How to Pronounce Nevada

Say "Neh-VA-duh". That is the correct way to pronounce the state name. Put emphasis on the second syllable. Pronounce it so that the middle part rhymes with the “ad” sound in the words "sad" or "mad." Compare "Nevada" and "Nebraska." The corresponding vowels in the two names are pronounced the same. Break "Nevada" into syllables. There are three distinct syllables in the word "Nevada." Thinking of the word as having three parts will help you pronounce it correctly. The “e” should be pronounced as in "pet" or "met." The “a” at the end of the name is pronounced like the “u” in "up."

Don't say “Ne-VAW-duh.” Some people pronounce the second syllable with an "AW" sound as in "paw." However, this is not how locals say the word. It's their state. They know how to pronounce it. When one politician in Las Vegas suggested legislation granting official approval of both pronunciations, most Nevadans rejected the idea. That ex-legislator argued that “Ne-VAW-duh” is (almost) a Spanish pronunciation and should be allowed since so many non-locals use it. The Spanish word "Nevada" means “snowfall” or “covered in snow” and refers to the Sierra Madre Mountains that pass through the state. Residents of Nevada do not use the “AW” pronunciation. For 150 years they've been using a "short a" sound in the second syllable of their state's name. The common, mostly Eastern and Southern, mispronunciation of Nevada in English is not actually the authentic Spanish pronunciation. Note that there are seven American states with names derived from the Spanish language, and yet none of them are pronounced as native Spanish speakers would say them. A similar example is Gonzaga University in the state of Washington. Locals call it "Gawn-ZA-guh," with a "short a" sound in the second syllable (like "sad").

Learn to pronounce "Nevada," especially if you go into local politics. Office-seekers can run into trouble with Nevada's voters if they don’t pronounce the name with the “AD” middle sound. The state’s governor sent one politician a text advising him to say Neh-VADD-uh. Other politicians have been booed for using the other pronunciation. Most of us can expect to be merely corrected if we use the wrong pronunciation in front of someone who actually lives in "Neh-VA-duh."