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St. Paul, MN

Minnesota Pronunciation Guide

By popular demand, I’m offering this page from The Vault for free right now. Subscribe to The Vault for practical tools like this to make you a better communicator fast.

See my article on the same topic for Wisconsin and Iowa sources: Pronouncing Mahtomedi, Monticello, and Montevideo in the home of 3M

Jump to: Cities | Counties | Rivers | Lakes | Parks | Sports legends

Cities, municipalities, and townships

Place NamePronunciation(s) click to listenLocationSource
AitkinAY-kinCentral MNiHeart
Albert LeaAL-bert LEESouthern MN
Anokauh-NO-kuhNorth Metro
Bemidjibuh-MIJ-eeNorthern MNiHeart
Biwabikbuh-WAH-bikNortheastern MN (Iron Range)YouTube (mayor)
ChanhassenCHAN-hass-enWest MetroReddit
ChokioSHOW-kee-ohWestern MNiHeart
Cloquetkloh-KAYNortheastern MNiHeart
CosmosCos-musCentral MNiHeart
Edinaee-DYE-nuhSouth MetroTikTok
ElyEE-leeNortheastern MNPBS
FaribaultFAIR-uh-boeSouth Central MN
Isantieye-SAN-teeEast Central MN
LutsenLOOT-senNortheastern MN
Mahtomedimah-toe-MEE-dyeEast MetroTikTok
MankatoMAN-kay-tohSouth Central MNPBS
Minnetonkamin-ih-TAHN-kuhWest MetroPBS
Montevideomontuh-VID-eeyoWestern MN
Monticellomontuh-SELL-ohNorthwest Metro
New Praguenoo-PRAYGSouth
Owatonnaoh-wuh-TAHN-uhSouth Central MNiHeart
ShakopeeSHOCK-uh-peeSouthwest MetroiHeart
South St. Paulsouwse-AINT-paulEast MetroWhere I live
Waconiawaa-CONE-eeyaWest Metro
Wayzatawhy-ZET-uhWest MetroBest Life
West St. Paulwess-AINT-paulEast MetroIt’s my hometown

Counties (selected with notable pronunciations)

Place NamePronunciation(s)LocationSource
AitkinAY-kinCentral MNiHeart
Beltramibel-TRAM-eeNorthern MN
ChippewaCHIP-uh-wahWestern MN
Chisagoshih-SAH-gohEast Metro
FaribaultFAIR-uh-boeSouth Central MN
Isantieye-SAN-teeEast Central MN
Kandiyohikan-dee-YO-hiCentral MN
KoochichingKOO-chih-chingNorthern MN
Lac qui Parlelack-kee PARLWestern MNYouTube
Le Sueurluh SOO-erSouth Central MN
Mahnomenmah-NO-minNorthwest MN
Mille LacsmuhLAXEast Central MN
MowerMORE or MAU-er
(not like lawnmower)
Southern MN
St. Croixsaynt CROYEastern MN border
St. Louissaynt LOO-issNortheastern MN

Rivers

Place NamePronunciation(s)LocationSource
Minnesota RiverMIN-ih-SOH-tuhCentral to Southern MNPBS
St. Croix Riversaynt CROYEastern MN border
St. Louis Riversaynt LOO-issNortheastern MN
Le Sueur Riverluh SOO-erSouth Central MN
Chippewa RiverCHIP-uh-wahWestern MN

Lakes

Place NamePronunciation(s)LocationSource
Bde Maka Skabuh-DAY mah-KAH skahMinneapolis
Lake Itascaeye-TAS-kuhNorthern MN
Lake Minnetonkamin-ih-TAHN-kuhWest MetroPBS
Lake Winnibigoshishwin-uh-big-OSH-ishNorthern MNMN’s New Country
Mille Lacs LakemuhLAXEast Central MN
Saganaga Lakesah-gah-NAH-gahNortheastern MN
Slough LakeslewVariousMN’s New Country

Parks (state, regional, national)

Place NamePronunciation(s)LocationSource
Itasca State Parkeye-TAS-kuhNorthern MN
Lake Maria State Parkmuh-RYE-uhCentral MNInstagram
Minneopa State Parkmin-ee-OH-puhSouth Central MN
Tettegouche State ParkTET-uh-gooshNortheastern MNYouTube
Voyageurs National Parkvoy-uh-ZHURSNorthern MN
Chippewa National ForestCHIP-uh-wahNorthwestern MN

Sports legends

These are the ones that might be tricky to pronounce, not the all-inclusive, all-time greats.

NamePronunciationSportTeamSource
Seimone Augustussih-MOAN uh-GUST-ihsBasketballLynxYouTube
Bert Blylevenburt BLY-lev-ihnBaseballTwins
Henry Bouchahen-REE boo-SHAYHockeyOlympian/North Stars
Neal Brotenkneel BROTT-ihnHockeyGophers
Rod Carewrahd KUH-rooBaseballTwins
Dino Ciccarellidee-know SISS-uh-relleeHockeyNorth Stars
Napheesa Colliernuh-FEE-suh KOL-yurBasketballLynxYouTube
Marian GaborikMARY-ihn GABB-uh-rikHockeyWild
Ed Gieseed GHEE-zeeWrestlingGophersYouTube
Fortune GordienFORCH-ihn GORE-dee-ihnDiscus/
Shot Put
OlympianYouTube
Taylor HeiseTAY-lurr HI-seeHockeyGophers/ Frost/Olympian
Kent Hrbekkent HURR-beckBaseballTwins
Kirill KaprizovKUH-rill kuh-PREE-zawvHockeyWild
Harmon KillebrewHARM-ihn KILL-a-brooBaseballTwins
Mikko KoivuMEEK-ko KOY-vooHockeyWild
Suni LeeSOO-knee leeGymnasticsOlympian
Clyde Lovelletteklide LO-vel-itBasketballMinneapolis LakersYouTube
Cesare ManiagoSAY-zahr MAHNNIE-ah-goHockeyNorth Stars
John Mariuccijahn MARY-ooh-cheeHockey CoachGophers
John Mayasichjahn MAY-uh-sitchHockeyOlympian
George MikanJorz MIKE-ihnBasketballMinneapolis Lakers
Mike Modanomike muh-DON-ohHockeyNorth Stars
Paul Molitorpawl MALL-it-urrBaseballGophers/Twins
Bronko NagurskiBRON-ko nuh-GURR-skeeFootballGophers
Lou Nanneloo NANN-eeHockeyNorth Stars
Tony OlivaTOH-knee OH-lee-vuhBaseballTwins
Regan PittmanRAYG-ihn PITT-mihnVolleyballGophers
John Roethlisbergerjahn RAWTH-lihs-burgerGymnasticsOlympianYouTube
Stephanie SamedySTEFF-uh-knee SAMMA-deeVolleyballGophers
Daly Santana (Dalianlinz)DOLL-ee SAN-tan-uh (DOLLY-ahn-leez)VolleyballGophers
Johan SantanaYO-hahn SAN-tan-uhBaseballTwins
Kendall Coyne SchofieldKEND-ihl COYN SCO-feeldHockeyFrost/Olympian
Dave Spehardayv SPEE-hahrHockeyGophers
Gable StevesonGABE-ihl STEEV-sihnWrestlingGophers
Samantha Seliger-SwensonSUH-man-thuh SELL-ih-gurr-SWEN-suhnVolleyballGophers
Adam ThielenAD-uhm THEE-lihnFootballVikings
Mychal ThompsonMIKE-ihl TOM-sihnBasketballGophers
Thomas VanekTOW-muhs VAN-ihkHockeyGophers
Jesse Venturajess-EE ven-TOOR-uhPro Wrestling/
Governor of MN
AWA
Baron von Raschkebear-ihn von-RASH-keePro WrestlingAWA
Lindsey VonnLIN-dzee vahnAlpine SkiingOlympian
Doug Woogdug woogHockey CoachGophers
Gump Worsleygump WORE-zleeHockeyNorth Stars

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