| Columbus Speak | |
Every city I have ever lived in or visited had its share of hard-to-pronounce places. Columbus is no different, so if you're new to the area or visiting, here's how to look like you've lived here for years and pronounce our hard-to-say names:
A-K
BELLEFONTAINE--On many occasions I have heard this one said "Belluhfontayne" as if the person was trying to say each letter. However, people living there assure me it's BELLFOUNTAIN, like the word "bell" and the word "fountain" pronounced as one.
BUCYRUS--I was downtown once and I was asked how to get to Buckeyruss. Buckeyruss? I thought for a minute and realized they meant Bew-SIGH-russ, the small town in north central Ohio.
CHILLICOTHE--Ever heard of Chilcote? Someone told me they had been there once. Except it's pronounced CHILL-uh-COTH-ee.
COLUMBUS--This one's easy enough, Co-LUM-bus. But if you want to sound like a real Columbusite, you have to say KLUMbus, as in "Gee, ain't it great here in KLUMbus?"
GAHANNA--No, it's not the African nation of Ghana, it's Guh-HAN-uh.
INDIANOLA--Someone once told me they lived on Indyola St. near campus. "Indyola" sounds like it belongs in Indianapolis. Try INDIAN-ola, which I understand is named for some long-gone Indian mounds.
JAEGER STREET--"JAY-grrr" would seem to be the correct pronunciation for this German Village street. But it's actually YAY-grrr. Hey, it was settled by Germans, so what do you expect?
KINNIKINNICK--Someone once asked me if I had ever attended the Tecumseh! outdoor drama near Chillicothe, located by a small town called Nick-nick. Nick-nick? Wasn't that what Latka Gravas called making love on the old Taxi show? It's pronounced KINNY-kinn-ick, just like it's spelled.
KIOUSVILLE--When I first moved here I thought this small Madison county town was "Cuesville", like a place where pool cues live. But locals insist it's KYES-ville, rhyming with "eyes".
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