Maryland’s Linguistic Minefield: What’s the Most Mispronounced Word in the Old Line State?
That’s right, the name of Maryland’s easternmost county, home to the popular vacation destination Ocean City and the charming town of Snow Hill, is a phonetic minefield.
Why “Worcester” Causes Such a Headache
For many unfamiliar with New England or British English pronunciations, the word “Worcester” looks like it should be pronounced exactly as it’s spelled: “Wore-CES-ter.” This is the common, intuitive mispronunciation.
However, the proper, deeply embedded Maryland pronunciation (which mirrors its British namesake, as in Worcestershire Sauce) is significantly truncated and softened: “WOO-ster.”…