Are you pronouncing ‘Illinois’ correctly? Here’s how to say it

Illinois has landed on a new list of the hardest-to-pronounce states in the United States, according to a new study.

Language learning platform Preply published a study earlier this month on the “states that Americans most often struggle to spell and pronounce.”

The study ultimately ranked Illinois as the fourth hardest-to-pronounce state.

The rankings are based on national search data reviewed by Preply’s research team. Specifically, how often people from outside a state search for the correct pronunciation of the state’s name. Preply analyzed thousands of queries from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

How to say “Illinois”

According to Preply, the proper way to pronounce Illinois is il-uh-NOY.

Common mistakes include:

• Pronouncing the final “s” in Illinois, which is silent.
• Using an “I” sound in the second syllable, rather than a short “u” sound.

“While “Illi-noise” might make a great name for a band based out of this state, it’s not the correct way to pronounce it,” Preply notes.

The name Illinois has French origins, adapted from the Native American terms “iliniwek” and “irenwewa,” which referred to the Illini tribe. French explorers initially spelled it “Illinois,” and following French grammar rules, the “s” is a silent addition to the state name.

The Top 5 Mispronounced States

According to Preply, the five hardest mispronounced states are:

1. Arkansas (ar-kuhn-saw)
2. Nevada (nuh-VA-duh)
3. Oregon (Or-uh-gun)
4. Illinois (il-uh-NOY)
5. Massachusetts (mass-uh-choo-SITS)