appalachian or appalachian?

[strollingalong]

I mean the pronunciation... not being from the usa, just curious. I hear both pronunciations, wondering where people who say /æpəˈleɪttʃən/ and those who say /æpəˈleɪtˈlætʃən/ are generally from? Which is the most common?

[Mango]

South of PA it's "app-a-LAH-chun".

PA and northward, it's "app-a-LAY-chun".

[Ender]

South of PA it's "app-a-LAH-chun".

PA and northward, it's "app-a-LAY-chun".

Mango has it right. It's pretty much a north/south thing. I grew up in the north, so I say it "app-a-LAY-shun", but after a bit of reading into it I think the southern way may be more close to the original pronunciation. Still, no wrong way to say it as long as you're out hiking it!

[STICK]

I am from the south and I have always pronounced it "app-a-LAY-shun".

[WingedMonkey]

I am from the south and I have always pronounced it "app-a-LAY-shun".

True but more on the "app-a-LATE-CHIN"

[Beachcomber]

I am from the south and I have always pronounced it "app-a-LAY-shun".

True that. There's no single "southern" accent, and each region has its own flavor. In North Carolina, the folks around Boone call their college "app-a-LATCH-un," so I guess that's definitive for western NC, anyway. (But as a native Yankee myself, that took some getting used to.)

[skylar24]

two different ways of saying it. one way for the south and one way for the north.

[TIDE-HSV]

Never heard the "lah" pronunciation anywhere in this country. I once ran across an individual, not from the South, who said "NantaHAHLla." I just said "say what?"

[Espero]

If you were Tommy Smothers it would be Apple Chain.

[d.o.c]

(appa latch in) south and (appa lay shin) in north ha its silly..

[Cookerhiker]

South of PA it's "app-a-LAH-chun".

PA and northward, it's "app-a-LAY-chun".

Mango has it right. It's pretty much a north/south thing. I grew up in the north, so I say it "app-a-LAY-shun", but after a bit of reading into it I think the southern way may be more close to the original pronunciation. Still, no wrong way to say it as long as you're out hiking it!

This has been my observation also, but I'd move the line further south to around Rockfish Gap or even Roanoke. Living in MD for 35 years, I never heard anyone local say "app-a-LAH-chun".

[mister krabs]

In the GA/NC mountains, I hear apple-atch-un. I grew up in Ohio saying apple-ay-shun.

[vamelungeon]

The mountains were named for the Apalachee indians, who actually didn't live in them but in the Florida panhandle. The tribe's name is pronounced "ap-uh-latch-ee" and not "ap-uh-lay-chee" so "app-uh-LAY-shun" is a mispronunciation but it has become accepted. "ap-uh-latch-un" is correct but people who use the incorrect "northern" pronunciation will never admit it.

[hikerboy57]

The mountains were named for the Apalachee indians, who actually didn't live in them but in the Florida panhandle. The tribe's name is pronounced "ap-uh-latch-ee" and not "ap-uh-lay-chee" so "app-uh-LAY-shun" is a mispronunciation but it has become accepted. "ap-uh-latch-un" is correct but people who use the incorrect "northern" pronunciation will never admit it.

This is correct. interestingly, there is a trailhead north of Mt Madison in NH, Appalachia, which is pronounced appa-latch-ya

[scissor]

The saying I always heard growing up in the south...

If you pronounce it app-a-LATE-CHIN I'll throw an apple-atcha!

[Ron Haven]

I think either way you want to pronounce it is ok. Everyone who speeks english understand it. The word appalachian means in appalachee indian language "for ever".

[Beachcomber]

The mountains were named for the Apalachee indians, who actually didn't live in them but in the Florida panhandle. The tribe's name is pronounced "ap-uh-latch-ee" and not "ap-uh-lay-chee" so "app-uh-LAY-shun" is a mispronunciation but it has become accepted.

I guess that explains Apalachicola in Florida -- also with the "atcha" pronunciation.

[vamelungeon]

I guess that explains Apalachicola in Florida -- also with the "atcha" pronunciation.

Yep, same origin.

[randyg45]

Bus full of yankee tourists got lost near Haysi WV.
They saw the name on a roadsign as they approached the town and a friendly argument developed as to the proper pronunciation of Haysi. One side promoted "hey sigh" while the other switched the emphasis to "hey sigh" Challenges and wagers were offered and accepted. They asked the driver to stop in town so they could ask a local to settle the matter.
The driver was an easygoing sort and pulled into the first fast-food joint he saw.
Both sides had chosen a spokesman, and these worthies went into the eatery as soon as the bus stopped.
Approaching the counter, one of them looked the young man behind the counter squarely in the eye and said: "Young man, please tell us, very slowly and distinctly: Where. Are. We?"
The young man did not blink or smile as he replied: " Bur. Ger. King"

[Yukon]

This is funny this thread came up. I was down in Virginia last weekend and mentioned the appa-LAY-chian trail to one of my buddies and he looked at me with a odd smirk and said, "you northerners say that funny" LOL