Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in Wisconsin include “flowage” (water backed up behind a dam), “hot dish” (casser-
ole), and this author's favorite, “ishy” (“icky”).
Milwaukee colloquialisms-though some vociferously deny it-include “bumber-
shoot,” for umbrella, and “ainah hey?” for “isn't that so?” (In Wisconsin outside of
Milwaukee, folks say, “inso?”). You'll also hear “down by”-everything is “down
by” something. Wisconsinites also seem somewhat averse to liquid sounds; it's
“M'waukee” as often as not.
HOWZAT AGAIN?
The phonology of Wisconsin English contains only one dramatic sound: the “ah,”
seriously emphasized and strongly run though the nasal cavity, as in wis-KHAN-sin.
(And please, never, ever say WES-khan-sin.)
Required reading/listening:
www.misspronouncer.com
,
a site to learn the pro-
nunciation of the state's towns.
•
Algoma
-al-GO-muh
•
Chequamegon National Forest
-shuh-WAHM-uh-gun
•
Fond du Lac
-FAHN-duh-lack
•
Green Bay
-green-BAY,
not
GREEN-bay
•
Kenosha
-kuh-NO-shuh
•
Lac Court Oreilles
-la COO-der-ray
•
Manitowoc
-MAN-ih/uh-tuh-wock
•
Menominee/Menomonie
-muh-NAH-muh-nee
•
Minocqua
-min-AHK-wah
•
Muscoda
-MUSS-kuh-day
•
New Berlin/Berlin
-new BER-lin
•
Nicolet National Forest
-nick-oh-LAY (but don't be too surprised to hear “nick-
ul-ETT”)
•
Oconomowoc
-Good luck with this one. It's oh-KAHN-uh-muh-wahk (the first
syllable is sometimes pronounced “uh”)
•
Oshkosh
-AHSH-kahsh
•
Prairie du Chien
-prairie du SHEEN
•
Racine
-ruh-SEEN
