
Minnesota Pronunciation Guide
See my article on the same topic for Wisconsin and Iowa sources: Pronouncing Mahtomedi, Monticello, and Montevideo in the home of 3M
Cities, municipalities, and townships
| Place Name | Pronunciation(s) click to listen | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin | AY-kin | Central MN | iHeart |
| Albert Lea | AL-bert LEE | Southern MN | |
| Anoka | uh-NO-kuh | North Metro | |
| Bemidji | buh-MIJ-ee | Northern MN | iHeart |
| Biwabik | buh-WAH-bik | Northeastern MN (Iron Range) | YouTube (mayor) |
| Chanhassen | CHAN-hass-en | West Metro | |
| Chokio | SHOW-kee-oh | Western MN | iHeart |
| Cloquet | kloh-KAY | Northeastern MN | iHeart |
| Cosmos | Cos-mus | Central MN | iHeart |
| Edina | ee-DYE-nuh | South Metro | TikTok |
| Ely | EE-lee | Northeastern MN | PBS |
| Faribault | FAIR-uh-boe | South Central MN | |
| Isanti | eye-SAN-tee | East Central MN | |
| Lutsen | LOOT-sen | Northeastern MN | |
| Mahtomedi | mah-toe-MEE-dye | East Metro | TikTok |
| Mankato | MAN-kay-toh | South Central MN | PBS |
| Minnetonka | min-ih-TAHN-kuh | West Metro | PBS |
| Montevideo | montuh-VID-eeyo | Western MN | |
| Monticello | montuh-SELL-oh | Northwest Metro | |
| New Prague | noo-PRAYG | South | |
| Owatonna | oh-wuh-TAHN-uh | South Central MN | iHeart |
| Shakopee | SHOCK-uh-pee | Southwest Metro | iHeart |
| South St. Paul | souwse-AINT-paul | East Metro | Where I live |
| Waconia | waa-CONE-eeya | West Metro | |
| Wayzata | why-ZET-uh | West Metro | Best Life |
| West St. Paul | wess-AINT-paul | East Metro | It’s my hometown |
Counties (selected with notable pronunciations)
| Place Name | Pronunciation(s) | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin | AY-kin | Central MN | iHeart |
| Beltrami | bel-TRAM-ee | Northern MN | |
| Chippewa | CHIP-uh-wah | Western MN | |
| Chisago | shih-SAH-goh | East Metro | |
| Faribault | FAIR-uh-boe | South Central MN | |
| Isanti | eye-SAN-tee | East Central MN | |
| Kandiyohi | kan-dee-YO-hi | Central MN | |
| Koochiching | KOO-chih-ching | Northern MN | |
| Lac qui Parle | lack-kee PARL | Western MN | YouTube |
| Le Sueur | luh SOO-er | South Central MN | |
| Mahnomen | mah-NO-min | Northwest MN | |
| Mille Lacs | muhLAX | East Central MN | |
| Mower | MORE or MAU-er (not like lawnmower) | Southern MN | |
| St. Croix | saynt CROY | Eastern MN border | |
| St. Louis | saynt LOO-iss | Northeastern MN |
Rivers
| Place Name | Pronunciation(s) | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River | MIN-ih-SOH-tuh | Central to Southern MN | PBS |
| St. Croix River | saynt CROY | Eastern MN border | |
| St. Louis River | saynt LOO-iss | Northeastern MN | |
| Le Sueur River | luh SOO-er | South Central MN | |
| Chippewa River | CHIP-uh-wah | Western MN |
Lakes
| Place Name | Pronunciation(s) | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bde Maka Ska | buh-DAY mah-KAH skah | Minneapolis | |
| Lake Itasca | eye-TAS-kuh | Northern MN | |
| Lake Minnetonka | min-ih-TAHN-kuh | West Metro | PBS |
| Lake Winnibigoshish | win-uh-big-OSH-ish | Northern MN | MN’s New Country |
| Mille Lacs Lake | muhLAX | East Central MN | |
| Saganaga Lake | sah-gah-NAH-gah | Northeastern MN | |
| Slough Lake | slew | Various | MN’s New Country |
Parks (state, regional, national)
| Place Name | Pronunciation(s) | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itasca State Park | eye-TAS-kuh | Northern MN | |
| Lake Maria State Park | muh-RYE-uh | Central MN | |
| Minneopa State Park | min-ee-OH-puh | South Central MN | |
| Tettegouche State Park | TET-uh-goosh | Northeastern MN | YouTube |
| Voyageurs National Park | voy-uh-ZHURS | Northern MN | |
| Chippewa National Forest | CHIP-uh-wah | Northwestern MN |
Sports legends
These are the ones that might be tricky to pronounce, not the all-inclusive, all-time greats.
| Name | Pronunciation | Sport | Team | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seimone Augustus | sih-MOAN uh-GUST-ihs | Basketball | Lynx | YouTube |
| Bert Blyleven | burt BLY-lev-ihn | Baseball | Twins | |
| Henry Boucha | hen-REE boo-SHAY | Hockey | Olympian/North Stars | |
| Neal Broten | kneel BROTT-ihn | Hockey | Gophers | |
| Rod Carew | rahd KUH-roo | Baseball | Twins | |
| Dino Ciccarelli | dee-know SISS-uh-rellee | Hockey | North Stars | |
| Napheesa Collier | nuh-FEE-suh KOL-yur | Basketball | Lynx | YouTube |
| Marian Gaborik | MARY-ihn GABB-uh-rik | Hockey | Wild | |
| Ed Giese | ed GHEE-zee | Wrestling | Gophers | YouTube |
| Fortune Gordien | FORCH-ihn GORE-dee-ihn | Discus/ Shot Put | Olympian | YouTube |
| Taylor Heise | TAY-lurr HI-see | Hockey | Gophers/ Frost/Olympian | |
| Kent Hrbek | kent HURR-beck | Baseball | Twins | |
| Kirill Kaprizov | KUH-rill kuh-PREE-zawv | Hockey | Wild | |
| Harmon Killebrew | HARM-ihn KILL-a-broo | Baseball | Twins | |
| Mikko Koivu | MEEK-ko KOY-voo | Hockey | Wild | |
| Suni Lee | SOO-knee lee | Gymnastics | Olympian | |
| Clyde Lovellette | klide LO-vel-it | Basketball | Minneapolis Lakers | YouTube |
| Cesare Maniago | SAY-zahr MAHNNIE-ah-go | Hockey | North Stars | |
| John Mariucci | jahn MARY-ooh-chee | Hockey Coach | Gophers | |
| John Mayasich | jahn MAY-uh-sitch | Hockey | Olympian | |
| George Mikan | Jorz MIKE-ihn | Basketball | Minneapolis Lakers | |
| Mike Modano | mike muh-DON-oh | Hockey | North Stars | |
| Paul Molitor | pawl MALL-it-urr | Baseball | Gophers/Twins | |
| Bronko Nagurski | BRON-ko nuh-GURR-skee | Football | Gophers | |
| Lou Nanne | loo NANN-ee | Hockey | North Stars | |
| Tony Oliva | TOH-knee OH-lee-vuh | Baseball | Twins | |
| Regan Pittman | RAYG-ihn PITT-mihn | Volleyball | Gophers | |
| John Roethlisberger | jahn RAWTH-lihs-burger | Gymnastics | Olympian | YouTube |
| Stephanie Samedy | STEFF-uh-knee SAMMA-dee | Volleyball | Gophers | |
| Daly Santana (Dalianlinz) | DOLL-ee SAN-tan-uh (DOLLY-ahn-leez) | Volleyball | Gophers | |
| Johan Santana | YO-hahn SAN-tan-uh | Baseball | Twins | |
| Kendall Coyne Schofield | KEND-ihl COYN SCO-feeld | Hockey | Frost/Olympian | |
| Dave Spehar | dayv SPEE-hahr | Hockey | Gophers | |
| Gable Steveson | GABE-ihl STEEV-sihn | Wrestling | Gophers | |
| Samantha Seliger-Swenson | SUH-man-thuh SELL-ih-gurr-SWEN-suhn | Volleyball | Gophers | |
| Adam Thielen | AD-uhm THEE-lihn | Football | Vikings | |
| Mychal Thompson | MIKE-ihl TOM-sihn | Basketball | Gophers | |
| Thomas Vanek | TOW-muhs VAN-ihk | Hockey | Gophers | |
| Jesse Ventura | jess-EE ven-TOOR-uh | Pro Wrestling/ Governor of MN | AWA | |
| Baron von Raschke | bear-ihn von-RASH-kee | Pro Wrestling | AWA | |
| Lindsey Vonn | LIN-dzee vahn | Alpine Skiing | Olympian | |
| Doug Woog | dug woog | Hockey Coach | Gophers | |
| Gump Worsley | gump WORE-zlee | Hockey | North Stars |
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