What's the Most Mispronounced Word in North Carolina?

Here is a guide to the words that actually trip people up in North Carolina.

The "Appalachian" Litmus Test

This is the big one. It is the fastest way to spot someone who isn't from the region.

• The Wrong Way: App-uh-LAY-shun. (Rhymes with "nation"). This is how people in the North say it.
• The Right Way: App-uh-LATCH-un. (Rhymes with "latch-in").

There is an old saying in the mountains: "If you say 'App-a-lay-shia,' I'll throw an 'apple-at-cha.'"

The "Mebane" Mystery

Located in the Piedmont, this town's name defies all standard rules of phonics.

• The Wrong Way: Meh-BANE. (Like the Batman villain).
• The Right Way: MEB-in. (It rhymes with "Kevin" or "Seven" with a 'b').

The "Concord" Curveball

To an outsider, this looks like the word for agreement or the town in Massachusetts. But in North Carolina, we stress the second syllable differently.

• The Wrong Way: Kon-kurd. (Like "Conquered"). This is how they say it in New England.
• The Right Way: Kon-KORD. (The second syllable sounds like the word "cord" or the car "Accord").

The "Bahama" Breeze

This small community in Durham County has a tropical name, but absolutely zero tropical vibes in its pronunciation.

• The Wrong Way: Ba-HA-ma. (Like the islands).
• The Right Way: Ba-HAY-ma. (Rhymes with "Alabama" if you emphasize the 'HAY').

The "Kerr" Confusion

Whether you are talking about the lake or the avenue in Wilmington, this name is a trap for the uninitiated.

• The Wrong Way: Kurr. (Rhymes with "cur").
• The Right Way: Car. (Exactly like the vehicle you drive).

The "Bodie" Island Bluff

If you are visiting the Outer Banks, you will see the famous lighthouse at Bodie Island.

• The Wrong Way: Bo-die. (Rhymes with "Odie").
• The Right Way: Body. (As in, your physical body).

The "Leicester" Legacy

Just outside of Asheville lies a community that inherited its spelling from England but kept its own mountain spin.

• The Trap: Lie-sess-ter or Lee-sess-ter.
• The Local Way: LES-ter. (It rhymes with "fester"). While some older locals might stretch it to Lee-sess-ter, saying "Lester" is the safest bet to fit in.

Honorable Mentions

• Fuquay-Varina: A mouthful for anyone, but locals know it’s FEW-kway Vuh-REE-nuh.
• Topsail Island: It’s a nautical term, so pronounce it like a sailor: TOP-sul, not Top-Sails.
• Bertie County: It’s not Bur-tee (rhyming with dirty). It’s Burr-Tee (with a slight emphasis on the 'Tee').

So, while the rest of the country struggles with "Appalachian," North Carolinians are just busy trying to explain why "Mebane" doesn't rhyme with "plane."

For a quick audio guide on one of these tricky pronunciations, check out this video on how to pronounce Concord.

This short clip demonstrates the "Kon-KORD" pronunciation that distinguishes the North Carolina city from its northern counterparts.