Say that again, y’all

Central Texas, South Texas are full of mispronounced names

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Local Texas residents will tell you “right quick” when you mispronounce landmarks across the state. Plenty of that correcting occurs in Central Texas, because some of our place names are a bit different to those who are not “in the know.”

Some of the most-often misstated names are familiar to Central Texas residents. Below are some of those names, according to a KXAN viewer poll. Included is the correct way to say those names, so you can be ready to visit and speak your mind like a native Texan, pronunciation and all.

Bastrop has been on the big screen many times, with several movies electing to film in the city nicknamed “the most historic small town in Texas.” Perhaps the most famous of these movies is the 1974 original “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” This charming community, also known as the “Heart of the Lost Pines,” is about 30 miles southeast of Austin. When you visit, be sure to pronounce the city name “Bass-trop” (like the fish, ya’ll, not the guitar).

Bexar County — which is sometimes considered to be a Central Texas locale, depending on who you ask — was mentioned, often, for good reason. Many Texans have heard this county’s name being butchered many times over, so let’s clear that right up. This historic county was named after the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar (a Spanish fort built near the San Antonio River, located in what is now the city of San Antonio). Want to impress the locals? Pronounce the name as “bair” or “bay-ur.”

The next name on the list is diametrically opposed to the correct (Spanish) pronunciation. Instead of the expected Spanish pronunciation of “Blahn-co,” the correct way to say Blanco is “Blank-co.” The small city in rural Blanco County is named after the Blanco River, which was named after the white limestone riverbed (blanco is white in Spanish). The locals will clear up how to say the name for you, if you give them cause. This city prides itself as being named as “the lavender capital of Texas” because it is home to the first commercial lavender farm in the state.

In 1849, a city was founded under the name of Tusculum. While that name is a tongue twister, the name it was changed to in 1852 will give a non-native away in one second flat. Central Texans know, when they see Boerne, that it is pronounced “Burn-ee.” That’s not what most out-of-towners first guess as the pronunciation; the name most commonly heard is “Born” or “Born-ee.”

Brazos Street, located in downtown Austin, probably is not pronounced the way you would believe on first guess. Instead of “Braz-os,” it is “Braz-us,” which is also the correct pronunciation for Brazos County as well as the Brazos River, the 11th longest river in the United States. Austinites may not correct you, but they may judge you for getting it wrong.

Then there’s Buda. Don’t even consider calling it “Buddha” (pronounced “boo-duh”). Known as the “outdoor capital of Texas,” with 13 parks spread across over 260 acres, this city’s motto, is Buda is beautiful, literally, and remember it’s pronounced “Byou-duh.”

In the Central Texas area, there is a city, a county and an Austin road all pronounced — and often mispronounced — the same way. Burnet, named after David Burnet, the first interim president of the Republic of Texas, is a city comprised of individuals who are very proud of their city. It is also a good place to visit. Having lived previously in that county, I can assure you they will correct you and even assist your learning process with a reminder — “It’s Burn-it, durn it. Learn it!”

Del Valle, part of the southeast area at the edge of Austin, has no local government or official boundaries, being most often defined by the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. However, there are boundaries in place when pronouncing the name for locals. This is another Spanish name not being pronounced in Spanish; it is pronounced “Del Val-ee.” Remember to add in the “e” sound at the end, and refrain from using a “y” sound for the double “ll.”

Dessau — named after a town in Germany and also the name of a street — is a city located about 10 miles northeast of Austin, two miles southwest of Pflugerville. While the city is pronounced multiple ways, according to Central Texans, the preferred way is “deh-Saw.” And, don’t pronounce that silent “P” at the front of Pflugerville. It’s “Flew-ger-ville.”

Elgin is the “sausage capital of Texas,” the “brick capital of the Southwest” and filming location to several movies, including “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” The residents of this proud city are very protective of how the city name is pronounced. Remember, it’s a hard “g,” so when pronouncing the city’s name, say “El-ghin,” not “El-gin,” like the alcoholic drink.

Now on to a very advanced pronunciation on this list. Gruene is located just outside of New Braunfels (please do not say “Brawns-fulls.”) This once-small settlement is home to Gruene Hall, where legends such as Willie Nelson, George Strait and Garth Brooks have performed. If you have been reading that and saying “Grew-en-ee” or “Groo-in,” stop right now! Central Texans know it is pronounced “Green,” like the color.

Pronouncing Guadalupe Street in Austin as anything other than “Gwad-a-loop” would be a “drag” (the portion of the street near the UT-Austin campus is called “the Drag” by students). But when it comes to pronouncing the name of the Guadalupe River, it is “Gwah-duh-loo-pay.” Just go with the flow on this one.

Just as Koenig Lane partially divides north Austin from central Austin, likewise the name pronunciation is divisive. Trust the locals on this, it’s “Kay-nig”, not “Ko-nig” or “Ko-ee-nig.”

In Texas Highland Lakes area, there is Lake Buchanan, with the impressive Buchanan Dam, which was completed in 1939. It is not pronounced “B-you-cannon,” it’s pronounced “Buck-can-nun.”

Luling has hosted the Watermelon Thump since 1954, a four-day festival celebrating watermelon and honoring those who provide them to the city and central Texas. This area is often mispronounced as “Lull-ing.” Come out and enjoy the famous watermelons and local barbecue, but say it like a Central Texan does — “Loo-ling.”

Manchaca is not an incorporated town or area, but is a spot about ten miles southwest of Austin, accessible via Menchaca Street (the spelling was changed in 2019). It is called “Man-shack.” If you say it any other way, the locals will know immediately you are not from “around these parts.”

Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio called the next name on our list home while filming “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” Manor, a city named after its first postmaster, James Manor, is pronounced by Central Texans as “Main-er” and not “Manner,” like a British home.

The last name uses the slogan “Deep in the Art of Texas” and is known by Central Texans for culture, art, brewery beverages and wine selections. This area has the country’s largest outlet mall and many popular water recreational areas for paddle boarding and kayaking.

When visiting Salado remember to call it “Suh-LAY-doe” and not the frequently misused “Sal-uh-doe” or the even occasionally used “Sal-AH-do.”

No matter how you pronounce it, Central Texas is a great place to live and visit.

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