Los Angeles: How to Not Sound Like You Just Escaped a Central American Soap Opera (And Other Helpful Tips)
Ah, Los Angeles. City of Angels. Home of Hollywood. Land of questionable spray tans and questionable accents when it comes to pronouncing its own name. Fear not, fellow traveler, for this guide will take you from tongue-tied tourist to smooth-talking local in record time.
The Great Debate: Spanish or Nah?
Los Angeles, you see, has a bit of an identity crisis. Founded by the Spanish, its name literally translates to "The Angels." So, shouldn't we pronounce it with a dramatic flourish, like we're summoning seraphim from the heavens? (Los AHN-heh-les). That's certainly one way to go, and it might even impress some pigeons.
However, this fair city has been chilling in the US of A for quite some time now, and Angelenos (yes, that's what the cool kids call themselves) have developed their own, shall we say, less fussy way of saying it.
Enter the Anglicized Hero: Loss AN-juh-less
This pronunciation, with a strong "A" in "Los" and a relaxed "ju" sound in "Angeles," is the champion. It's the one you'll hear at the beach, on Rodeo Drive (while desperately trying not to drool at the price tags), and pretty much everywhere else.
Bonus Tip: Want to sound like a real insider? Shorten that bad boy to L.A. (pronounced "Ell-A"). Easy as pie, right?
Pronunciation Pitfalls to Avoid (Unless You're Going for Laughs)
Here are some pronunciation faux pas that are sure to get you a raised eyebrow or two:
- The Super-Spanish: Going full-on Don Quixote with the pronunciation (Loce AHN-heh-less) might land you a job as a telenovela extra, but it won't win you any friends in L.A.
- The Valley Girl: Unless you're channeling your inner Cher Horowitz, avoid the "like" and "totally" inflections when talking about Los Angeles. It's a city of dreams, not a bad 80s movie.
Now You Can Mingle with the Stars (Well, Maybe Not Literally)
Armed with this knowledge, you're ready to conquer Los Angeles, pronunciation-wise at least. Remember, practice makes perfect. So go forth, pronounce with confidence, and maybe you'll snag a selfie with a Hemsworth brother (hey, a girl can dream!).
