Pronunciation of Louisville

The correct pronunciation of the name of Louisville, Kentucky is heatedly debated.[1]

The three most popular pronunciations are, in order:

  1. US: /ˈluːəvəl/ ⓘ LOO-ə-vəl,
  2. /ˈluːivɪl/ ⓘ LOO-ee-vil, and
  3. locally /ˈlʊvəl/ ⓘ LUUV-əl

All three are generally considered acceptable; the Louisville Visitor Center says that only the rare /luːisvɪl/ ⓘ LOO-wis-vil is completely unacceptable (though it is the correct pronunciation for the name of the much smaller Louisville, Colorado).

There are also acceptable hybrid ways of saying the name, such as LOO-ə-vil, a mixture of the first and second pronunciations.[2]

LOO-ə-vəl

The dominant local pronunciation, the "LOO-ə-vəl" pronunciation is widely practiced and accepted.[3] Some even refer to it as the "only" correct way to pronounce the name of the city.[4]

LOO-ee-vil

"LOO-ee-vil", while respecting the proper pronunciation of the name of the French king who gave Louisville its name, is significantly less common among locals. It is, however, frequently used by those not from the area.

LUUV-əl

"LUUV-əl" is a less common, particularly rural way of saying the name. While it is considered acceptable, it is not as widely heard as the others.

References
  1. "Do you say it right? Louisville is one of the top cities Americans mispronounce".
  2. "How to properly pronounce "Louisville"". 21 June 2014.
  3. "10 Things Only People from Louisville Will Understand".
  4. Puente, Victor (2 August 2023). "Good Question: What is the right way to pronounce Louisville?". wkyt.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
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