Say These 13 Words Correctly and Every Connecticuter Will Know You’re One of Them

Connecticut may be small, but our place names are mighty — and mighty confusing to outsiders. One syllable wrong, and you’ll out yourself as someone who just got lost trying to find the Merritt Parkway. But if you can breeze through this pronunciation gauntlet without blinking, then congratulations: you officially have permission to complain about I-95 like a native.

Connecticut (Kuh-NEH-tih-cut)

Yes, the “c” in the middle is silent. No, we don’t know why. Just go with it.

Quinebaug (KWIN-uh-bog)

It sounds like a swamp monster, and honestly, it probably is.

Housatonic (Hoo-suh-TAHN-ik)

Not “House-a-tonic,” and definitely not a Harry Potter spell. Just a lovely river with a grudge against newcomers.

Berlin (BUR-lin)

If you pronounce it like the capital of Germany, prepare for stern, polite correction.

Niantic (NY-ann-tick)

Not “Nee-AHN-tic” and definitely not “Nintendo Go-town.”

Thames River (THAYMZ River)

Rhymes with “James,” not “Thames” like the one in London. Sorry, England — we Connecticut-ified it.

Moosup (MOO-sup)

Sounds like a cow’s call to dinner. Also sounds exactly how it’s pronounced.

Glastonbury (GLASS-tun-berry)

Not “Glace-ton-bury.” You’re in Connecticut, not performing at Coachella.

Farmington (FAR-ming-tin)

Easy to say, but dangerous if you start complaining about the traffic — that’s how locals know you’re one of them.

Wolcott (WOOL-cut)

There’s no “wall” here, despite what your brain is yelling at you.

Poquonock (Puh-KWAH-nock)

Looks like a typo. Sounds like a sneeze. Definitely a real place.

Litchfield (LITCH-field)

Don’t overthink it. Just pronounce it clearly and act like you know a guy who summers there.

Yantic (YAN-tick)

If you rhyme it with “antic,” you’re good. If you rhyme it with “yawn-thique,” you’re banned from the Mohegan Sun buffet.

If you nailed all 13 of these without stuttering, second-guessing, or pulling out Google Translate, you’ve earned your Connecticut stripes. You’re now qualified to order a grinder instead of a sub, argue about where the real pizza lives, and judge people who use their blinkers in roundabouts. Just remember: in this state, every town has its own rules… and they all involve pronouncing at least one letter like it owes you money.

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