We’ll put it out there for all 49 other states to hear: Maine has the weirdest place-name pronunciations in the country.
What other state has such a magical combination of multiple languages (English, French, Indigenous), far-flung towns founded centuries ago, and obstinate, idiosyncratic people? We don’t blame people from away for getting things wrong. It’s a lot to keep up with. In this category, we lead. It’s in our state motto, Dirigo — which is pronounced DEER-ih-go, by the way.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the most commonly mispronounced place-names in Maine — from the beautifully descriptive Wabanaki words that predate all European languages to French words that have been Anglicized to names that we simply say differently for seemingly no reason. Maybe just to mess with people.
If you’re new to Maine or here visiting, study this list and see if you can speak like a local.
Do you have another unique Maine pronunciation to share? Do you think we got one of these phonetic guides wrong? Leave a comment or send us an email at [email protected].
Wabanaki names
Arrowsic: uh-ROW-sick
Caratunk: care-uh-tunk
Chebeague Island: shah-BEEG or shah-BIG. Both pronunciations are acceptable, though the first syllable is always a “shah” sound, and the last syllable has the emphasis.
Chesuncook: cheh-ZUN-cook
Damariscotta: dam-ruh-sco-ta. It’s always four syllables, not five. You can kind of pretend that the second ‘a’ isn’t there.
Kokadjo: co-KAHD-jo
Machias: muh-CHAI-us
Masardis: muh-sar-dis
Mattamiscontis: mattuh-miss-contis
Norridgewock: nor-ridge-wock. Norridge rhymes with “porridge.”
Orono: OR-uh-no
Passagassawakeag River: puh-SAG-uh-suh-WAH-keg
Piscataqua River: pis-CAT-uh-kwa
Piscataquis County: pis-CAT-uh-kwis
Ripogenus: rip-uh-geenus
Sabattus: suh-BAT-us
Sagadahoc: sagga-duh-hawk
Saco: SAH-coh. Absolutely never SAY-co.
Skowhegan: skow-hee-gin, all three syllables equally stressed.
Wytopitlock: whitto-pitlock
French names, said the Maine way
Calais: CAL-us. This is not the northern French port town. This is the Maine border town.
Deblois: de-BLOYS
Isle au Haut: isle-uh-hoe. Yes, we actually give this a French pronunciation, at least partially. We like to keep you on your toes.
Lamoine: luh-moyne
Minot: my-nit
Presque Isle — presk-aisle
St. Agatha — sant-agat. Ask a local how to pronounce the last name “Gagnon,” while you’re at it.
Other names, said the Maine way
Arundel — uh-run-dul
Bangor: bang-gore. There’s a whole song about getting it right. You have no excuse.
Carmel: CAR-muhl
Cambridge: We’ve heard this pronounced two ways: like the city where Harvard University is (CAME-bridge) and as CAM-bridge. Try both and see what people say!
Detroit: DEE-troit, big emphasis on the first syllable.
Madrid: MAD-rid, also big emphasis on the first syllable.
Mariaville: mah-rye-uh-ville
Shapleigh: SHAP-lee
Steuben: stoo-BEN, emphasis on the BEN.
Vienna: VY-enna, big emphasis on the first syllable. Are you seeing a pattern here?
