SOUTH CAROLINA - If you ask what the most mispronounced word in South Carolina is, you'll get a few different answers. While recent "word-a-day" style studies point to some common English words, any true local will tell you the real linguistic traps are the state's own place names, which are practically a rite of passage. So, what word trips people up the most? It depends on who you ask.
SOUTH CAROLINA - If you ask what the most mispronounced word in South Carolina is, you'll get a few different answers. While recent "word-a-day" style studies point to some common English words, any true local will tell you the real linguistic traps are the state's own place names, which are practically a rite of passage. So, what word trips people up the most? It depends on who you ask.The "Official" Mispronounced Words
Recent studies analyzing search data and language app usage have identified a few everyday English words that give South Carolinians trouble.
- One study identified the most mispronounced word as "Chose," the past tense of "choose."
- Other recent reports claim the most-searched-for pronunciation in the state is "Bereft," meaning "deprived of or lacking something."
While these studies may reflect online search habits, they arguably miss the true heart of South Carolina's unique pronunciations—a collection of names and places so famously "mispronounced" by outsiders that the local way is known as a "correct mispronunciation."
The Real Test: South Carolina's Local Lingo
For visitors and new residents, the real challenge is navigating the state's unique vocabulary, where spellings are often just suggestions. If you want to sound like you're from the Palmetto State, mastering these is far more important than "chose."
- Huger (Street and Town): This is perhaps the most famous example. It is not "Hue-ger" or "Huge-er." The correct local pronunciation is YOO-JEE.
- Beaufort (City): This word is a state-line shibboleth. In North Carolina, the coastal city of Beaufort is pronounced "BO-furt." In South Carolina, the city of Beaufort is pronounced "BYOU-furt." Using the wrong one is the quickest way to identify yourself as a tourist.
- Legare (Street): Another classic Charleston tongue-twister. This name is not "Leh-gar" or "Leh-gair." It's pronounced "luh-GREE."
- Aynor (Town): This small town in Horry County isn't "Ay-nor." Locals know it as "AY-ner."
- Blenheim (Town): Famous for its spicy ginger ale, this Marlboro County town is not "Blen-hime." It's pronounced "BLEN-um."
- Summerville (Town): While not as tricky as others, many residents stress the second syllable, pronouncing it "Summer-VILLE" rather than "Summer-vil."
So, while South Carolinians might occasionally look up how to pronounce "bereft," the state's true linguistic identity lies in its deeply rooted, unique pronunciations passed down for generations.
