How to Pronounce the 50 States

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!