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South Carolina Pronunciation Guide

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This guide began with a newsletter article we wrote about the many places in South Carolina that are frequently mispronounced. We asked our readers to write in with SC places that they found confusing or heard others stumbling over. After receiving dozens of emails and speaking with everyone from librarians, to fishermen, to Chamber of Commerce representatives, to teachers across the state, we have compiled this list. Thanks to all those who took the time to write us or speak with us and make this list a printed echo of South Carolinian voices.

Many residents commented on how South Carolinians alternately pronounce those places ending in "ville," sometimes stressing the "ville" and sometimes de-emphasizing it. An example would be Greenville, interchangeably said GREEN • VIL or GREEN • vul. Others include Abbeville, Graniteville, Leesville, and Summerville.

During our research for this page we came across an entire book dedicated to dispelling common mispronunciations. Claude and Irene Neuffer wrote Correct Mispronunciations of South Carolina Names in 1983. Their self-proclaimed "cantankerous dictionary" has over 400 such examples. Our findings and phonetical translations differ from the Neuffers' in many ways, but their book is an interesting and informative resource.

Finally, we must note that the "correct" way to pronounce any place name can be subjective and may change over the years as residents come and go.

SC Pronunciations

• Abbeville – AB • uh • vul, AB • bee • VIL
  
  
• Alcolu – AL • cuh • loo, AL • col • loo
  
  The Clarendon County Archives gives insight as to the interesting origination of this town's name: "Alcolu was established between 1885 and 1890 by D. W. Alderman and Sons as a mill town for their lumber company. The name Alcolu is derived from "Al" as in Alderman, "Co" as in Colwell (a friend and Alderman's brother-in-law), and "Lu" as in Lula, the only daughter of the Aldermans at that time."
  
  Tom Fetters, author of Logging Railroads of South Carolina, shares this excellent info: "I hear it pronounced AL-col-loo, but that's from folks in Clarendon County. The "co" in Alcolu was for Algernon E. Colwell, business partner of D. W. Alderman. Colwell sold his fourth share in D. W. Alderman Company, resigned as postmaster for the Alcolu Post Office, and moved with his wife, Susan Alderman (sister of D. W.), to Georgetown where he managed the Alderman Lumber Company with a mill and the ability to produce huge ship timbers. Lots of local sources refer to "Coldwell" (with a "d"), but I have found no such individual, and Algy fits the bill as brother-in-law of D.W.
  
  
• Almeda – al • ME • duh
  
  
• Antreville – ANN • tree • VIL
  
  
• Aynor – AY • ner
  
  
• Barre – BARE • ree
  
  
• Beaufain – BYOU • fain
  
  Like Beaufort, the name of this Charleston Street is pronounced "byou," which rhymes with "you."
  
  
• Beaufort – BYOU • furt
  
  Tourists and transplants often confuse this town with Beaufort NC, which is pronounced BOW • fort. In French, "beau" means beautiful, handsome, lovely, or fine ... and after even the shortest of visits, you'll know both the city and county are aptly named. (Ironically, both are actually named for an Englishman, Henry Somerset, the Second Duke of Beaufort, who pronounced his name "BOW-fert," as in bow and arrow and Beaufort, North Carolina.)
  
  
• Belin – BLANE
  
  Dave from Florence writes, "Belin was one of the first, if not the first, baptist church in SC, situated on Black Mingo Creek at Willtown (site of the Revolutionary Battle of Mingo Creek)." Belin is also the name of a Methodist church in Murrell's Inlet and a small community on Sandy Island in Georgetown County that we believe may share this same pronunciation.
  
  
• Beidler – BYE • dler
  
  The Francis Beidler Forest is located in Dorchester County and it's fabulous! Go visit!
  
  
• Berea – buh • REE • uh
  
  
• Bethea – beth • AY
  
  Contributor Debbie Bethea Lodge writes, "Going from a frequently mispronounced maiden name, Bethea, to a simple married name (Lodge), I thought I'd never have to correct anyone about my name again. Ha! I've been called everything from Lod-gee to Large!"
• Berkeley – BURK • lee
  
  
• Blenheim – BLEN • um
  
  Blenheim is located in Marlboro County and is best known for its namesake, Blenheim Ginger Ale – which is actually made in nearby Hamer (Dillon County).
  
  
• Bonneau – BUN • oh, BOHN • oh
  
  There appear to be two locally-accepted ways of pronouncing this name. The first and more traditional is BUN • o, and the second is BOHN • oh – just like the lead singer from the rock group U2. Many thanks to Patsy from the Berkeley County Library System for her help with this question, as well the good folks at the Bonneau Recreation Department, Southern Trucks, and Watermark Bar & Grill.
  
  We are especially grateful to Lea Roberts of Mount Pleasant, who alerted us to this quandary by writing, "I'm a long-time resident of the Lowcountry (even have ancestors who were pivotal in the development and history of Mount Pleasant). While I agree with just about all of your pronunciations, I was recently corrected when I pronounced Bonneau like the U2 singer's name. This resident of Bonneau said they can always tell who's 'really from Bonneau' by the way they say the name. From that point forward, I have pronounced it 'like a local' – BUN • oh."
  
  
• Cades – KAYDZ
  
  
• Calibogue – cal • uh • BOW • gee
  
  As in Calibogue Sound, between Hilton Head and Daufuskie Islands. The 'g' is a hard one, as in 'grass.'
  
  
• Canadys – CAN • uh • dees, CAN • uh • DIS
  
  
• Cayce – KAY • see
  
  
• Chapin – CHAY • pin
  
  
• Chappells – CHAP • puls
  
  Pronounced like "chaples," this town in Newberry County puts the emphasis on its first syllable. A conscientious newscaster forwarded us an email from a viewer that corrected his pronunciation of Chappells – thanks to WIS TV for this input!
  
  
• Chechessee River – chuh • chessie
  
  A reader named Kate recently sent us the following message, "Your pronunciation guide is wonderful and I have learned much, even after six years in South Carolina. But I live near the Chechessee River [in Beaufort County] and have never heard it pronounced. Obvious to many, I suppose, but I'm wondering where the emphasis would be. Help!"
  
  Our reply? The initial "chuh" is slightly separate from the "chessie," in that the last two syllables sort of run together. But we wouldn't say there was a strong emphasis on any one syllable. It's almost like the syllables create two different words – "chuh" and "chessie" – but not quite. All the syllables are soft-sounding and fluid, just like the river that bears its name!
  
  
• Cheddar – SHED • ur
  
  
• Cheohe – CHOY
  
  
• Cheraw – chuh • RAW, shuh • RAW
  
  An alert reader sent us a copy of Town of Cheraw Resolution 7-92, which officially designates "chuh • RAW" as the correct pronunciation. It seems actual pronunciations still vary however (see poll results below). Here at SCIWAY, we like to call it "Churaw-Shuraw" so as to avoid any confusion. ;)
  
  
  
  
• Chesnee – CHE(sz) • nee, CHE(z) • nee
  
  Linguist Robert Simms of Greer sends in this excellent observation on Chesnee: "Locals pronounce the z or sz sound as an 's' that's barely a 'z.' In addition, the nee on the end is almost 'ni,' with a short i (as in information).
  
  "In no case do locals pronounce the town's name as 'CHESS-nee.' I know because I lived there some years ago and was kindly corrected by natives. Being a speech major at Wake Forest, I then paid close attention to the pronunciation around town and analyzed it. I don't think there's an actual phonetic symbol to represent the combination s and z.'
  
  "Let me suggest that the difference between the -ss sound and the -sz sound is: (1) the extended length of time given the voiced 'e' before beginning the 's' sound, and (2) the quickness with which the 's' is pronounced, which is only barely. In practical terms, however, achieving the exact pronunciation depends on the ear's assimilation of the local accent. That's at least as difficult to do as to learn to speak a foreign language without an accent."
  
  We agree! And thank you, Mr. Simms, for helping us provide the single most thorough and nuanced pronunciation in this guide! You rock!
  
  
• Chicora – shuh • cora, CH • cora
  
  The Chicora Indians greeted Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon on or near present-day Pawleys Island in 1526; the Spaniards, in turn, applied this name to the coastal region the Indians inhabited, as did likely the Indians themselves. Rene Laudonniere, a Frenchman, heard the name upon his arrival in Port Royal in 1562 and spelled it Chiquola. Other spellings of Chicora include Shakori, Chicorana, Chicoria, Chicorie, Chickoree, Chichanee, Chicoula, and Chigoula.
  
  The Chicora tribe was nearly annihilated by the Spanish and English, who captured and sold them as slaves, and decimated them in war, but the tribe continues to exist.
  
  
• Chiquola Mill – SHUH • cola
  
  Other sources may contend this word is pronounced Chicora, and perhaps it is in different applications, but locals in Honea Path very definitely call their old mill and hotel SHUH • cola. (Special thanks to Sheryl from the Jenny Irwin Library for helping us solve this mystery.)
  
  
• Citadel – SIT • uh • dl
  
  Josephine Hamilton of James Island laments the prevalence of this word's mispronunciation – sit • uh • DELL – saying it is the single fastest way to tell if someone is "from off." She writes, "Take note, newscasters and newcomers. This word does not rhyme with bell or hell."
  
  
• Clemson – CLEM • zun, CLEMP • sun, CLEM • sun
  
  We've heard the ESPN broadcaster's debates, and the Clemson alumni debates, and we've sat around debating it ourselves. Now we'd like to know what YOU say!
  
  
  
  
• Clinton – CLIN • nin
  
  Locals tell us that pronouncing the "T" marks you as an outsider for sure! The second syllable seems to have an indistinguishable vowel, so that variations include "nin," "nun," or "non." Thanks to Abby of Charlotte and Judith of Mountville who let us know about this "mispronunciation."
  
  
• Clio – CLY • oh
  
  
• Cofitachiqui – ko • fit • uh • chee • kee
  
  The Cofitachiqui were considered one of the most highly civilized tribes of their time. This reputation prompted de Soto to locate the tribe. He kidnapped their leader and demanded that she take him to places of great wealth. After several days, the Queen of the Cofitachiqui escaped, accompanied by several of de Soto's men. (The last two syllables of this word run together, as in "cheeky.")
  
  
• Coligny – cuh • LIG • nee
  
  An article in the Island Packet on Lowcountry Pronunciations claims, "Our upper crust gave up long ago getting anyone to pronounce Coligny correctly. We say 'ku-LIG-nee.' The educated went around saying 'ko-lee-NYEE' until they got tired of being corrected."
  
  
• Conestee – CON • us • tee
  
  Learn about Conestee Mill and Conestee Nature Preserve.
  
  
• Cooper – COO • pur, CUP • puh
  
  The first pronunciation is the most common, but the traditional pronunciation of this river dividing Charleston and Mount Pleasant still survives among some older Charlestonians. In the traditional pronunciation, the "oo" is pronounced as it is in "look" instead of as it is in "loop."
  
  So few people preserve the traditional pronunciation these days that it is considered fairly pretentious unless you are a native of a certain age. In other words, almost no youngsters have the street cred to pull this off, and belting out "CUP-puh" could be a quick way to get yourself thrown out of the nearest bar! ;)
  
  Learn about the Cooper River.
  
  
• Coosawhatchie – KOO • suh • HATCH • ee
  
  
• Coronaca – car • NAY • kuh, CAR • uh • NAY • kuh
  
  Thanks to Lee for writing to tell us that the most common pronunciation he hears is "car • NAY • kuh." However, he also adds that "Old-timers say either 'cor • NAY • kuh' or 'car • NECK • kuh.' There are several theories over the origin, but I don't think anybody really knows."
  
  Claude Neuffer's entry on Coronaca suggests that the Greenwood County town and creek's name and pronunciation may come from 18th century spellings for Cornacre.
  
  
• Combahee – KUM • bee
  
  Learn about the Combahee River, which forms part of the ACE Basin.
  
  
• Dataw Island – DAW • TAW
  
  This small sea island in Beaufort was formerly spelled "Datha" and pronounced "data" with a short "a" sound. It is unclear when the spelling and pronunciation changed, although some tie it to Alcoa Properties' presence on the island, which began in 1983.
  
  
• Daufuskie Island – duh • FUS • key
  
  
• DeBordieu Island – DEB • i • dew
  
  The "i" sound is a short "i," as in "river." The island may have been named after an early French settler, but local legends posit a different theory... When the Marquis de Lafayette reached the shore of the island after narrowly escaping capture by the British, he claimed that it was so beautiful, it must be the "borderland of God" (D'abord Dieu).
  
  
• DeKalb – de • KALB
  
  Libba Patterson sent in this helpful advice: "In Camden, where I grew up, the 'l' is pronounced in DeKalb. It was not until I went to college in DeKalb County, Georgia, that I heard it pronounced without the 'l'."
  
  
• Edisto – EH • dis • toe, eddie • STOW
  
  The second pronunciation isn't as common as the first, but it sure is cute! You mostly hear it from oldtimers and people with stronger Gullah or Geechie accents.
  
  
• Enoree – IN • uh • ree
  
  
• Estill – ESS • tull
  
  Thank you Frank Strait for dropping us an email about this Hampton County town: "I find your SC Pronunciation Guide helpful, but while reviewing it today, I noticed that a more challenging place name has been left out. I'd like to see y'all include Estill (pronounced ESS-tull) in the guide, since it was one that I mispronounced for a while before being corrected."
  
  
• Eutawville – YOO • TAH • vil
  
  Many thanks to Harriet S. Little, who grew up on Eutaw Plantation, before it was flooded, and sends the following information: "The root name 'Eutaw' has both syllables accented equally (as the state Utah), and Eutawville has only slightly less stress placed on the 'ville'."
  
  
• Gaillard – ghee • ARD, gil • YARD
  
  James Island-native Josephine Hamilton sends in the following regarding Gillard, a common surname and the name of a popular events venue in downtown Charleston: "Gaillard rivals Citadel as the most mispronounced name in Charleston County. Gillard includes neither a woman's name nor a synonym for pig fat. Gil-yard is acceptable, but gee-ard, with a hard G and no L, is even better. The word is French, and like Moultrie and Mannigualt, the L is barely pronounced if it is pronounced at all."
  
  
• Galivants Ferry – GALA • vince
  
  It makes sense that they would include the sound "Gala" in "Galivants," given that this small community is home to such a big party! The Galivants Ferry Stump is held every two years and is nationally famous.
  
  
• Gervais – jur • VAY
  
  See photos of the Gervais Street Bridge.
  
  
• Givhans Ferry – giv • ANZ
  
  
• Gourdin – GUH • dinz (rhymes with "mines")
  
  Pee Dee-native William McIntosh sends the following info on the pronunciation of Gourdin: "I grew up in [the neighboring town of] Kingstree [and] took a class in Linguistics at USC. My professor was [also] from Williamsburg County, [and] I am confident it is GUH dinz – no 'r' sound. Accent on first syllable. Long 'i' in second. Always with the possessive 's' pronounced as a 'z.'"
  
  
• Greer – see below
  
  "One of the most lampooned town-name pronunciations in the state is my hometown, Greer," writes degreed linguist Robert Simms. "Many people not from Greer think all the locals say 'Grrr,' as in the sound a cartoon bear might make. That's a simplistic misconception. While there are variations, depending on how long people have lived here and where their 'people' were from, a typical pronunciation might be represented as GRere, where -ere is pronounced as in 'were.' But there is a strain of Charlestonians here who still say 'Gray-uh,' and many, many newcomers pronounce it by its spelling, to rhyme with 'deer' or 'fear.'"
  
  
• Guignard – GIN • yard, GIN • yurd
  
  Special thanks to Pat for this addition: "Guignard Drive in Sumter is pronounced by the locals as 'GIN • yard' with a hard 'g' sound, and the 'i' sound pronounced in between that of the 'i' in 'instant' and the 'i' in 'gingko.' People from out of town routinely have difficulty with this street name."
  
  There is also a Guignard Street in Charleston. Bill W., who has lived in the Holy City for over 30 years, says the name is "similar to what you note for Sumter, though both 'GIN • yard' and 'GIN • yurd' are used in Charleston."
  
  
• Hamer – HAY • mur
  
  Learn about Hamer's own world-famous Blenheim Ginger Ale!
  
  
• Hasell – HAY • zul
  
  
• Hobcaw – HOB • caw
  
  The first syllable rhymes with Bob.
  
  
• Honea Path – HUN • ee • uh
  
  
• Horry – or • ree, o • ree
  
  Here's an important one! Note that there are only slight differences in these two pronunciations, and the main thing, by all means, is to drop the "h" sound from the beginning.
  
  See photos of Horry County, home of the Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach.
  
  
• Huger – u • GEE, HU • gee
  
  To avoid instigating any feuds, we figure we'd better call this one a draw. It seems that everyone has a different idea about which pronunciation is "correct" in which area of the state. We think you're doing good if you just drop the "r" from the end ... with one exception. Huger Street in Chesterfield County is actually pronounced HUE • gur! (Note: Purists in Charleston use a soft "g" and definitely do not pronounce the "H.")
  
  
• Irmo – ER • moe
  
  
• Jalapa – juh • LAHP • uh
  
  
• Jonesville – JONE • vul, JONES • vul
  
  We received a letter from Chris, who was born in Jonesville and says that natives sometimes drop the "s" when pronouncing their hometown's name. Jonesville is located in Union County.
  
  
• Keowee – KEE • WEE, KEE • uh • wee
  
  Old-school Senconians (natives of the Seneca-Oconee County area) often shorten this word to "KEE • WEE" – just like the kiwi fruit! (Special thanks to Ruthie from the Clemson Area Chamber for this info!)
  
  See photos of Lake Keowee.
  
  
• Kiawah – KEY • uh • wah
  
  As with Keowee above, many locals and "old-timers" in the Charleston area tend to drop the middle syllable, saying "KEY • wah" instead.
  
  
• Kinards – KIE • nurds
  
  Tom from Florence writes, "Kinards is located on Highway 76 north of Newberry, and between Jalapa and Joanna. Non-Palmetto State folks call it 'kuh • NARDS' (German) and not the correct 'KYE • nurds' (Scottish)."
  
  
• Lake Jocassee – joe • KASS • ee
  
  See photos of Lake Jocassee.
  
  
• Lancaster – LANK • uh • stur
  
  Lancaster is frequently mispronounced "LAN • CAS • tur," with a short "a" in the first syllable and emphasis on both the first and second syllables. The true pronunciation has a long "a" however, and the emphasis is on the first syllable.
  
  
• Lane – Lanes
  
  Pee Dee-native William McIntosh sends the following info on the pronunciation of Lane: "I grew up in [the neighboring town of] Kingstree, but my father's best friend lived in Lane's (not Lane). My father's friend owned a general store (now gone) and an airfield (also gone) where fighter pilots trained in WWI. I have hunted in the woods and fished in the ponds there."
  
  
• Laurens Road – lAW - ruhns
  
  Arnold Karr from Columbia recalls, "My mother and grandmother, both natives of Greenville County, called Laurens Road, 'the Laurence Road,' with the same vowel sounds and stress as Florence. I don't know how commonplace that pronunciation was."
  
  
• Legare – luh • GREE
  
  
• Lobeco – le • BEE • coe
  
  In the aforementioned book by the Neuffers, we learned where this town's name originated. "The lowcountry town of Lobeco was once the seat of a vegetable packinghouse. Two men named Long and Bellamy owned the business. The first two letters of each name plus co for company make up the town's name – though today Long, Bellamy, and the packinghouse all are gone."
  
  
• Lockhart – LOCK • urt
  
  "Lockhart is not pronounced 'Lock Heart' by the locals. It is pronounced 'LOCK - urt' – real quick." Thanks to Terry from Spartanburg for this feedback.
  
  
• Lugoff – LOO • goff
  
  
• Manigualt – MAN • uh • go
  
  
• McBee – MAC • bee
  
  Many people wrote in to tell us that they often hear this town's name said "mick • BEE." Denizens of Greenville and Chesterfield County, however, where there are a McBee Street and a town of McBee, respectively, pronounce the "a" and put the emphasis on the first syllable.
  
  Local linguist Robert Simms adds this important clarification: "Some local broadcasters (who didn't come from 'these here parts') have a bothersome way of pronouncing it "Mac BEE." That is wrong.)
  
  
• McPherson – muck • FEAR • son
  
  Carolyn Root of Taylors sent in this helpful tip: "McPherson Park is pronounced differently from how it looks. One would think it would rhyme with "person"; however, the "Pher" rhymes with "fear" or "peer."
  
  
• McKeown – muh • COWN
  
  
• McLeod – muh • CLOUD
  
  Learn about McLeod Plantation on James Island.
  
  
• Micheaux – me • SHOW
  
  This word is French. It is pronounced almost like you'd say, "Let me show you where I live." The accent is on the second syllable, not the first.
  
  
• Modoc – MOE • DOCK
  
  
• Monticello – MONT • i • SELL • oh
  
  Visitors often use the pronunciation of Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia, MONT • i • CHEL • oh. They are quickly corrected, we hear.
  
  
• Montmorenci – MONT • muh • REN • see
  
  
• Moultrie – MOOL • tree
  
  Important caveat: Don't overdo the L. Like other French words in South Carolina, the L is barely audible. A similar example of this soft L is in is Gillard.
  
  
• Mount Croghan – CROG • an
  
  
• Nesmith – NEE • SMITH
  
  Bruce Nesmith King writes, "The Town of Nesmith is a few miles west of Willtown, home of Belin church (now destroyed), and across Mingo Creek from Indiantown – colorful place names all from the first settled section of Williamsburg County.
  
  "The story goes that when a post office was to be erected, in the late 1800s or early 1900s, a request was made for a donation of land for it. The donor got to then name the post office. Hence, my great-grandfather put his name on the post office of Nesmith. It was the same story for the nearby town of Kingsburg, previously known as Savage. My great-grandfather donated the land for the post office and gave it his name.
  
  "There are several stories concerning the origin of the name Nesmith; the most prominent is as follows: About 1200 the King of Scotland requested a soldier to mend his armor prior to an imminent battle. These Scots prevailed and the aforementioned soldier distinguished himself on the battlefield such that he was knighted, but the king's armor didn't suit him so the soldier was dubbed Ne Smith, which in Scottish means not smith. To this day Scots are heard to say ne for not."
  
  
• Newry – NEAR • ree
  
  Henrietta from Westminster wrote us, "I came from a little mill town in Oconee County called Newry, which pretty much everyone in my town pronounced "Near-ry," but when you went outside the town you had to say it "New-ry" so people would actually understand what you meant."
  
  
• Neyles – NEELS
  
  We received this message from a reader: "There is a town between Walterboro & Jacksonboro on Highway 64 that as a child I had heard pronounced 'Nellies.' The spelling of the town's name is Neyles. Several years ago I had car trouble and stopped at the store there. The store owner pronounced the town's name like 'kneels.' No one believes me when I tell them it's not 'Nellies.' We checked it out, and sure enough, locals pronounce it 'NEELS'!"
  
  
• Oconee – oh • COE • nee
  
  This county in the northwest corner of the state is often mispronounced "AH • cuh • nee," to the chagrin of those who live there.
  
  
• Okatie – OH • kuh • tee
  
  
• Olar – OH • ler
  
  This one was submitted by our good friend Andy Hunter of Denmark: "Most folks outside Bamberg County say 'oh • LAR,' but locals seem to prefer 'oh • ler' (like a bowler or a molar)."
  
  
• Oswego – OSS • we • go
  
  
• Owdoms – OH • dums
  
  
• Pacolet – PAK • let, PAK • uh • let
  
  We received an email from a reader who grew up near Pacolet; he wrote, "I have always heard it pronounced with two-and-a-half syllables... you might hear the 'uh' sound as the second syllable, but it's barely pronounced, if at all. It sounds closer to 'PAK • let' than it does 'PAK • uh • let.' Thanks for your input, Scott!
  
  
• Pamplico – PAMP • li • koe
  
  
• Pegues – peh • GEEZ
  
  This South Carolina surname lent itself to a Marlboro County plantation. The "g" in the second syllable is not soft but hard, as in "guy."
  
  
• Pelion – PEEL • yun
  
  
• Pinopolis – pie • NOP • uh • lis
  
  
• Pocotaligo – po • co • ta • lee • go
  
  The good folks at Pocotaligo Kennels in Sumter shared a wealth of wisdom with us regarding this strange word, which is the name of a community in Jasper County as well as the name of a swamp and a river in Clarendon County. The word comes from the Yemassee Indians, and it is said to mean either "gathering place" or "big ball play town" – the Yemassee were apparently avid sports fans! Another fun legend holds that a farmer who was trying to get his ox to cross the river received this sage advice from a Native American he encountered along the bank: "Poke 'e tail [and] 'e go!"
  
  (Hint: This word is easier to describe phonetically as "poco-tally-go," since the syllables run together fluidly. The "o" sounds are all long, and the "tally" portion is pronounced just like a tally of votes.)
  
  
• Pomaria – puh • MEH • ree • uh
  
  The joke runs that the town's name came about through a story of an abused wife who lived there, named Mary. (Po' Mary – get it?) Dianne of Pomaria tells us that visitors often mistakenly pronounce the town's name as if the story was about Maria, not Mary!
  
  
• Prioleau – PRAY • low
  
  This street in Charleston proves troublesome even for locals, as evidenced by a letter we received from someone who has lived on Prioleau Street for two years and says she "still fumbles with the name."
  
  
• Rantowles – RAN • TOLLS
  
  
• Ribaut – REE • BOW
  
  Ribaut Road is one of the primary streets in Beaufort, leading to Port Royal. It was named after Jean Ribaut, a French Huguenot leader who established an outpost he named Charlesfort on Parris Island in 1562. In addition to the pronunciation, another source of confusion surrounding the street name is its alternate spelling, "Ribault," which according to the Beaufort County Library "reflects the archaic French writing system of the 16th century."
  
  
• Rimini – RIM • i • NYE
  
  Rhymes with "Gemini."
  
  
• Salkehatchie – SAHL • kuh • HATCH • ee
  
  The first syllable sounds like the first part of "Salt." In fact, some old South Carolina maps indicate that the original name of the town and river was actually "Salt Catcher."
  
  
• Sans Souci – san • SOO • see
  
  This town's name is French for "worry-free."
  
  
• Sharon – shay • run
  
  
• Socastee – SOCK • uh • stee
  
  
• St. Helena Island – HEL • uh • nuh
  
  
• St. Stephen – STEE • ven, STEE • vens
  
  Although there is no "s" on the end of St. Stephen, locals often add it. "St. Stephens" is located in Berkeley County.
  
  
• Sumter – SUMP • tur
  
  Sumter's pronunciation creates a different sort of problem; people often misspell the county's name so that it looks like it sounds. It's pretty near impossible to say Sumter without the "p" sound – although it can be amusing to try. However, the "p" should be dropped when writing it.
  
  
• Tamassee – tuh • MAH • see
  
  
• Trio – TRY • oh
  
  
• Tega Cay – TEE • guh
  
  
• Tullifinny – TOO • luh • FIN • ee
  
  In our first edition of this guide, we reported that this Low Country creek was pronounced "tuh • LIF • uh • nee." A reader wrote in to tell us that our source was most definitely mistaken. He wrote, "The first syllable is pronounced 'too', and the accent is on the first and third syllable about equally." We called more locals about this and they all agreed. We humbly apologize for the error in the first edition! Thanks to Doug from Hampton for setting us straight!
  
  
• Utica – YOU • ti • cuh
  
  
• Van Wyck – VAN • WIKE, VAN • WACK
  
  This small community in Lancaster County sure did fire up the pronunciation debate! We got in touch with a long-time resident, Jim, who told us that the most prevalent pronunciation by locals was VAN • WIKE. But VAN • WACK, the dutch pronunciation, is also heard, and from time to time you hear VAN • WICK. The latter is almost definitely incorrect, though.
  
  
• Vanderhorst – VAN • der • HORST, VAN • dross
  
  We talked to a number of Charleston born-and-bred octogenarians who have always said "VAN • der • HORST," trailing off just before they fully pronounce the "t." Other sources report that "VAN • dross" is the right pronunciation. The Neuffers offer a third opinion; "VAN • draws." Although it seems the latter two options are not used as much as the first, we feel their use is prevalent enough that they should be included.
  
  
• Vaucluse – VOH • cloos
  
  
• Walhalla – WAH • HALL • uh, WAHL • HALL • uh
  
  
• Ware Shoals – WAIR • SHOLZ, WERE • SHOLZ
  
  Lee, whose family is from Ware Shoals in Greenwood County, wrote, "It should be noted that many in the area say WERE • SHOLZ or WORE • SHOLZ. I've even heard WERE • SHOZE. Folks who say 'Ware' and stress the 'L' in Shoals are letting you know that they've got a little money. Great place!! Good people!!" Thanks for this tidbit, Lee!
  
  
• Waties Island – WAY • teez
  
  
• Westminster – west • MIN • stur, west • MIN • i • stur
  
  
• Winyah – WIN • yaw
  
  A letter from a reader states that residents of Winyah Bay often hear their town called "WIN • yah," but "natives of this great city say WIN • yaw."
  
  
• Wisacky – weh • SACK • ee
  
  The following was submitted by Bob Cooper Manning, Jr. of Cedarhurst, New York: "My great-grandfather, Robert Muldrow Cooper (1853-1919), named the town when he was successful in establishing a new post office in the Mount Clio District. His submission to the federal government was 'Wisackee,' but a clerk, apparently annoyed at all of the southern Indian names, changed the 'ee' to 'y.' The post office for many years, certainly through the 1960s, was run inside the Scarborough General Store located at the SC 341 and SC 527 junction, just opposite the present Cooper's Mill Road. Close by to this intersection was the old train depot. At one point, long before my day in the 40s, 50s and 60s, someone incorrectly painted the sign on this depot as 'Wysacky.' The incorrect pronunciation 'WYE • sack • ee' among some neighboring locals (people from Bishopville, Lynchburg, Elliott, St. Charles, etc.) dates from this small time period.
  
  "All of the residents of Wisacky, including my family, who lived continuously on the same farm (known as Millwood) from 1829 to 1967, always pronounced the town as 'Wi • sack • ee,' with the short 'i' sound as in 'with.' The WYE long 'i' sound was and is simply uncouth.
  
  "The story of the naming and pronunciation of Wisacky was related to me many times by my great-uncle, Robert Muldrow Cooper, Jr. (1887-1966), during my summer stays in Wisacky on his farm (Millwood) where he was born and died. Both the library at Clemson and Camp Bob Cooper in Summerton are named for him. Lest there be no misunderstanding, that's 'COO • pur' or 'COO • puh" with the double 'oo' always pronounced as those in 'look' or 'cook' and never, ever as in 'loop.' South Carolina is the only place in the country I can still go and hear our name pronounced correctly.
  
  "The post office is long gone and mail is now addressed to Bishopville, but it would be nice to know that somewhere the correct pronunciation of Wisacky is still recorded."
  
  
• Yauhannah – yaw • HAN • nah
  
  
• Yeamans – YAY • mens
  
  
• Yemassee – YAM • uh • see, YEM • uh • SEE
  
  
• Yonges Island – YUNGS

Related News Articles

• Don't Speak Lowcountry? Then Read This - article in Island Packet by contributor David Lauderdale
  
• Pronouncing it the SC Way - article in Post & Courier
• SCIWAY News pronunciation article #1 - July 2007
• SCIWAY News pronunciation article #2 - August 2007
• SCIWAY News pronunciation article #3 - September 2007