ILLINOIS — A new national study has named Illinois as one of the hardest-to-pronounce states in the country, sparking conversations online about how to say it correctly.
Illinois Ranks #4 on Mispronunciation List
According to language learning platform Preply, Illinois ranks fourth among U.S. states that Americans most often struggle to pronounce. The data comes from a review of thousands of online search queries from across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia — all looking for the correct pronunciation of state names.
Most Common Mistakes When Saying ‘Illinois’
The study points out that many people mispronounce “Illinois” in two key ways:
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Saying the final ‘s’, as in “Illinoise” — when it is actually silent.
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Using an “I” sound in the second syllable instead of the correct short “u” sound.
Preply clarifies that the correct pronunciation is: il-uh-NOY.
The platform even joked that while “Illi-noise” might sound like a cool band name, it’s far from the proper way to say the state’s name.
A Name With French and Native American Roots
The name “Illinois” is rooted in French and Native American history. French explorers adapted the spelling from Native American terms like “iliniwek” and “irenwewa,” which referred to the Illini tribe. In line with French grammar, the final “s” is silent — a rule that still trips up many English speakers today.
Read More: US Approves Disaster Loans for Southern Illinois Counties Hit by May Tornadoes
Illinois Joins a List of Commonly Mispronounced States
Illinois isn’t alone on the list. Here are the Top 5 most mispronounced states, according to Preply:
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Arkansas – (ar-kuhn-saw)
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Nevada – (nuh-VA-duh)
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Oregon – (Or-uh-gun)
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Illinois – (il-uh-NOY)
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Massachusetts – (mass-uh-choo-SITS)
These rankings were determined based on how frequently people searched for the correct pronunciation online.
Have you heard someone mispronounce Illinois recently? Or maybe you used to say it wrong too? Share your thoughts or funny stories in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com!
