16 Colorado Towns People Mispronounce The Most

Before Colorado was even a U.S. territory, it was part of the territory of Spain. It then became part of Mexico. Then Texas. By 1861, it became the Colorado Territory. By 1876, Colorado became the 38th state.

Several different languages have been spoken throughout Colorado over the years. This is obvious when looking at the names of towns, rivers, and even mountain peaks within our state. Are you saying most of these locations the correct way?

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Colorado's Most Mispronounced River

Colorado's wild and scenic Cache la Poudre River is one people often mispronounce. Poudre is pronounced “Pooh-der.” The river flows 126 miles from its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park to the South Platte River east of Greeley, Colorado.

Colorado's Most Mispronounced Town

Fourteen of Colorado's most mispronounced towns are waiting in the gallery below. Which town in Colorado do you feel you hear people mispronouncing the most? Open our station app to share yours.

One town I always struggle with is Buena Vista. People in Chaffee County, Colorado, found a new way to say Buena. Buena is the Spanish word for good. It's pronounced “bwen-ah.” That is not how they say it in Buena Vista.

In Buena Vista, you pronounce this town “Buu-nah Vista,” not “Bwen-ah Vista.”

Colorado's Most Mispronounced Peak

Does anyone want to hike up Uncompahgre Peak? People on Colorado's Western Slope say this one correctly far more often than the folks in Denver. The Uncompahgre Peak is found in northern Hinsdale County near Lake City, Colorado. This one sounds very close to how it is spelled “Un-kum-pah-gray.” The Uncompahgre river, peak, and plateau are all pronounced the same.