Wisconsin is the English spelling of Ouisconsin, which is the French rendering of Meskonsing, which is the Indian name for the river that runs through the center of the state.
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Wisconsin is home to all kinds of hard-to-pronounce places, from Antigo, Ahnapee, and Allouez to Weyauwega, Wyocena, and Wonewoc. An educated guess might just contribute to your verbal blunders, and being bilingual could actually get in the way. For example, Spanish speakers might have a hard time with Buena Vista (BYOO-nuh VIHS-tuh), which is Spanish (BWAY-nuh VEES-tah) for beautiful view. Fond du Lac (FAHN-d’lak), which means bottom of the lake, as that city is located at the south end of Lake Winnebago, would certainly be pronounced differently by someone speaking French. Just don’t ask me; I speak Wisconsin.
Even the simplest place-names aren’t. Contrary to DC comics, Gotham is pronounced GOH-thum. If it were pronounced Wah-KEESH-uh, Waukesha might be a lovely name for a girl. But in Wisconin we say WAH-keh-shah, so it is not. When driving to the Morel Mushroom Festival in Muscoda, be sure to ask for MUHS-kuh-day. You’re more likely to get there. And in Shawano, no one saw any reason to put up with so many vowels. So SHAW-noh it is. Oconomowoc has even more vowels, and they all happen to be o’s. But with a little practice oh-KAH-nah-mah-wahk rolls off the tongue.
