There are 50 states in the United States of America.
Can you pronounce all 50 states correctly?
Here’s the list of the 50 states in the alphabetical order.
Say them out loud!
Alabama Pronunciation
a-la-ba-ma
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “ba.” Also prolong the sound when pronouncing it.
Alaska Pronunciation
a-las-ka
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “las.”
The first syllable is the “schwa” sound.
Arizona Pronunciation
a-ri-zo-na
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “zo.”
Arkansas Pronunciation
ar-k’n-saw
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “ar.”
Pronounce “Ark” as you normally would in “arc.” The second syllable, “k’n” sounds like there’s no vowel. Say the third syllable as “saw.” Do not pronounce the last “s” sound.
California Pronunciation
ca-le-for-nia
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “for.”
Pronounce “ca” as in “carrot.” The second syllable, “le” is a schwa sound.
Colorado Pronunciation
co-lo-ra-do
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “ra.” Also make the sound long.
Pronounce “Col” as in “color.”
Connecticut Pronunciation
kuh-ne-ti-cut
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “ne.”
Pronounce “Co” is a schwa sound. The second c is inaudible. Don’t say, “connect-ti-cut.” When spoken fast, “t” sounds like “d” as in “co-ne-di-cut.”
Delaware Pronunciation
de-luh-wear
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “de.”
Florida Pronunciation
flo-ri-da
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “flo.”
Georgia Pronunciation
jor-ji-a
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “jor.”
Hawaii Pronunciation
ha-wa-y or ha-wa-ee
Americans usually put an emphasis on the 2nd syllable, “wa.” However, it’s also acceptable to make the third syllable long, as it’s close to the pronunciation of the native Hawaiian language.
Idaho Pronunciation
eye-da-ho
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “eye.”
The first syllable is somewhat pronounced very quickly, and the third syllable is prolonged.
Illinois Pronunciation
il-li-noi
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “noi.” Do not pronounce the last “s” sound.
Indiana Pronunciation
in-di-a-na
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “a.” It’s the same “a” as in “apple.”
Iowa Pronunciation
eye-o-wa
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “eye.” Each syllable is pronounced rather short.
Kansas Pronunciation
can-zuhs
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “can.”
Kentucky Pronunciation
ken-tu-cky
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “tu.”
Louisiana Pronunciation
loo-ee-zi-a-na
Emphasis: 4th syllable, “a.”
Connect the first and second syllables so they sound like “lewie.”
Maine Pronunciation
This is a one syllable word that has the same pronunciation as a horse’s “mane.”
Maryland Pronunciation
mary-land
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “Mary.” Pronounce this like a woman’s name.
For some learners, it might be difficult to pronounce “l” right after “r.” After you pronounce “Mary,” quickly move your tongue out to place its tongue on the back of your front teeth. That way, you can pronounce “l.”
Massachusetts Pronunciation
mas-sa-choo-sets
Emphasis: 1st and 3rd syllables. The first syllable “ma” is fast and stressed. The third syllable, “choo” is a long vowel.
Michigan Pronunciation
mi-shi-guhn
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “mi.”
All the syllables are pronounced quick and fast. The second and third syllables are schwa sounds.
Minnesota Pronunciation
mi-ne-so-da
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “so.”
The first and second syllables are schwa sounds and pronounced quickly. Say the last two syllables like “soda.”
Mississippi Pronunciation
mi-si-si-pi
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “si.”
All the syllables are schwa sounds and pronounced quickly.
Missouri Pronunciation
mi-zoo-ri
Emphasis: 2rd syllable, “zoo.”
The rest of the syllables are schwa sounds and pronounced quickly.
Montana Pronunciation
muhn-ta-na
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “ta.”
Nebraska Pronunciation
ne-bra-ska
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “bra.”
Nevada Pronunciation
ne-va-da
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “va.”
New Hampshire Pronunciation
nue-hamp-sher
Emphasis on “Hamp.” Say, “hamp-sher,” not “hamp-shai-year.”
New Jersey Pronunciation
nue-jer-zee
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “jer.”
New Mexico Pronunciation
nue-mek-si-ko
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “mek.”
New York Pronunciation
nue-york
“York” is slightly more stressed than “New.”
North Carolina Pronunciation
north-kya-ruh-lai-na
Emphasize “li.”
North Dakota Pronunciation
north-duh-ko-da
Stress “ko.” When pronounced fast, “Dakota” sounds like “Dakoda.”
Ohio Pronunciation
o-hai-yo
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “hi,” as in a greeting.
Oklahoma Pronunciation
ok-la-ho-ma
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “ho.” This syllable is slightly longer than the rest.
Oregon Pronunciation
ore-gone
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “gon.”
Pennsylvania Pronunciation
pen-sil-va-ni-a
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “va.”
Rhode Island Pronunciation
rode-eye-land
Stress “eye” in “Island.” When spoken fast, “d” and “i” sound blend, sounding like “ro-deye-land.”
South Carolina Pronunciation
south-kya-ro-lai-na
Emphasis on “li.”
South Dakota Pronunciation
south-duh-ko-ta
Emphasis on “ko.”
Tennessee Pronunciation
te-ne-see
Emphasis: 1st and 3rd syllables.
Make the first syllable fast. The third syllable has a long vowel.
Texas Pronunciation
tek-sas
Utah Pronunciation
you-tah
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “you.”
Vermont Pronunciation
ver-muhnt
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “mont.”
Don’t be fooled by “er” in “ver.” The first syllable is not stressed.
Virginia Pronunciation
ver-jee-ni-a
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “ji.”
Washington Pronunciation
wuh-shing-ton
Emphasis: 1st syllable, “wa.”
The first syllable “wa” is similar to “wash.” The third syllable “ton” is a schwa sound.
West Virginia Pronunciation
west-vir-jee-ni-a
Emphasis: 3rd syllable, “jee.”
Wisconsin Pronunciation
wis-kuhn-s’n
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “con.”
The third syllable, “sin” is not pronounced like “sin.” Treat it as if there’s no vowel.
Wyoming Pronunciation
why-yoh-ming
Emphasis: 2nd syllable, “yoh.”
Wrap-up
Now you know how to pronounce all 50 states!
Very useful. Thanks!
That great help