Spo-CANE,” don’t be surprised if people correct you.

Des Moines (Duh-MOIN)

The “s” is silent, just like in Iowa.

Yakima (YACK-uh-maw)

If you say “Yack-ee-mah,” you’re clearly new here.

Snoqualmie (Snow-KWALL-me)

Looks worse than it is, but still a mouthful.

Kitsap (KIT-sap)

If you can say it, you’ve probably taken the ferry a few times.

Steilacoom (STILL-uh-come)

The faster you say it, the more local you sound.

Cowlitz (COW-litz)

Say it right, and you might just get invited to go fishing.

Camas (CAM-us)

Not “Cah-mas.” Keep it simple.

Wenatchee (Weh-NATCH-ee)

If you can say it, you probably love apples.

Pasco (PASS-ko)

If you add an “uh” at the end, you’ve been spending too much time in California.

Okanogan (Oh-kuh-NOG-un)

Say it fast, like you’re headed there for a weekend trip.

If you nailed all of these, congratulations—you’ve earned the right to complain about Seattle traffic, defend Dick’s Drive-In, and remind everyone that the east and west sides of the state might as well be two different worlds. You also know that rain jackets are more common than umbrellas, the only real Mt. Rainier is in Washington, and that “the mountain is out” is a valid reason to pause everything. For everyone else, just listen, learn, and let a local do the talking—preferably over a cup of freshly roasted coffee.

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