How Do You Pronounce Los Angeles
If you’re reading this, then chances are you're looking to live in or visit LA for some time. You may be moving here, or you could just be passing through. Either way, we have tips for you!
In this article, we will talk about how to pronounce the name of the city that you'll be calling your home for at least a few months (or years). We will also discuss some fun things to do while visiting from outside the area.
So what is the correct way to say the name of our beautiful city? It's actually very simple - with an emphasis on the first syllable like “LA-ha” not “LOW-ha.”
I know it seems crazy now but before social media people really tried to teach themselves how to speak English well by listening and using their ears and lips. Now it's totally the other way around! With all these digital distractions, people no longer focus on learning how to communicate via spoken word.
That's why there are so many cases where native speakers cannot understand the way others speak. And when you can't fully comprehend something, it becomes hard to relate to and learn from it.
Luckily, though, there is another way to decode speech. The science behind it goes by the same term - phonetics. Phonetics analyzes sounds and how they relate to each other.
Tell them about the different neighborhoods
There are two ways to say the name of our city! One is phonetic, one isn’t. The first way is easy; just pronounce all the letters. For example, when people say “I can’t believe I got such an incredible view from here!” you would say the word ‘view’ as a V-I-D.
The second way to say LA’s name is by neighborhood. Each neighborhood has its own unique style and tone. What sounds best for your mouth depends on what kind of voice they want to use for the area!
For instance, if their speech tends towards the dramatic, then saying the name of the Valley or West Hollywood using the same intensity will work really well. If their speech has a soft quality to it, then South Bay or Pacific Palisades is better suited.
If their speech has a fast pace to it, then saying Beverly Hills or Sunset Plaza is more appropriate. And lastly, if their speech has a lispy quality to it, then stick with Santa Monica or Marina.
Talk about famous landmarks
Some people know how to pronounce Los Angeles like it is one word, but that isn’t correct! The proper way to say LA in our language is either “A-LA” or “LAA-AH.” If you say the first one then your listener will think you are from somewhere outside of America while saying the second one makes them believe you are not very well educated.
The easiest way to remember this is by thinking of the phrase “Aloha.” Aloah means hello so when someone says ALOHA I understand they mean HI!
Now that you know how to properly say L.A., get out there and explore some of the city’s beautiful sites! Here are some famous landmarks you can visit:
Universal Studios - This place was created back in 1925 when Hollywood was still developing into a bustling industry. Since then, it has become a major tourist attraction and destination. You can take tours here and experience things such as behind the scenes looks at making movies. There are also rides for kids and adults to enjoy which make this a great day activity.
Disneyland - While this place opened its doors back in 1955, it did not gain popularity until later due to its expensive price tags. But now with discounts and deals, anyone can go here and have an amazing time. Between riding attractions and touring the park, you will never run out of things to do.
Say how to get to L.A.
Saying where you can go in LA is like saying what kind of food or drink we should enjoy as people. It’s up to us!
LA has so many great neighborhoods that have different cultures, types of restaurants, and nightlife. There are so many ways to explore this beautiful city.
Some of these ways include taking public transportation, walking around with your smartphone, biking, or driving.
There are even mobile apps that help you find things to do at any time! So why not pick one and give it a try?
We could also say that there are two main types of tourists in LA: those who spend their time exploring the area and then leave and travelers who stay longer than a week.
The first type of tourist will probably visit all the well-known sites such as Hollywood, The Beach, or Universal Studios, but they are usually very expensive.
The second type of tourist will be able to afford traveling across America, visiting new sites, and experiencing new foods and drinks. These experiences are much more affordable and unforgettable.
Say how to pronounce the city
One of the biggest things that people get wrong when pronouncing the name “Los Angeles” is where they place the stress. Some say it like so: loh-OSS, with the first syllable having weighty importance. Others stick the final "s" in as if it were a separate word.
The correct way to speak the name of our nation's second largest city is by placing emphasis on the last two sounds. This is because the "-ing" suffix drops off after the -iac (the nominative case) ending. The proper way to say the name is thus: lay-Ossit-ic.
Say how to pronounce some of the stars
Some people get really, really passionate about their hometowns. They talk nonstop for hours about everything around it, what parts of the area they grew up in, and even which restaurants are best in the area!
It’s totally cool and not annoying at all, but if you ever feel like you’re going crazy trying to say the right way to describe your home town, we have something fun for you.
We’ve gathered together twenty famous faces from the LA area and their correct pronunciations. Check out our list here and try saying them as many times as you can!
The perfect ending will be: ‘-ese’ or ‘-esas’ depending on whether the word has one or two syllables.
Talk about some of the culture
There’s no doubt that California has an incredible amount to offer when it comes to exploring, but how do you pronounce the name? Is it like “lots-of” with an accent or is it without one?
Many people say it as one word with an emphasis on the second syllable (like “Los”), while others drop the first syllable (like “LA”) and then add the stress.
Tell them about the sports teams
Many people get stuck pronouncing the names of some major cities in America. Luckily, you don’t have to know how to say “Los Ang-uhs!” or “Stan Laihhans!” very well. Because we already done the work for you!
We’ve gathered all the information you need to start giving proper city introductions. And while it may seem like there is too much info, we really tried our best to include everything important.
Tell them about the food
When people talk about moving to or visiting LA for the first time, they usually mention how great it is for eating. They praise all of the delicious foods you can find anywhere at any time, and how hard it is to choose between A+ restaurants that feature incredible cuisine.
That’s definitely a good thing, but there’s another reason why eating in L(A) is so popular: the way the natives pronounce their names!
Most Angelenos say “Los Ang-les” instead of the correct “Lah-soons.” Some even drop the final syllable completely, saying only “Ang-lees.” That’s not right either!
The proper way to say this city is actually Laoshan, with two main sounds: one long and one short. The sound like the English word ‘loose�’ comes from the longer oo as in ‘moon.’ Add these together and you get lao + shan, which equals laoshi (the correct pronunciation).
Say it out loud: “laoshi!” Boom. Perfect. You now know your local lingo.