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North Carolina is sweet tea, college rivalries, and the constant internal debate of mountains vs. coast. But nothing gives away a non-local faster than tripping over one of our town names. From old English influence to Native American roots and a few that just seem to exist to confuse GPS systems, pronouncing places correctly in the Tar Heel State is a point of pride—right up there with knowing the difference between barbecue and that stuff they make in Texas.
1. Concord (CON-kurd, not Con-CORD)
Say it like you’re late for a NASCAR race, not giving a Revolutionary War speech.
2. Fuquay-Varina (Few-kway Vuh-REE-nuh, not Fuh-kwah-vareena)
Looks like a French perfume brand. Sounds like small-town Carolina charm.
3. Boone (BOON, not Bon)
Simple, unless you overthink it—which you will.
4. Mebane (MEB-un, not Mee-bane)
You say “Mee-bane,” we say bless your heart.
5. Beaufort (BO-furt, not Byoo-furt)
If you say it like the one in South Carolina, we will assume you took a wrong turn somewhere on I-95.
6. Chowan (CHO-wan, not Chow-an)
Rhymes with “pro-pan,” not “rowan.”
7. Appalachian (App-uh-LATCH-un, not App-uh-LAY-shun)
Say it the wrong way and you’ll get corrected with a moonshine-powered glare.
8. Buies Creek (BOO-ees, not Boo-eys)
Campbell University is here, and so is your first pronunciation test.
9. Wilmington (WILM-ing-tun, not Will-men-ton)
You don’t have to beach it up—just say it right.
10. Cullowhee (CUL-uh-wee, not Coo-low-hwee)
It’s where Western Carolina is. And where pronunciation goes to die.
11. Lenoir (Luh-NORE, not Len-o-yer)
Drop those extra letters like you’re dropping R’s in a Carolina drawl.
12. Bahama (Ba-HAY-ma, not Buh-HAA-muh)
No white sand beaches—just a town near Durham ready to catch you slipping.
If you got them all right, congratulations—you’ve probably tailgated at a UNC game, avoided I-40 during rush hour, and have a firm opinion on whether Cheerwine counts as a breakfast drink. If not, no worries—we’ll still invite you to the cookout. Just don’t say Byoo-furt unless you want to be handed a map, a pronunciation guide, and a plate of hushpuppies with a side of side-eye.
The post We Know You’re Not From North Carolina If You Mispronounce These 12 Names appeared first on When In Your State.