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California may be the land of surfboards, startups, and $18 smoothies—but when it comes to pronunciation, it’s also a linguistic landmine. With place names borrowed from Spanish, Native American languages, and pure chaos, one wrong syllable and you’ve outed yourself as a tourist faster than wearing socks with sandals in Venice Beach. So before you roll into town saying “La Jolla” like it rhymes with “tortilla,” let’s set the record straight.
1. La Jolla (Lah-HOY-uh, not La Joll-a)
Mispronounce this one and you might as well wear a fanny pack labeled “Out-of-Towner.”
2. San Pedro (San PEE-droh, not San PAY-droh)
It’s not Spain—it’s SoCal. And locals will absolutely correct you.
3. Vallejo (Vuh-LAY-ho, not Val-LEE-joe)
If you say “Valley Joe,” congratulations—you’ve just been banned from NorCal.
4. Lompoc (LOM-poke, not Lawm-pock)
Looks innocent. Sounds like a hiccup. Triggers locals when said wrong.
5. Cuyama (Kwee-YAH-mah, not Coo-yam-uh)
If you can pronounce this correctly, someone’s abuelita will give you a high five.
6. Sausalito (Sah-suh-LEE-toh, not Salsa-lito)
No, it’s not a taco condiment. Yes, it’s beautiful. Say it right.
7. Zzyzx (Zye-zix, not Ziz-zicks or ???)
Yes, this is a real place. No, we don’t know why either. Just accept it.
8. Ojai (OH-high, not Oh-jay)
Say it wrong and the yoga instructors will silently judge you with their chakras.
9. Buena Park (BWAY-nuh Park, not Boo-en-uh)
Spanish word, California pronunciation, eternal confusion.
10. Julian (JOO-lee-un, not Hoo-lee-ahn)
You came for the apple pie. Don’t leave being laughed at by the locals.
11. Tujunga (Too-HUNG-uh, not Tuh-jung-gah)
Bonus points if you can say it without sounding like you’re sneezing.
12. Los Feliz (Loss FEE-liz, not Los Fay-leez)
If you pronounce it the “correct” Spanish way, people will think you’re being sarcastic.
There you have it—twelve ways to ruin brunch with a single sentence in the Golden State. Master these names and you’ll sound like a local who’s been overpaying for rent since 2008. Say them wrong, and someone from Oakland or Orange County will kindly (but firmly) escort you back to pronunciation school—with a side of judgmental avocado toast.
The post We Know You’re Not From California If You Mispronounce These 12 Names appeared first on When In Your State.