NEW YORK - If you think navigating the New York City subway is confusing, try reading a map of Upstate New York out loud. While the city has its own shibboleths (looking at you, Houston Street), the actual linguistic gauntlet lies north of the Bronx. The state’s place names are a chaotic mix of Dutch colonial history, anglicized Native American terms, and classical references that locals have aggressively repurposed.
NEW YORK - If you think navigating the New York City subway is confusing, try reading a map of Upstate New York out loud. While the city has its own shibboleths (looking at you, Houston Street), the actual linguistic gauntlet lies north of the Bronx. The state’s place names are a chaotic mix of Dutch colonial history, anglicized Native American terms, and classical references that locals have aggressively repurposed.But if we have to choose the single most mispronounced town in the entire state—the one that trips up news anchors, tourists, and even fellow New Yorkers—the crown goes to a jewel of the Finger Lakes.
The Winner: Skaneateles
Correct Pronunciation: Skinny-AT-less (or Skinny-atlas)
When you see Skaneateles, your brain likely wants to say "Skane-a-tell-eez" or "Skan-ee-a-teel-us." Both are reasonable guesses. Both are wrong.
The locals pronounce this Iroquois-named town 'Skinny-atlas,' making it sound like a description of a slender map book.
The mispronunciation is so pervasive that it serves as the ultimate "local check." If you walk into a lakeside café and pronounce the 'e's, everyone instantly knows you aren't from Onondaga County. It is a beautiful town with a pristine lake, but the name is a verbal stumbling block that has humbled visitors for centuries.
The Runner-Up: Valatie
Correct Pronunciation: Va-LAY-sha
If Skaneateles is the winner for difficulty, Valatie is the winner for deception.
Located in Columbia County, this village’s name comes from the Dutch Vaaltje, meaning "little falls." Looking at the spelling, any reasonable English speaker would say "Val-a-tie" or "Val-a-tee."
But in a twist that defies all English phonetics, the locals say Va-LAY-sha. It rhymes with "geisha." There is absolutely nothing in the spelling that suggests a 'sh' sound, yet there it is, baffling drivers on Route 9 for generations.
The "Alphabet Soup" Hall of Fame
Beyond the top two, New York is littered with towns that seem designed to break your spell-check.
1. Coxsackie
Correct Pronunciation: Cook-SAH-kee. Stop giggling. This Greene County town is another Dutch derivative (originally Koxhackung). While it looks like it should be pronounced with a short 'o' (like "box"), the locals smooth it out. It is Cook-SAH-kee. If you emphasize the first syllable the way it is spelled, you will get some very stern looks.
2. Schaghticoke
Correct Pronunciation: SKAT-i-coke. This name looks like someone spilled a bag of Scrabble tiles. It is full of silent letters and confusing clusters. Forget the 'g', the 'h', and the middle 't'. Just say SKAT-i-coke. It sounds like a fizzy drink for a jazz singer.
3. Schenectady
Correct Pronunciation: Skuh-NECK-tuh-dee. A classic tongue-twister. The trick here isn't just the sounds, but the rhythm. It flows like a waltz: one-TWO-three-four. Skuh-NECK-tuh-dee. It is Mohawk for "beyond the pines," and once you get the rhythm down, it is actually quite fun to say.
The "Same Word, Different Sound" Section
Finally, there are the places that take a word you already know and decide to change the rules.
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Chili: You eat a bowl of chili. But you live in the town of CHY-lie (rhyming with "sky-high"). Located near Rochester, this town refuses to be associated with the stew.
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Houston Street (NYC): In Texas, it is HYOO-stun. In Manhattan, it is HOW-stun. The street is named after William Houstoun (a Scottish distinct spelling), not Sam Houston, and New Yorkers will mercilessly correct you if you mix them up.
The Verdict
New York’s geography is a linguistic minefield. Whether it is the "sh" in Valatie or the "cook" in Coxsackie, the state demands you memorize its rules rather than read them. So, if you are planning a road trip to the Finger Lakes, remember: The lake is long, the water is clear, and the town is Skinny.
