MARYLAND - Maryland is a state full of linguistic traps. Its map is a complex tapestry of Native American (Algonquian) names, historic English towns, and a few German-influenced settlements. Because of this, it’s a state where you can almost instantly tell a visitor from a local just by how they pronounce a town's name.
MARYLAND - Maryland is a state full of linguistic traps. Its map is a complex tapestry of Native American (Algonquian) names, historic English towns, and a few German-influenced settlements. Because of this, it’s a state where you can almost instantly tell a visitor from a local just by how they pronounce a town's name.The Maryland Pronunciation Test: What's the Most Mispronounced Town?
While there are many contenders for the title, the one that consistently trips up outsiders, news anchors, and GPS systems more than any other is Gaithersburg.
The Top Culprit: Gaithersburg
Located in Montgomery County, this large, bustling city is a major technology hub. However, for non-natives, it’s a verbal stumbling block.
- The Trap: Everyone wants to pronounce the "th" sound.
- The Common Mispronunciation: GAY-thers-burg
- The Correct Local Pronunciation: GAY-thers-burg (The "th" is completely silent, as if it's spelled "Gay-thers-burg")
If you want to sound like a local, you must drop the "th." Pronouncing it is the number one sign that you are not from the area.
The Classic "Local" Test: Taneytown
While Gaithersburg is the most common trap for outsiders, the town of Taneytown in Carroll County is a classic "shibboleth" (a word that distinguishes an insider from an outsider).
- The Trap: The spelling "Taney" looks like it should rhyme with "rainy" or "zany."
- The Common Mispronunciation: TAY-nee-town
- The Correct Local Pronunciation: TAW-nee-town (The "a" is pronounced like the "a" in "saw" or the "aw" in "tawny.")
This town, named for Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, is a true test of a born-and-bred Marylander.
Other Honorable (and Difficult) Mentions
If you can master Gaithersburg and Taneytown, you're on your way. But if you want to perfect your Maryland dialect, be careful with these other tricky towns:
- Bowie: It's BOO-ee (like the rockstar David Bowie), not "BOW-ee" (like a bow and arrow).
- Reisterstown: It's RICE-ters-town, not "Rye-sters-town." The "ei" is pronounced like the "i" in "ice."
- Towson: It's TOW-son (as in, "towel"), not "TOE-son" or "TOW-zon." The "s" is soft.
- Vienna: Unlike the city in Austria ("vee-EN-uh"), this small town in Maryland is pronounced Vie-EN-uh.
- Ellicott City: Locals often drop a syllable, pronouncing it "ELL-ih-citt," not "El-li-COTT."
So, while you might struggle with the spelling of "beautiful" or "special," it's the pronunciation of its own towns that truly defines a Maryland local.
