Pronunciation

[macwilkin]

Well, the capital is Baton Rouge (properly pronounced bahtohn-roojzh) which means "red stick". One of you history buffs will have to explain that one...

"La Nouvelle Orléans" is named after Orléans, France (pronounced Or-leh-ahn)...

Now we have a little thing called the Louisianna Purchase, so imagine a bunch of 'not-quite-English-anymore' speaking Southerners trying to say New Or-leh-ahn. Put that in the pot and let is stew 4 or 5 generations and you get Norlenz. C'est fini ça.

Not to mention the "melting pot" that is Nawlens -- Creoles, Cajuns (although I must point out that Nawleans and Cajun are not interchangeable, regardless of what many believe!), Germans, Italians, Irish -- you name it, and Nawleans has it. No wonder they don't talk like anyone else! :mrgreem:

T.

[Iolaus]

I generally pronounce it like a Yankee would - New Orleens - even though I know better.

[Mattg]

I generally pronounce it like a Yankee would - New Orleens - even though I know better.

Yeah, me too :rolleyes:

[GMan]

To throw a damper in it, THE BIG EASY

[starbkjrus]

I grew up in South Carolina and we always pronouced it N'wawrlins. For us there is no "R" in Charles (It's Chahhhhls) but we kept the "R" in New Orleans. These days I use the same pronunciation but drop the "R" sound.

[ByDand]

I don't call it, it calls me....the food, the people, the music, the fun etc...

I love visitng the place and eating, eating, eating

[macwilkin]

I generally pronounce it like a Yankee would - New Orleens - even though I know better.

We all have our cross to bear, I suppose! :mrgreen:

I wouldn't do it around a Nawleans native, though...kinda like pronouncing pecan as "peekan" or misprouncing Des Moines (De Moine) around Iowans.

Cheers,

Todd