Boerne? Waxahachie? Here are 21 Texas city names you might be mispronouncing

Marley Malenfant , Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·4 min read

Texas has a blend of cultures and a rich history of cities that people in or outside of the Lone Star State aren't always aware of. Nor do they all know how to pronounce it.

Based on a report by Texas Highways, here are 21 cities in the state that are commonly mispronounced:

21 most commonly mispronounced Texas city names

Amarillo

  • Pronunciation: "Ah-mah-REE-yo" or "Am-uh-REE-yo,"

  • Locals typically say "Am-uh-rill-oh" when referring to their hometown.

Balmorhea

  • Pronunciation: "Bal-maw-RAY"

  • The city is known for its crystal-clear waters that are home to the Balmorhea State Park and Balmorhea Lake.

Bexar

  • Pronunciation: "Behr" or “Bear,” like the animal.

  • The county was named for San Antonio de Béxar, one of the 23 Mexican municipalities (administrative divisions) of Texas at the time of its independence.

Boerne

  • Pronunciation: "BER-nee"

  • In 1862, Boerne became the county seat of the newly formed Kendall County by a margin of only 67 votes. A courthouse was built in 1870 and is still in use, making it the second-oldest courthouse in Texas.

Buda

  • Pronunciation: "BYOO-duh"

  • Originally named Du Pre, Buda, situated between San Marcos and Austin, opted for a name change upon discovering another Du Pre, Texas. It adopted "Buda," deriving its pronunciation from the Spanish word for widow, "viuda."

Burnet

  • Pronunciation: "BURN-it"

  • The county seat of Burnet is nicknamed the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas for the explosion of wildflowers that blanket the local landscape every spring.

Dumas

  • Pronunciation: "DOO-muss"

  • The city was named for Louis Dumas, president of the Panhandle Townsite Company in Sherman, who purchased railroad survey lands in the Panhandle.

Gruene

  • Pronunciation: "green"

  • The name "Gruene, TX" originates from the German word for "green,” and it is pronounced that way. It was named after Ernst Gruene, who founded the town in the 1840s.

Humble

  • Pronunciation: "UM-bull"

  • Humble became an oil boomtown in the early 20th century when oil was first discovered there in 1904. By 1905, the Humble oilfield became the largest producing oilfield in Texas.

Iraan

  • Pronunciation: "Eye-ruh-ANN"

  • The name "Iraan" is a combination of "Ira" and "Ann" Yates, who were influential in the town's founding.

Leakey

  • Pronunciation: "LAY-key"

  • According to Texas Hill Country, Leakey is known for its scenic beauty and as a hunting hotspot.

Llano

  • Pronunciation: "LAN-oh"

  • It’s known as the deer capital of Texas. "YAH-noh" is considered more accurate because the double "L" in Spanish typically has a "Y" sound.

Lubbock

  • Pronunciation: "LUH-buhk"

  • Lubbock is renowned as the birthplace of rock and roll icon Buddy Holly, home to Texas Tech University and known for its windy climate, earning it the nickname "Hub City." The strong winds, often blowing from the west, contribute to the region's arid conditions and can influence local weather patterns.

Manor

  • Pronunciation: "MAY-ner"

  • Manor is situated just east of Austin, making it part of the greater Austin metropolitan area. Its proximity to the state capital provides residents with access to urban amenities while maintaining a suburban or rural atmosphere.

Mexia

  • Pronunciation: "Muh-HAY-uh"

  • Mexia was established in 1871 and named for the family that donated the town site.

Nacogdoches

  • Pronunciation: "Na-kuh-DOW-chuhs"

  • Recognized as "the oldest town in Texas," Nacogdoches derived its name from a Caddo Indian tribe. Despite occasional confusion with the pronunciation "Nah-cog-DOW-chess," locals commonly say "Nack-ah-DOW-chess" when referring to the city.

New Braunfels

  • Pronunciation: "New BRAWN-fulls"

  • The New Braunfels brewery is best known for its Texas Honey Ale, made from honey produced by Texas bees.

Palestine

  • Pronunciation: "PAHL-uh-steen"

  • To avoid confusion with the land of Palestine in Western Asia, note that the small town in East Texas is frequently mispronounced as "PAHL-uh-stein," whereas locals typically refer to it as "PAHL-uh-steen."

Quitaque

  • Pronunciation: "Kitty-Quay" or "KIT-a-kway"

  • According to TSHA, Charles Goodnight named the town Quitaque, believing it was the Native American word for "end of the trail." Another legend suggests the name came from two local buttes resembling piles of horse manure — the actual meaning of the word. Alternatively, some say the name was derived from the Quitaca Indians.

Waco

Waxahachie

  • Pronunciation: "Waak-suh-HA-chee"

  • According to the Waxahachie Visitors Bureau, the name of the city is derived from the Native American word meaning “Buffalo Creek.” Visitors or newcomers to the area may find the city's name confusing, as they might attempt to pronounce it as "Waak-uh-HATCH-ee," while locals actually pronounce it as "Waak-suh-HA-chee."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 21 Texas city names that are most commonly mispronounced