You may be familiar with the Spanish language, but that doesn't mean you know how to pronounce Buena Vista. What does Las Animas mean? How do Coloradoans say Louisville? Where did Del Norte get its name? And how in tarnation does one pronounce Piceance?
Colorado has its share of strange geographical names. As a native, I'm familiar with some of them. But there are many names for which I'm just as much at a loss as anyone else. So this page is mostly the result of some research I did for my own sake. I've posted it on the web because I appreciate the same type of thing people have done for placenames in other states. My goal here is to show how the locals pronounce the name of their town or their surrounding landforms.
Below, I've listed several Colorado placenames. Many of them I consider to have difficult, confusing, and/or unexpected pronunciations. I listed some others simply because I wanted to know what the words mean. Clicking on a placename will take you to one of the following subcategories - under which I've listed the word, along with its pronunciation:
Depending on how many words are in a particular subcategory, you may have to scroll down to find your word, which will be listed alphabetically within its subcategory.
I wasn't sure whether diacritical marks would display correctly on all platforms, so instead I opted to use only standard letters for the pronunciations. I've tried to spell each syllable phonetically. The accented syllable is in CAPS.
Other than personal experience, my primary source for this page was the excellent book, Colorado Place Names, by William Bright (Johnson Printing Company, Boulder CO, 1993). I've also had some help from the following knowledgeable friends and correspondents: Neil Bratney, Steve Fullmer, Steve Hight, Gene Hiigel, Richard Leonard, Melissa Jane Cesaria Montoya, Jenny Shaleen O'Gorman, Alicia Peaker, Ed Quillen, Zach Reece, Lillian Ross, Matt Salek, Donald Thomas, Janis Whisman, and "Deb".
By the way, if you like this page, you might also enjoy my Colorado colloquialisms page. It's mainly about the sometimes-peculiar terms Coloradoans use when referring to certain areas of our state.
If you have any comments, please contact me via e-mail (address at the bottom).
Abarr
Acequia
Acoma
Agua
Alamosa
Animas
Antero
Apishapa
Arapahoe
Arboles
Archuleta
Arikaree (or Arickaree)
Arkansas
Aroya
Arriba
Arvada
Auraria
Badito
Berthoud
Beshoar
Bisonte
Blanca
Boettcher
Buena Vista
Canon City
Cache la Poudre
Cahone
Campo
Canon
Capulin
Cebolla
Cerro
Chaffee
Chipeta (or Chipita)
Collbran
Colorado
Conejos
Costilla
Crestone
Crowley
Cumbres
Curecanti
De Beque
Del Norte
Delhi
Dotsero
Durango
Egeria
El Jebel
El Vado
Enentah
Englewood
Estes Park
Estrella
Florida
Garo
Granada
Guyot
Hartsel
Hoehne
Huerfano
Idalia
Ignacio
Iliff
Kawuneechee
Kersey
Jaroso (or Jarosa)
La Jara
La Junta
La Veta
Las Animas (see Animas, above)
Limon
Lochbuie
Louisville
Louviers
Lycan
Medano
Mesa Verde
Model
Monte Vista
Nathrop
Naturita
Niwot
Olathe
Onahu
Ophir
Orestod (see Dotsero, above)
Otero
Ouray
Ovid
Padroni
Paonia
Piceance
Platte
Pueblo
Purgatoire
Rio Grande
Roggen
Routt
Saguache
Salida
San Luis
San Miguel
Sangre de Cristo
Sapinero
Sawatch (see Saguache, above)
Seibert
Shavano
Tabeguache
Tabernash
Telluride
Tobe
Tomichi
Tonahutu
Toponas
Towaoc
Unaweep
Uncompahgre
Vilas
Villegreen
Walsenburg
Weminuche
Westminster
Wray
Top / Mispronounced / Spanish / Indian / French / Syllable / Confusing
(All placenames that follow are listed alphabetically within their subcategories - except I want to begin with the name of the state itself.)
Colorado: we natives pronounce it call-uh-RAD-o (the accented syllable
rhymes with "bad"). We figure anyone who says call-uh-ROD-o or call-uh-ROD-der
must be either a tourist or a short-time resident (when they pronounce the accented
syllable as if it rhymes with "pod"). When I was growing up, we were called
call-uh-RAD-o-uns (five syllables), not call-uh-ROD-uns (four syllables). But
now that's pretty much the only pronunciation I hear (I first noticed it coming
from newscasters, and later from state governor Bill Owens, and now it's to
the point where I feel like an idiot if I say "call-uh-RAD-o-uns").
The river we now know as the Little Colorado in Arizona was the one originally
called Rio Colorado ("Red River"). That stream flows into the Grand Canyon,
and later the name "Colorado" was applied to the main stream which carved that
chasm (and whose headwaters rise in Colorado). In Spanish, that would be pronounced
cole-oh-RAHD-oh (the first syllable rhymes with "bowl", and the accented syllable
rhymes with "pod").
Acequia: ah-see-KWEE-uh
This locale is not even shown on most maps. In Spanish, the word for "irrigation
ditch" is more like ah-SAY-kee-uh.
Agua: the Spanish word for "water" is found in many Colorado placenames. Whether at the beginning or in the middle of a word, it's usually pronounced AH-wuh. Of course, true Spanish is AH-gwah.
Aroya: uh-ROY-uh
The name of this community is a corruption of the Spanish arroyo, or
"creek".
Arriba: AIR-uh-buh
The Spanish word, pronounced ah-REE-bah, means "above", and it was applied to
this town because of its relatively high location near the crest between two
major watersheds.
Badito: buh-DIE-toe
Probably a corruption of the Spanish vadito, or "little ford" (a diminutive
of vado, "ford").
Blanca: BLANG-kuh
The Spanish word for "white" would be pronounced BLAHN-ka. The name was given
first to a 14,000-foot mountain which almost always has snow at its peak - and
later to a town at the mountain's base.
Buena Vista: byoo-nuh VIS-tuh
I know it's hard to believe, but it's true - I understand the locals even passed
a resolution stating that this is the official pronunciation of the town. Of
course, the Spanish for "good view" would be more like bway-nuh VEES-tuh.
Conejos: cun-AY-us
The Spanish word for "rabbits" would be pronounced cone-AY-hose (the last syllable
rhymes with "dose"). Name originally given to a river; later a town, mountain,
and county.
Cumbres: KUM-berz
Spanish for "peaks", the town and nearby pass would be more accurately pronounced
KOOM-brays.
Del Norte: del NORT
Named for the river that runs through the town, originally known to the Spanish
as Rio Grande del Norte, or "great river of the north" (see Rio Grande,
below). Of course, they would've pronounced it del NOR-tay.
Durango: der-ANG-go (sounds like the word "angle")
The state in Mexico is pronounced dur-AHN-go; this is apparently a Spanish family
name of Basque origin.
Estrella: uh-STREL-luh
Spanish for "star", the town would be authentically pronounced es-TRAY-ah.
Huerfano: WAR-fuh-no (the first syllable rhymes with "bore")
Spanish for "orphan". The river and the county are named for Huerfano Butte,
so called because of its isolation from the mountains to the west. Actual Spanish
is pronounced WEAR-fuh-no (the first syllable rhymes with "fair").
La Junta: luh HUN-tuh
Town named for its location at "the junction" of travel routes: first, where
the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail split off from the Arkansas River;
later where two branches of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad converged;
and today the highway
hub of southeastern Colorado. In Spanish, this would be la HOON-tah.
Medano: the most common variations are MED-un-oh, MAD-un-oh, and med-AHN-oh
The mountain pass above - and the creek flowing past - the Great Sand Dunes
are named after the Spanish for "sand dune", which is properly pronounced MAY-dun-oh.
Mesa Verde: Spanish for "green table". It should be MAY-sa VEHR-day, but most Coloradoans say MAY-sa VUR-dee. Sometimes you'll hear MAY-sa VURD.
Monte Vista: mon-tuh VISS-tuh
If this were true Spanish for "mountain view", it would be Vista del Monte
- and even if this town's name were grammatically correct, it would be pronounced
"mon-tay VEES-tuh".
Pueblo: PWEB-low
A few people have written to let me know it's still quite common to hear PYEB-low,
even among some residents of the city and county. I've also heard PEB-low, and
Bright's book says some old-timers even used to say pyoo-EBB-low, for heaven's
sake. (Someone wrote to say she remembers her grandfather saying "pyoo-EBB-low"
in the 1970s - she thought he was joking, referring to the way the steel mill
created such a foul smell in the area.) May this be the generation that puts
that nonsense to rest. Anyway, the Spanish translates to "town" or "village",
and is more accurately pronounced PWAY-blo.
Rio Grande: REE-oh GRAND
Short for the original Spanish Rio Grande del Norte, or "great river
of the north" - although they would've pronounced it REE-oh GRAHN-day. Name
also used for a county, a mountain, and a national forest. Incidentally, don't
make the mistake of saying "Rio Grande River" - that's redundant.
Salida: suh-LYE-duh
The word for "outlet" was presumably given to this town because of the nearby
spot where the Arkansas River exits Browns Canyon, into an open valley. But
the Spanish word is actually pronounced sah-LEE-dah.
San Luis: LOO-iss, sometimes LOO-ee
Either way misses true Spanish, which would be loo-EES (with a hard "S"). The
town, the creek, and the lakes are usually pronounced LOO-iss, but it's common
to hear the valley which contains them all pronounced LOO-ee.
San Miguel: mi-GILL
The town, the river, and the county are named after Saint Michael, but in Spanish
that's pronounced me-GELL.
Top / Mispronounced / Spanish / Indian / French / Syllable / Confusing
Alamosa: al-uh-MO-suh
A Spanish feminine adjective for "full of cottonwoods".
Animas: ANN-i-muss
Spanish for "souls". The river in La Plata County was originally named Rio
de las Animas Perdidas, or "River of the Lost Souls". Nearby Animas Mountain
and the community of Animas Forks were both named for this river. Also, a similar
name was originally given to a completely different stream: the river to which
we refer today as the Purgatoire. This is the river from
which both the city and county of Las Animas derive their names.
Arboles: AR-bowl-eez or AR-bowl-iss
Spanish for "trees".
Archuleta: ahr-choo-LET-uh
The last name of a senator from Conejos County,
out of which Archuleta county was carved.
Bisonte: bi-SON-tee (it's a long "O" in the accented syllable)
A Spanish word for "bison" - although cibolo and cibola are more
common (but see Cebolla, below).
Cahone: kuh-HONE
This town's name is a phoenetic spelling of the Spanish cajon, or "box"
- referring in this case to a nearby box canyon.
Campo: CAM-po
This town's name means "field" in Spanish.
Canon: KAN-yun
This word appears in several Colorado placenames, perhaps most prominently in
Canon City, seat of Fremont County. The word has nothing to do with the weapon;
rather it's Spanish for "canyon".
Cebolla: suh-VOY-uh
The creek was given the Spanish word for "onion" (not to be confused with cibola
- see Bisonte, above)
Cerro: SEER-oh
The Spanish word for "hill" or "mountain" occurs in several Colorado placenames.
Costilla: cos-TEE-uh (the first syllable rhymes with "dose").
This county is named for the creek that runs through it, near the New Mexico
line. The Spanish means "rib", but it can also refer to the slope of a mountain.
El Vado: VAH-doh
Spanish for "the ford" (as in the water crossing - not the car!)
Florida: fluh-REE-dah
Considering all of the Spanish names we Coloradoans
mispronounce, it's hard to believe we get this one right - when most everyone
else would naturally assume it's pronounced like the state: FLOR-id-uh. It's
actually the state that mispronounces the Spanish word for "flowering".
Jaroso: huh-RO-so (a variant is Jarosa: huh-RO-suh)
In Spanish, an adjective meaning "covered with sandbar willows" (see La Jara,
below).
La Jara: luh HAR-uh or luh HAIR-uh
Town named for the river, which in Spanish refers to the sandbar willows that
grow on its banks (see Jaroso, above).
La Veta: luh VEE-tuh
Town and two mountain passes named with Spanish word for "the vein", probably
referring to the dikes radiating out from the Spanish Peaks.
Naturita: nat-you-REE-tuh
The town and the creek were apparently given a diminutive of the Spanish natura,
or "nature".
Otero: oh-TER-oh
The county was given the surname of one of the founders of La Junta, its seat
of government (see La Junta, above).
Sangre de Cristo: SANG-ri da CRISS-toe
The name for this mountain range translates "blood of Christ". Legend says these
mountains were named after the last words of a dying Spaniard, who looked up
to the range and saw the peaks bathed in the reddish glow of the setting sun.
These mountains are often referred to as simply "the Sangres" (SANG-riz)
Top / Mispronounced / Spanish / Indian / French / Syllable / Confusing
Apishapa: uh-PISH-uh-puh
River said to be named for the Ute "stagnant-" or "stinking-water".
Arapahoe: uh-RAP-uh-ho
The town, the county, the pass, a few mountains - and the National Forest, although
it drops the final "e" - were all named for one of the principal Indian tribes
of Colorado's eastern plains. However, this is not the word they use for themselves.
It was possibly derived from the Pawnee word for "trader", or the Crow word
for "tattoo".
Arikaree: uh-RICK-uh-ree
The river and the mountain are named for an Indian tribe from the Dakotas. So
is the community, although it's spelled Arickaree.
Arkansas: AR-kun-saw (just like the state; the first syllable rhymes
with "bar")
The headwaters of this major river are in Colorado, above Leadville. Bright
says the word comes from an Algonkian name for a Sioux indian tribe. The pronunciation
may seem obvious, but I list it because people in Kansas pronounce it "ar-KAN-zus",
so that it rhymes with their state.
Capulin: cap-yoo-LEEN
The Mexican-Spanish for "chokecherry" or "wild cherry" is an adaptation of the
Aztec word capolin.
Chipeta (sometimes spelled Chipita): chi-PEE-tuh
She was the wife of Ute Chief Ouray (see below). Her name has been applied to
several landmarks in Colorado.
Curecanti: coo-ri-KAHN-tee
Name given to a mountain pass, a geological formation, and a National Recreation
Area along the Gunnison River. Said to come from the name of a Ute Indian chief.
Enentah: uh-NEHN-tah
Arapaho for "man-mountain" is enetah - but somewhere along the line,
the second "n" got added.
Ignacio: ig-NOSS-ee-oh
Town named for a Ute Indian chief.
Kawuneechee: kah-woo-NEE-chee
Derived from the Arapahoe words for "coyote" and "chief". A valley in Grand
County, and also the name of the west visitor center in Rocky Mountain National
Park.
Niwot: NY-waht (rhymes with "high watt")
Both the town and the mountain were named for an Arapahoe Indian chief whose
name meant "left-handed".
Olathe: oh-LAY-thuh
Town named for the city in Kansas, which in turn derives from the Shawnee word
for "fine" or "beautiful".
Onahu: ON-uh-hoo
Name of creek may be Arapaho for "warms himself", after a horse who steps up
to a campfire on a cold night.
Ouray: yer-AY (but often mispronounced YOU-ray)
The town, the county, and a couple mountains were all named for the famous Ute
chief.
Piceance: PEE-ants (or PEE-awnts, depending who you ask)
The name for this creek and its basin may be from an Indian word for "tall grass".
(I nominate this one for the strangest word on Colorado's map...)
Saguache: suh-WATCH
Ute for a blue-green color. Name given to a creek, a town, and the county which
encompasses them. And, although spelled differently, the name of the Sawatch
mountain range comes from the same word. A street in Colorado Springs is spelled
Sahwatch.
Sapinero: sap-in-AIR-oh
Town named for the brother-in-law of Ute chief Ouray (see above).
Shavano: SHAV-uh-no (first syllable rhymes with "have")
Mountain named for a Tabeguache Ute chief, one who signed an 1873 treaty. On
that document his name is spelled "Chavanaux", so perhaps that's where the rarely-heard
variant pronunciation "SHAV-uh-naw" comes from. Apparently it's not a Ute name,
but rather from the Shawnee (meaning "southerner"), so there's speculation the
name was applied to this chief by a white. There are also spelling variations,
including the Shawano rail siding on the historic Marshall Pass line.
Tabeguache: TAYB-watch
Mountain and creek named for a band of the Ute Indian tribe; name also used
in "Unaweep/Tabeguache Byway", one of Colorado's several official state scenic
and historic auto routes. Bright says their name meant "cedar-bark sun-slope
people". According to Ross, when used as a placename, it may mean "place where
the snow melts first".
Tomichi: toe-MEE-chee
Bright claims the summit and a nearby creek got their name from the Ute for
"dome-shaped rock". But I've also heard a local say it means simply "mountain
stream".
Tonahutu: ton-uh-HOO-too
Creek named for the Araphoe word for "meadow".
Toponas: tuh-POE-nus
Name of town and nearby mountain from a Ute word of uncertain meaning.
Towaoc: TOW-ay-ock
From the Ute for "it is good".
Unaweep: YOU-nuh-weep
Name for a divide - and the canyon that contains this divide; name also used
in "Unaweep/Tabeguache Byway", one of Colorado's several official state scenic
and historic auto routes. Normally a canyon is carved by a single stream, so
you wouldn't think of a canyon as having a divide in it. Indeed, most scientists
believe that Unaweep was probably carved by the ancestral Colorado and/or Gunnison
rivers. But in recent geologic history, those two big rivers have changed course,
and now there are two small streams flowing in opposite directions from
a divide in the middle of the canyon. Bright says the word comes from the Ute
for "fire canyon". But I prefer Ross' interpretation (which may be somewhat
of a paraphrase, but may also be closer to the Ute's intent): "canyon with two
mouths".
Uncompahgre: un-cum-PA-gree
From the Ute for "red lake". Name given to a river, a mountain, and a National
Forest.
Weminuche: wem-ih-NOO-chee
From the name of a Ute band, but the actual meaning of the word is unknown.
Name given to a creek and a Wilderness Area within the Rio Grande and San Juan
national forests.
Top / Mispronounced / Spanish / Indian / French / Syllable / Confusing
Cache la Poudre: CASH luh POO-der
This river got its name from a time when some French trappers hid their equipment
(including gunpowder) in a hole on the banks of this stream. Locals refer to
the river as simply "the Poudre".
Louviers: LOO-vurz
DuPont factory town named for Louviers, Delaware - another DuPont town - which
in turn was named for Louviers, France (I suspect the French town is pronounced
differently, but I'm not sure).
Platte: plat (one syllable; the "e" is not pronounced)
The name of this major Nebraska river and its two main forks (both of which
rise in Colorado) comes from the French name Riviere Platte, or "flat
river". Earlier, the Spanish called it Rio Chato, meaning the same thing.
And before that, the Omaha Indians called it ne braska, or "flat water".
Purgatoire: pur-guh-TWAHR
The French word for this river comes from the earlier Spanish Rio de las
Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio, or "River
of the Lost Souls in Purgatory". The corrupted English version appears in names
for a couple features in its basin: Picketwire Valley and Picketwire Canyon.
Top / Mispronounced / Spanish / Indian / French / Syllable / Confusing
Abarr: AB-ar (it's a short "a" in the first syllable)
Town given the maiden name of an early store owner's wife.
Acoma: AK-uh-muh
A peak in Rocky Mountain National Park is named for this Indian tribe in New
Mexico. But don't try to say it that way in Denver, where most of us pronounce
a street of the same name uh-KO-muh.
Antero: an-TEHR-o (the middle syllable rhymes with "fair")
This was the name of a Ute indian chief, and it's now applied to a highway junction,
a mountain, and a reservoir.
Berthoud: BUR-thud
A town and a mountain pass, named for a civil engineer for the Colorado Central
Railroad.
Beshoar: BESH-or
A railroad siding outside Trinidad, named for an early settler of that town.
A nearby highway
intersection is known as Beshoar Junction.
Collbran: COLE-brun
A town named for a railroad man in the area.
Crestone: cres-TONE
The jagged 14,000 foot peaks and the town that lies below them are named for
the Spanish creston, or "cock's comb".
Dotsero: dot-SEER-oh
This town is located near the place where the Eagle River flows into the Colorado.
Supposedly this confluence marked the spot where the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
started counting mileage for one of its lines, and it was marked on their maps
as .0 ("dot zero"). Denverites pronounce this word dot-SEHR-oh (with a short
"e"), perhaps partly because a local music group which took its name from the
town pronounces it that way. But I'm told locals pronounce the town itself with
a long "E" in the accented syllable - which more closely resembles the word
"zero". Incidentally, at the other end of this rail segment, there is a siding
near Bond called "Orestod" - which is "Dotsero" spelled backwards.
Hartsel: HART-sul
Town named for an early South Park stockman.
Idalia: eye-DALE-yuh
Named for the wife of one of the town's early settlers.
Limon: LIE-mun (rhymes with "diamond")
Although there is a Spanish word of the same spelling meaning "lemon", this
town was named for the foreman of a railroad camp.
Lycan: LIE-kun (pronounced just like the word "lichen")
Town named for one of the first homesteaders, the first schoolteacher, and the
postmistress.
Model: MOD-ul
I thought this might be pronounced mow-DEL, but the community's name comes from
its early aspiration to be a "model town".
Padroni: pud-RONE-ee
Town given the surname of two area farmers.
Tabernash: TAB-ur-nash
Town named for a Ute Indian who was murdered here.
Vilas: VYE-lus
Town named for the postmaster general at the time of its establishment.
Walsenburg: I'm told locals say WALL-sen-burg, although you'll hear
WALL-zen-burg in other parts of the state.
Town named for a community leader and merchant.
Top / Mispronounced / Spanish / Indian / French / Syllable / Confusing
Arvada: ar-VAD-uh (the middle syllable rhymes with "bad")
This is the middle name of the brother-in-law of the city founder's wife (got
that?) Matt Salek wrote to say he's heard radio ads (apparently done by out-of-state
firms) who mispronounce it ar-VAY-duh or ar-VOD-uh.
Auraria: ur-AIR-ee-uh
The word is Latin for "gold mine". This was one of the original towns founded
near the spot where Cherry Creek flows into the Platte River, but it later became
part of Denver. The name is now applied to, among other things, a road and a
downtown college campus.
Boettcher: BETCH-ur
The community and the lake are named for a pioneer Colorado industrialist. He
was a philanthropist (as are his descendants), so the name also occurs in several
places in Denver.
Canon City: CAN-yun
Some people don't know what the tilde (~) character means - or the map they're
looking at may not have a tilde above the letter "n". They might be inclined
to pronounce the word CAN-un. The city's name refers to the Grand Canyon of
the Arkansas River, over which the famous Royal Gorge Bridge was built not far
from town.
Chaffee: CHAY-fee
County named for a Colorado senator.
Crowley: CROW-lee (the "O" is long)
Town and county named for a state senator.
De Beque: duh-BEK
Town named for an early settler; also a canyon formed by the Colorado
River.
Delhi: DEL-hi (the "h" is pronounced, and the "i" is long)
Although this post office may have been named for the city in India, it's not
pronounced DEL-ee.
Egeria: ee-JEER-ee-uh
Town named for a nymph in Roman mythology.
El Jebel: probably el-juh-BELL, but I've heard locals say EL-juh-bell
It's easy to assume this is a Spanish word (and then to wonder whether the "J"
is pronounced as an "H"), but it's actually Arabic for "the mountain". I'm told
some people jokingly pronounce it "edge of hell".
Englewood: many locals say EEN-gul-wood (as if it's spelled "Inglewood"), but you'll hear transplants and some media people say EHN-gul-wood.
Estes Park: ESS-tiss (in other words, it doesn't rhyme with "testes"!)
Town, mountain, and lake named for the first permanent resident of the area.
Garo: GAY-row
Town name a corruption of founder's name, Guiraud.
Granada: Bright claims it's gruh-NAH-duh, but others have told me it's gruh-NAY-duh.
Guyot: Bright says this mountain is named after the Swiss-born geologist, Arnold Henry Guyot, who pronounced his name GE-oh. However, I'm told some locals pronounce it GUY-ott.
Hoehne: HO-nee
Town named for an early settler.
Iliff: EYE-liff
Town named for a cattle king whose holdings spanned across much of northeastern
Colorado. Part of his estate was used to found the Iliff School of Theology
in Denver, after which the avenue was named.
Kersey: KUR-zee
Town given the maiden name of a Union Pacific railroadman's mother.
Lochbuie: lock-BOO-ee
Town named for an area in Scotland.
Louisville: LOO-iss-vill (not like the city in Kentucky, "LOO-uh-vull")
Town named for a landowner who was in charge of boring for coal here.
Nathrop: NAY-thrup
The town was given a corrupted version of the name of an early landowner.
Ophir: OH-fur (rhymes with "gopher")
This mining town (and a couple mountains and a pass) were given the Biblical
name for the location of King Solomon's mines.
Ovid: OH-vid
Town named for a settler who lived near the railroad siding.
Paonia: pay-OWN-yuh
The first postmaster for this town suggested the name Paeonia, after the botanical
name for the peony; its present form is a corruption of that word.
Roggen: ROG-un
Town name given by postal authorities, possibly for a railroad surveyor.
Routt: rowt (the double "T" doesn't change anything)
County named for the last territorial - and the first state - governor.
Seibert: SEE-burt (according to the town clerk)
Town named for a millionaire railroad official. Note however that this man and
his descendants apparently pronounce their name SY-burt.
Telluride: TELL-yuh-ride
A mountain and the ski resort town are named for tellurium, a rare element found
in area mining ore. The element, in turn, takes its name from the Latin tellus,
which means "earth" or "ground". (Another explanation says the name is a corruption
of "To hell you ride", but my guess is that's a tall tale.)
Tobe (rhymes with "robe"; the "e" is silent)
Town named for a local resident.
Villegreen: vil-uh-GREEN
Town named for its first postmaster.
Westminster: west-MIN-stur (just like the Abbey; not west-MIN-iss-tur, which is a common mispronunciation even among locals).
Wray: ray (the "w" is silent)
Town named for an early rancher in the county.
Top / Mispronounced / Spanish / Indian / French / Syllable / Confusing
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