Do you know how to pronounce these hard-to-say Louisiana words?

Ever wondered the proper way to say a city or town in Louisiana?

Louisiana has unique names for its towns, cities, parishes and even rivers. Though a majority of the names may come from French origin, Louisiana has many other cultures including Spanish, Native Americans and Cajun, according to a post by Louisiana Folklife.

To some residents of Louisiana, these city and street names are easy to pronounce, but if you are still struggling with how to say one, we’ve got you covered. Give these names a try!
The Atchafalaya Basin is one of the nation’s largest river swamps that spans 140 miles from Simmesport, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Mexico. Atchafalaya is an American-Indian word meaning long river. It is pronounced as uh-CHA-fuh-lie-uh, according to Explore Louisiana.

Natchitoches is a town in north Louisiana and is the state’s oldest settlement, according to the Natchitoches website. Natchitoches means “place of the Paw-Paw” in a Native American language. An early Spanish writer was told that the word comes from the native word “nacicit,” which means “a place where the soil is the color of red ochre,” and that it was applied originally to a small creek in their neighborhood running through red soil. It is pronounced as Nack-a-tish.

Tchoupitoulas Street is a popular drive in New Orleans that runs close to the Mississippi River. Its name comes from a Native American tribe and means “those who live by the river,” according to information from the St. Tammany Library. Tchoupitoulas is pronounced chop-ah-too-luhs.
Grosse Tete, a small village in Iberville Parish, was incorporated in 1906 and reincorporated in 1952, according to the Gross Tete official site. Gross Tete means “big head” in French, and the town was reportedly named for a Choctaw Indian that fit that description. Gross Tete is pronounced as Gross-tet.

Fordoche is a country town in Pointe Coupee Parish. Before 1912, Fordoche was a “cotton country,” according to the Fordoche official website. The name is described as having a Choctaw Indian origin. The Creole refer to the city as Les Fordoche. Fordoche is pronounced four-dosh.

Ouachita is a parish that includes Monroe, Sterlington, Calhoun, Claiborne and Brownsville-Bawcomville. According to the Ouachita Parish Police Jury site, the Parish got its name from the Ouachita Indians, who discovered the land and it means “big hunting ground.” The parish shares the name with a river that runs through northeast Louisiana and southern Arkansas. Ouachita is pronounced as wash-i-ta.

Lafourche is a parish that sits in south Louisiana and holds Thibodaux, Raceland, Cutoff and Larose. It got its name from early settlers who discovered the area known to mapmakers as LaFourche Des Chetimachas. Settlers shortened the name to Lafourche as it became a means of communication, transportation and fresh water, according to the Lafourche website. Lafourche is pronounced La-foosh.

Chalmette is a city inside St. Bernard Parish. Chalmette is known for being the battleground for the Battle of New Orleans, according to a blog post from 64 Parishes. The city got its name from plantation owner, Ignace Martin de Lino de Chalmette, whose name comes from the French word “chalmette,” which means pasture land or fallow land. Chalmette is pronounced shal-met.

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Boutte, a city in St. Charles Parish, got its name from Tisaphane Boutte and his son, J.L. The Boutte family lived near Boutte station before the Civil War, according to the St. Charles Parish official website. Boutte is pronounced boo-tay.

Tangipahoa is a parish in Louisiana that includes Kentwood, Hammond, Independence and Tickfaw. It is also the name of a city in Tangipahoa Parish. According to the Tangipahoa tourism site, the name comes from the sub-tribe of the Acolapissa, which means “ear of corn.” Tangipahoa is pronounced tan-juh-puh-how-uh.

The Tchefuncte River is in Madisonville, Louisiana, and drains into Lake Pontchartrain. The name comes from the Choctaw name for the chinquapin, which is a type of chestnut, according to Louisiana’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. The name is pronounced as Chah-funk´ tuh.

Grosse Tete, a small village in Iberville Parish, was incorporated in 1906 and reincorporated in 1952, according to the Gross Tete official site. Gross Tete means “big head” in French, and the town was reportedly named for a Choctaw Indian that fit that description. Gross Tete is pronounced as Gross-tet.

Fordoche is a country town in Pointe Coupee Parish. Before 1912, Fordoche was a “cotton country,” according to the Fordoche official website. The name is described as having a Choctaw Indian origin. The Creole refer to the city as Les Fordoche. Fordoche is pronounced four-dosh.

Ouachita is a parish that includes Monroe, Sterlington, Calhoun, Claiborne and Brownsville-Bawcomville. According to the Ouachita Parish Police Jury site, the Parish got its name from the Ouachita Indians, who discovered the land and it means “big hunting ground.” The parish shares the name with a river that runs through northeast Louisiana and southern Arkansas. Ouachita is pronounced as wash-i-ta.

Lafourche is a parish that sits in south Louisiana and holds Thibodaux, Raceland, Cutoff and Larose. It got its name from early settlers who discovered the area known to mapmakers as LaFourche Des Chetimachas. Settlers shortened the name to Lafourche as it became a means of communication, transportation and fresh water, according to the Lafourche website. Lafourche is pronounced La-foosh.

Chalmette is a city inside St. Bernard Parish. Chalmette is known for being the battleground for the Battle of New Orleans, according to a blog post from 64 Parishes. The city got its name from plantation owner, Ignace Martin de Lino de Chalmette, whose name comes from the French word “chalmette,” which means pasture land or fallow land. Chalmette is pronounced shal-met.

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Boutte, a city in St. Charles Parish, got its name from Tisaphane Boutte and his son, J.L. The Boutte family lived near Boutte station before the Civil War, according to the St. Charles Parish official website. Boutte is pronounced boo-tay.

Tangipahoa is a parish in Louisiana that includes Kentwood, Hammond, Independence and Tickfaw. It is also the name of a city in Tangipahoa Parish. According to the Tangipahoa tourism site, the name comes from the sub-tribe of the Acolapissa, which means “ear of corn.” Tangipahoa is pronounced tan-juh-puh-how-uh.

The Tchefuncte River is in Madisonville, Louisiana, and drains into Lake Pontchartrain. The name comes from the Choctaw name for the chinquapin, which is a type of chestnut, according to Louisiana’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. The name is pronounced as Chah-funk´ tuh.
Grosse Tete, a small village in Iberville Parish, was incorporated in 1906 and reincorporated in 1952, according to the Gross Tete official site. Gross Tete means “big head” in French, and the town was reportedly named for a Choctaw Indian that fit that description. Gross Tete is pronounced as Gross-tet.

Fordoche is a country town in Pointe Coupee Parish. Before 1912, Fordoche was a “cotton country,” according to the Fordoche official website. The name is described as having a Choctaw Indian origin. The Creole refer to the city as Les Fordoche. Fordoche is pronounced four-dosh.

Ouachita is a parish that includes Monroe, Sterlington, Calhoun, Claiborne and Brownsville-Bawcomville. According to the Ouachita Parish Police Jury site, the Parish got its name from the Ouachita Indians, who discovered the land and it means “big hunting ground.” The parish shares the name with a river that runs through northeast Louisiana and southern Arkansas. Ouachita is pronounced as wash-i-ta.

Lafourche is a parish that sits in south Louisiana and holds Thibodaux, Raceland, Cutoff and Larose. It got its name from early settlers who discovered the area known to mapmakers as LaFourche Des Chetimachas. Settlers shortened the name to Lafourche as it became a means of communication, transportation and fresh water, according to the Lafourche website. Lafourche is pronounced La-foosh.
Chalmette is a city inside St. Bernard Parish. Chalmette is known for being the battleground for the Battle of New Orleans, according to a blog post from 64 Parishes. The city got its name from plantation owner, Ignace Martin de Lino de Chalmette, whose name comes from the French word “chalmette,” which means pasture land or fallow land. Chalmette is pronounced shal-met.
Boutte, a city in St. Charles Parish, got its name from Tisaphane Boutte and his son, J.L. The Boutte family lived near Boutte station before the Civil War, according to the St. Charles Parish official website. Boutte is pronounced boo-tay.

Tangipahoa is a parish in Louisiana that includes Kentwood, Hammond, Independence and Tickfaw. It is also the name of a city in Tangipahoa Parish. According to the Tangipahoa tourism site, the name comes from the sub-tribe of the Acolapissa, which means “ear of corn.” Tangipahoa is pronounced tan-juh-puh-how-uh.

The Tchefuncte River is in Madisonville, Louisiana, and drains into Lake Pontchartrain. The name comes from the Choctaw name for the chinquapin, which is a type of chestnut, according to Louisiana’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. The name is pronounced as Chah-funk´ tuh.