by Elaine Viets
I won’t give you the details, but I will say this: some things are worth waiting for.
THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO
CHOUTEAU COUNTY PRONUNCIATION
Missourians have their own way of pronouncing words and names. We’re called the Show Me State, and you don’t tell us how to say something. The French were among the first settlers, but we resist Frenchifying words.
Chouteau is SHOW-toe.
Du Pres is Duh-PRAY.
Gravois is GRAH-voy.
Detective Ray Greiman is GRI-mun. His name is mispronounced German.
So is my name. It’s pronounced VEETS, and rhymes with Beets.
Missouri can’t even decide how to pronounce its own name. The eastern part, which includes St. Louis, calls itself Missour-ee. That’s how Angela pronounces the state’s name. In the west, which has Kansas City, it’s called Missour-uh. Politicians have mastered the fine art of adjusting their pronunciation to please whichever part of the state they’re in.
Elaine Viets
