Top 8 Most Mispronounced Cities In South Carolina

When visiting South Carolina, you'll find numerous towns, counties, and parks that may make your tongue twist due to their unique pronunciation. Even though you may spell these names correctly, pronouncing them may present a different story.

So, let's go on a quick tour and learn how to correctly pronounce these top eight most mispronounced towns, counties, and parks in South Carolina.

Top 8 Most Commonly Mispronounced Towns, Counties, and Parks in South Carolina

Keep in mind that pronunciation can vary regionally, and locals may have different ways of saying certain names. Here are a few examples:

8. Horry

Horry - Named after Revolutionary War hero Peter Horry, this county may lead many astray with its spelling. Forget about saying Hor-ree, and pronounce it as O-ree.

7. Congaree

The national park by the same name might be famous, but people still fumble when pronouncing Congaree. Named after the Native American tribe who once lived in the area, this locale should be pronounced as Kahn-guh-ree and not as it looks to the English-speaking eye.

6. Colleton

In the Lowcountry lies the sprawling county of Colleton, another oft-mispronounced locale in South Carolina. The pronunciation of Colleton tends to stump out-of-towners, who mistakenly pronounce it as Coal-eh-ton. But it's correctly said as Call-ton.

5. Beaufort

The coastal city of Beaufort often confuses out-of-towners due to its French origins. Despite the instinct to pronounce it as Beau-fort, locals know that it is pronounced BYOO-furt.

4. Edisto

Edisto - Whether you're talking about the island, the river, or the beach, you want to get this name right. Despite how it looks, it’s not pronounced Ed-i-stow but ED-i-stow.

3. Clemson

A small city in South Carolina, Clemson is primarily known for being home to Clemson University. Visitors often err by over-emphasizing the 's', saying Clem-son. But for locals, it rolls off the tongue as Clemp-sin.

2. Santee

Santee, known for the expansive Santee State Park, trips up those unfamiliar with its unique pronunciation. What looks like it should be San-tee is actually pronounced as Sant-ee, but locals give it a twist and it sounds more like Sant-uh.

1. Huger

Possibly the most confounding name on our list, Huger is actually an unincorporated community in Berkeley County. Those unfamiliar may pronounce it as huge-er, similar to the comparative form of huge. In reality, the proper local pronunciation is Hew-gee, showcasing an eloquent Southern flair.

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