Weirdest Words in Arizona You Might Not Know

Every place in America has names that were influenced by those who founded the area or that were named by those who came before modern-day residents.

Arizona is no different. With our unique cultural influences, we have a wild and crazy mix of difficult or impossible-to-pronounce names.

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Unless you're an Arizona native, there's a good chance you've never seen these words before. Beware, if you mispronounce them in front of an Arizona native, you might get a sideways glance.

READ: The Top 5 Hidden Tourist Gems Only Arizona Locals Know

How to Pronounce Arizona's Most Difficult Words

That's where we come in. We're here to help save you from the embarrassment of mispronouncing some of the Grand Canyon State's most challenging words. To help you remember, we're also sharing where the name of the place originated.

Basically, Arizona's native words are derived from three main sources: indigenous peoples (or words a Western tongue has altered from indigenous languages), Spanish, and the names of those who first settled in an area.

Let us guide you if you find yourself challenged by Arizona's difficult-to-pronounce words. We'll even tell you where you'll most commonly see the word.

READ: 11 Things That Make Arizona Odd, Yet Great

Pretty soon, you'll laugh along with us as your GPS mangles pronunciations or challenge out-of-towners with spellings as you share the words over the phone or with friends who live elsewhere.

When I first moved to Arizona, I saw words like "Huachuca" and "Cochise" and felt I was learning a new language. In a way, I was. Which "Arizona" words do you find the most challenging?

Sources: Only In Your State | Phoenix New Times