THE 10 TEXAS CITIES YOU MIGHT BE PRONOUNCING ALL WRONG

• Below are the top 10 hardest Texas city names to pronounce 
• Read about the fascinating origins behind the names of these cities

As the second biggest state in the US, Texas is home to scores of cities you may never have heard of - or, as it appears, even know how to pronounce. 

A new study by the Austin American-Statesman recently revealed the 21 most commonly mispronounced city names in the Lone Star State.

Here are the top ten you may discover you've been saying wrong your entire life... 

1. Amarillo: 'AM-uh-RIL-oh.' 

Often mispronounced as 'Ah-mah-REE-yo' or 'Am-uh-REE-yo,' the correct pronunciation is 'AM-uh-RIL-oh.' 

The name Amarillo, meaning yellow in Spanish, was most likely chosen because of the color of the 'sub-soil in nearby Amarillo Creek,' according to the city's website.

Many houses were painted yellow in honor of the name.  Even the county courthouse which was built in 1888 was made of materials from Amarillo Creek.

2. Bexar: 'Behr' or 'Bear,'

Commonly said as 'Behr' or 'Bear,' the right way to say it is 'Bear.' 

The city was named after San Antonio de Béxar, one of the 23 Mexican municipalities (administrative divisions) of Texas at the time of its independence, and the first civil government established by the Spanish in the province of Texas. 

3. Boerne: 'BER-nee'

 This one trips up many with its appearance. It's pronounced 'BER-nee.'

John James, a Bexar County surveyor, discovered the land that would be Boerne. He along with a man named Gustav Theissen established Boerne in 1852. 

They named it after German author and publicist, Karl Ludwig Börne, according to the city's website. 

4. Humble: 'UM-bull' 

Despite the spelling, it should be pronounced 'UM-bull,' not 'HUHM-bull.' 

Pleasant Smith Humble arrived in the what would later be the city of Humble before the Civil War. After acquiring land along the San Jacinto River, he started operating a ferry near the area where Highway 59 crosses the river today. He also reportedly served as a 'justice for peace.' 

In 1886, when Pleasant Humble opened a post office in his home, he established the name Humble. 

5. Iraan: 'Eye-ruh-ANN.'  

In 1926 an oil gusher blew in on Ira and Ann Yates' remote Pecos County ranch. Oilfield workers flooded into a new town born overnight and named Iraan.

6. Nacogdoches:  'Na-kuh-DOH-chuhs.' 

Na cogdoches, one of the oldest towns in Texas, derives its name from the Caddo word 'Nacogdoche,' meaning 'the place where the prickly pear grows.'

7. Palestine: 'PAHL-uh-steen.'

Unlike its Middle Eastern counterpart, this Texas city is pronounced PAHL-uh-steen. Named by settlers who admired its fertile land, Palestine, Texas, drew inspiration from the biblical land of Palestine.

8. Quitaque: 'Kitty-Quay' or 'KIT-a-kway'

The name 'Quitaque' is believed to come from the Comanche word 'Kwihnai Kwihnai,' meaning 'end of the trail' or 'place to stop.'

 9. Waco: 'WAY-ko.'

Waco's name is derived from the Waco Native American tribe that inhabited the area. It is believed to mean 'chosen' or 'the place where we live.'

10. Waxahachie: 'Waak-suh-HA-chee.'

Waxahachie's name originates from the Native American word 'Waksahe,' which translates to 'cow' or 'buffalo.' The town's name reflects its early days as a trading post for cattle and buffalo hides.

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2024-05-26T12:58:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd