Say It So It Sounds Right to a Texan

Texans who are not native Spanish speakers, and some who are, pronounce many Spanish words in a non-Spanish way.

For example, if you say rodeo so that it sounds like roh-DAY-oh, unless you’re talking about Rodeo Drive in LA, we all know immediately that you’re not a Texan. So if you’re fixin’ to watch bull-riding, cuttin’ horses, or a calf scramble, and you don’t want to sound like you’re not from around here, be sure to pronounce it ROH-dee-oh.

When you’re in Houston (HYEW-ston), asking for directions to San Felipe, it’s pronounced San FILL-up-ee.

San Jacinto, where Sam Houston and his rebels defeated the Mexican Army, is pronounced San Juh-SIN-toe (not Sahn Ha-SEEN-toe, as in Spanish). And that goes for all the streets, colleges, monuments, and businesses that are named for it, too.

San Antonio, however, is generally pronounced pretty much the same in Texas English as it is in Spanish. Yes, some of the old-time Texans do still pronounce it San Ann-TONE, but please do not try that unless you were born and raised here. It just doesn’t sound right.

And by the way, Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, is pronounced pretty much like Bayer (as in aspirin), instead of the Spanish way, which would sound like Bay-HAR. Notice that in either case you do not pronounce thex. See, we do try sometimes.

Here’s one more while we’re at it, a little old town named Mexia. In Texas English it’s pronounced Muh-HAY-ah instead of the correct Spanish way, MAY-he-ah.

Well, all I can say is, at least we know not to pronounce the x.

Another time maybe I’ll explain why we do pronounce the x in Texas. (And no, it has absolutely nothing to do with Waylon, or Willie and the boys.)