WEST VIRGINIA - If you want to sound like a local in West Virginia, you need to know how to talk like one. And in a state with a rich history of Scots-Irish, German, and Native American naming conventions, that's easier said than done. While many towns with funny names like Odd, Pie, and Booger Hole get the giggles, it’s the ones with seemingly simple spellings that truly separate the "come-heres" (outsiders) from the "been-heres" (locals).
So, which town holds the title for the most mispronounced in the Mountain State? While debates might rage from the Potomac to the Tug Fork, two candidates consistently rise to the top.
The Winner: Iaeger (And It's Not What You Think)
If you're an outsider, you might look at Iaeger and guess "EE-A-ger?" "EYE-a-ger?" Or perhaps, with a German flair, "YAY-ger?"
If you guessed the last one, congratulations—you're correct.
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How Locals Say It: YAY-ger
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How Outsiders Say It: EE-a-ger or EYE-ger
Located in McDowell County, the town is not named after the popular liqueur (that's Jägermeister) or a German concept. It was named for Colonel William GW Iaeger, a Confederate officer and local pioneer. The spelling is baffling to outsiders, but the "Yay-ger" pronunciation is second nature to any West Virginian, making it a top contender for the state's most challenging name.
The Runner-Up: Hurricane (The Ultimate Litmus Test)
While Iaeger may be the most phonetically tricky, the town of Hurricane in Putnam County is almost certainly the most frequently mispronounced. It serves as a linguistic gatekeeper.
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How Locals Say It: HERR-i-kin
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How Outsiders Say It: HERR-i-CANE (like the storm)
If you roll into town and ask for directions to "HERR-i-CANE," you'll get a polite correction at best or a knowing, friendly chuckle at worst. The local pronunciation, which rhymes with "American," is a point of pride.
The origin of the name is debated, but one popular theory suggests it was named for a nearby creek where a survey party led by George Washington found a grove of trees bent in one direction, as if by a "hurricane." Locals contend their pronunciation is simply an older, traditional way of saying the word, and in Hurricane, it's the only way. As a bonus, the nearby community of Tornado is pronounced exactly how you'd expect.
Honorable Mentions: A Mountain State Shorthand
Mastered Iaeger and Hurricane? Don't get too comfortable. West Virginia is full of linguistic traps.
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Kanawha: This is the name of a major river and the county that holds the state capital, Charleston.
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Local: kuh-NAW or kuh-NAW-uh
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Outsider: Ka-NA-wha?
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Rio: This small community in Hampshire County isn't a South American metropolis.
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Local: RYE-oh (rhymes with "Ohio")
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Outsider: REE-oh (like Rio de Janeiro)
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Taliaferro: While this is a famous name throughout Appalachia (and a county in neighboring Virginia), it's the ultimate example of regional pronunciation. If you ever see this name on a street sign or building, know this:
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Local: TOL-iv-er (as if it were spelled "Tolliver")
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Outsider: Ta-lee-a-FERR-oh
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Appalachia: Finally, the big one. While not a town, how you pronounce the name of the region itself is a dead giveaway. In West Virginia and most of the central and southern regions, the third "a" is flat, like in "latch."
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Local: App-a-LATCH-uh
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Outsider: App-a-LAY-chuh
Ultimately, the local pronunciations aren't "wrong"—they are a living piece of the state's unique oral history, preserving the names of its founders and the linguistic quirks of its settlers. And if you get one wrong, don't worry—a local will almost certainly be happy to set you straight.
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