15 of Alabama’s Hardest to Pronounce Town Names

I have lived in the Yellowhammer State for a total of 15 years. I worked in Birmingham for 14 years and now one year in Tuscaloosa. Alabama the Beautiful has some wonderful towns. I’ve lived in Pelham, Helena, and now Tuscaloosa.

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I know that depending on where you are from, your pronunciation of towns can vary. I lived in Helena, Alabama, for five years, and it was often mispronounced. Helena, it is Huh-LEEN-ah, but some would say Hell-EE-Nah or Hell-Ah-Nah.

Traveling around the state of Alabama has given me so many stories to share. Some of my best visits have been to smaller towns. Like the one, I took to Oneonta, Alabama. I was on the hunt for the perfect fabric to recover a chair. The best meals are always at mom-and-pop-owned restaurants in small towns. I can still taste the cornbread salad. These travels also helped in learning how to say the names of the cities correctly.

After being in Alabama, you would think I could say Conecuh, but I can’t. It’s in Cuh-NECK-uh County. Here are my pronunciations of the towns that I feel like they are super hard to say. This always starts a debate.

Arab in Marshall County

Is it pronounced Ay-rab or I-rab.

Cairo in Limestone County

Kay-Row

Conecuh County

Cuh-NECK-uh

Dauphin Island in Mobile County

Daw-Fin Island – it’s not Dolphin!

Flomaton in Escambia County

Flow-ma-tahn

Guin in Marion County

Gyoo-win

Helena in Shelby County

Huh-LEEN-ah

LaFayette in Chambers County

Is it Luf-fett OR La-Fay-It

Loachapoka in Lee County

Low-cha-poke-ah

Pintlala in Montgomery County

Pent-la-la

Oneonta in Blount County

Is it Oh-nee-on-tuh, OR Ahn-ee-on-tuh.

Opelika in Lee County

Oh-peh-like-uh or some say Oh-pee-LACK-uh

Tallassee in Elmore and Tallapoosa County

Tae-luh-see, but I hear people say Tallahassee. I’m like there is NO h in the Alabama city.

Uriah in Monroe County

You-rie

Wedowee  in Randolph County

Wee-DOW-ee

If you have any towns that you would like to add to my list. Let me know on Instagram at @MaryKRadio