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Original poster

Can Michigan be prounounced "Mitchigan" or always "Mishigan"?

115 replies

sellebraytion · 19/02/2023 07:39

Help me settle a minor disagreement🙂

Yanbu - it can be pronounced either way.
Yabu - everyone pronounces it Mishigan unless they have their head in the sand.

OP posts:
OntarioBagnet · 19/02/2023 07:43

I say mitichigan not mishigan 🤷‍♀️. I think, 😁

pawz · 19/02/2023 07:43

I've only heard the second one, here or in the US 😂

AgonyAgatha · 19/02/2023 07:44

Is Michelle pronounced "Mishelle" or "Mitchell"?

That might give you your answer.

ComtesseDeSpair · 19/02/2023 07:45

I have never heard anyone from Michigan pronounce it Mitchigan. DH is from Detroit. Maybe accent variations further up north differ slightly, but Mishigan is standard.

CocktailNapkin · 19/02/2023 07:47

Ive heard both, but the former pronunciation is a bit of a joke (at least to those of us from another state in the region). I pronounce it the second way - Mishigan.

NotAnotherBathBomb · 19/02/2023 07:47

AgonyAgatha · 19/02/2023 07:44

Is Michelle pronounced "Mishelle" or "Mitchell"?

That might give you your answer.

This

eurochick · 19/02/2023 07:51

Former colleagues from the state always pronounced it the second way. I've never heard anyone put a t in it.

MattDamon · 19/02/2023 07:56

I have friends from Michigan and they've never put a T in it.

Here's the wikipedia pronunciation: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/En-us-Michigan.ogg

mondaytosunday · 19/02/2023 07:56

Grew up in US and always heard the second one. And I never heard Cheryl pronounced with a hard 'ch' til I came here - it's pronounced 'sher-ill', same thing.

EmpressOfTheSofa · 19/02/2023 07:58

Mishigan.

Now do Tanzania…I happen to sell a product called this and I’ve never heard a word so mangled.

Piggywaspushed · 19/02/2023 08:00

Always Mishigan.

I've never heard an American say Mitchigan.

DNBU · 19/02/2023 08:04

EmpressOfTheSofa · 19/02/2023 07:58

Mishigan.

Now do Tanzania…I happen to sell a product called this and I’ve never heard a word so mangled.

TAN-zah-nia

DNBU · 19/02/2023 08:04

And Mishigan

eighteenthirteen1 · 19/02/2023 08:04

Not tan-ZAYN-ia

Highlyflavouredgravy · 19/02/2023 08:06

I say it mitchigan

phoenixrosehere · 19/02/2023 08:08

Definitely the second, but can hear how it can sound like the first.

ShinyMe · 19/02/2023 08:08

I mean, you CAN say Mitchigan, but any American will assume you're stupid.

Zanatdy · 19/02/2023 08:09

the second, never heard it pronounced like the first one

Original poster
sellebraytion · 19/02/2023 08:16

AgonyAgatha · 19/02/2023 07:44

Is Michelle pronounced "Mishelle" or "Mitchell"?

That might give you your answer.

The name Michelle has French origins. Does Michigan have French origins too?

OP posts:
ShinyMe · 19/02/2023 08:21

Well it was colonised by the French from the 17th century, so I'm guessing French has at least an influence in the name.

loudbatperson · 19/02/2023 08:22

I have only heard it pronounced mishigan, including from a colleague who lives there.

OntarioBagnet · 19/02/2023 08:23

I think that Oregon and Maryland are often mispronounced by Brits as well.

MrsHughesPinny · 19/02/2023 08:23

I lived in the US for years and have friends there. It’s definitely not pronounced Mitchigan. You are pronouncing it wrong.

Forever42 · 19/02/2023 08:23

Definitely "Mishigan".

I want to know where the pronunciation for Arkansas came from!

eighteenthirteen1 · 19/02/2023 08:24

Forever42 · 19/02/2023 08:23

Definitely "Mishigan".

I want to know where the pronunciation for Arkansas came from!

Arkansas is french isn't it?