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TriCity Herald
Are you a tourist or transplant in Washington state? Use this location pronunciation guide
By Karlee Van De Venter,
8 hours ago
Washington state is full of history , as made evident by its many unique city and county names. In fact, a large number of all types of locations in the Evergreen State have connections to Indigenous history. But that leaves these places vulnerable to mass mispronunciation, as the languages of these location names are not widely spoken.
Other names come from family names of influential residents in history, or from languages not from North America, like France.
Can you pronounce all of these Washington state locations correctly? Do you know the history behind the names?
Note that capitalization shows where emphasis should be.
Spokane is considered the hub of Eastern Washington, the most populous county in the region. The city of Spokane is known for its proximity to scenery, culture and activity.
The city of Asotin sits on the former site of a traditional Nez Perce camp . The nearby creek was referred to as Eel Creek, so Asotin was an homage to the Nez Perce tribe ’s name for eel, Has-Hu-Tin.
Nestled along the Snake River, Asotin has a large array of scenic recreation options.
An anglicized form of a French term for “hangs from ears,” the history of the county and lake name says that French-Canadian fur-trappers likely coined the term in reference to Indigenous people occupying the space. They presumably wore ear pendants or something similar.
Pend Oreille County shares borders with Idaho and Canada in the most northeast corner of Washington state. Its abundant resources and proximity to Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille , one of the deepest lakes in the country, make it a beautiful destination.
Oak, ‘uh’ like under, ‘naw’ like ‘nautical,’ gin like pin with a hard G
This county is named after the an interior tribe of Salish people, the Okanagan Band , as it is currently spelled. The origins of the tribe’s name are still largely disputed.
Okanogan is perfect for anyone who can’t decide between snowy mountain views and a relaxing river retreat. The diversity in the county’s natural resources makes it a popular family travel destination.
Tieton is named after the Tieton River , which is believed to be derived from an Indigenous word for “roaring water,” though the specific language is unclear.
Tieton is a small, quiet city at the top of Yakima Valley, filled with wineries and gourmet food options using local fruit.
‘Natch’ like snatch without the S, ‘eez’ like the start of ‘easy.’
The Naches River was named by Native Americans living nearby, combining the word for rough or turbulent, “naugh,” with the word for water, “chez.” It is likely this was coined by the Upper Yakama Indians, but that has not been confirmed.
The small, rural town sits at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and offers numerous outdoor recreation options.
‘Skaa’ like S and the start of cat, ‘jit’ like gist without the S.
Skagit is derived from the Chinook jargon word for the best, the most beautiful, most powerful or largest. White settlers heard Indian populations often use the word as an exclamation and noun, and named the county and river with the superlative.
Both the county and city of Snohomish were named after the Snohomish tribe .
Snohomish has been recognized as one of the ten coolest small towns in America and describes itself as “kind of like Mayberry, only with high speed Internet.”
Still, uh as in under, ‘coo-m’ like coop with an M. Similar to “Tillamook.”
Steilacoom has long been known for its abundance of pink flowers, the Indian Pink flower. The town’s name is an anglicized form of the Salish word for the Native people in the area, literally translating to “the people of the Indian Pink area.”
While the town is loaded with history, it’s also full of waterfront restaurants, pubs, parks and walking trails.
‘Muckle’ like buckle with an M, tee like the letter T, oh like the letter O
The city name comes from the Indian word for “a good camping ground.”
The area is known for the Mukilteo Lighthouse Park , with its lighthouse and gift shop featured on the coast. The Mukilteo Historical Society website says simply to, “Come, explore, and savor the beauty – we’ll leave the light on!”
Washougal is believed to be derived from an Indian word for “rushing water.”
There are many things to do in Washougal, and the city is home to a unique Pedestrian Tunnel , a safe way for people to walk from Washougal to the Levee Trail .
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