Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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?

Swipe left for the next trending thread