We Know You’re Not From Tennessee If You Mispronounce These 12 Names

Tennessee might be the birthplace of country music, moonshine, and barbecue rivalries—but it’s also a land where the town names come with built-in booby traps. Between Southern drawl, Native American roots, and names that just plain don’t care about your phonics degree, mispronouncing one of these will instantly earn you the label of “not from around here.” Say it wrong, and someone in cowboy boots will correct you with a smile—and maybe a banjo.

1. Maryville (MARE-vull, not Mary-ville)

Say it fast and lazy, like you’ve lived there your whole life.

2. Lafayette (Luh-FAY-it, not Lah-fye-ETT)

We love the French. We just don’t pronounce like them.

3. Nolensville (NO-lens-vull, not Nole-enz-ville)

If you pronounce every letter, you’ve clearly never sat in traffic on Nolensville Pike.

4. Pulaski (Puh-LASS-key, not Poo-LAH-ski)

Home of rich history and poor out-of-town pronunciation attempts.

5. Dickson (DICK-sun, not Deek-son)

Say it straight—this isn’t a trick, it’s Tennessee.

6. Lebanon (LEB-nun, not Leh-buh-non)

It’s a Southern town, not a Middle Eastern country. Don’t get fancy.

7. Hohenwald (HO-en-wald, not Hawn-weld)

Yes, it’s German. No, it doesn’t follow any German pronunciation rules.

8. Wartburg (WART-burg, not Vart-burg)

Say it wrong, and someone’s going to hand you a biscuit and a correction.

9. Cumberland (CUM-ber-lin, not Cumber-land)

Three syllables if you’re from out of state. Two if you’re doing it right.

10. Beersheba Springs (BUR-sheba, not Beer-sheba)

No beer involved. Just backroads, beauty, and baffled visitors.

11. Sweetwater (SWEET-wadder, not Sweet-water)

The “t” disappears faster than a plate of banana pudding at a church potluck.

12. Tennessee (TEN-uh-see, not Ten-uh-say)

If you don’t get this one right… we can’t help you, bless your heart.

If you got them all right, congrats—you’ve probably eaten at a meat-and-three, cheered at a Friday night football game, and can navigate I-40 with your eyes closed and a biscuit in hand. If not, don’t worry—we’ll still smile and hold the door open for you. But say “Mary-ville” with three syllables, and someone’s meemaw will fix you with a look that could curdle sweet tea. Welcome to Tennessee—speak slow, y’all, and say it like you mean it.

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