We all have our pet peeves, this one is mine: People don’t know how to correctly pronounce New Orleans. I learned this very quickly as soon as I left the south and moved to New England for two years.
In Louisiana, most of us say New Or-lins (like a lens on a camera). New Or-lins is the correct way to pronounce New Orleans, for the most part. But after living in the north, I realized most people there only pronounced it like New Or-leans (lean – like a lean cuisine) and that’s wrong!
Then there’s the cringe worthy New Or-lee-ins and N’awlins (believe it or not, locals do not call it N’awlins, that’s just fun slang). Both are also wrong. So if you’re visiting, please do us all a favor and say it correctly!
So, now that it’s clear, here’s a mini lesson on the correct way to pronounce New Orleans like a local.
HOW TO CORRECTLY PRONOUNCE NEW ORLEANS LIKE A LOCAL:
When you are referring to the city. “I live in New Or-lins.”
When you are singing the chorus of Mardi Gras Mambo by the Hawketts. “Mardi Gras mambo, down in New Or-leans.”When you are singing Tim McGraw’s Southern Girl song. “A little bit crazy like New Or-leans.”
That’s about all I can think of. There’s very few exceptions when New Or-leans is used, otherwise it’s Or-lins.
We Louisianians like to keep things complicated (see Tchoupitoulas Street, pronounced chop-a-too-lis) so having one standard way to say New Orleans is out of the question! Words are almost never pronounced how they seem here!
I’m curious, how do you pronounce New Orleans? Do you know how to correctly pronounce New Orleans?
Kendra Loisel says
I'm sitting at my desk repeating both ways over and over, I really have no idea. I'm from RI so I'm sure I say it wrong. I will catch myself from now on!
Nancy Pfauth says
6th generation born in New Orleans. Not raised there but I say New-Orleenz. My uncle, also native, said New-Or-lee-yuns. My dad, a native, said New Orleenz. Never heard my many native family members say New Orlinz.
Jane Melancon says
Born and raised less than 50 miles from NOLA and all my 60 years everyone here sez New Or-lins. 👍🏼
“New Or-leens” throws a southern drawl on it more like Mississippi or Alabama.
New Orleans natives would surely never.. Js.😉
But we still love y’all, so come on down, chér, and laissez le bon temp rouler ! 🥳❤️👍🏼
Kypher base says
Me and everyone I know (we are from new Orleans) say new Orlins we live not far from Nola we are close to baton rouge so please get it right if you come here
Allison Ellzey says
Yes! This is beyond perfect
Brandi says
I'm from PA and pronounce it correctly! I'm probably more pleased with myself than I should be.
The Grits Blog says
I pronounce it or-lins!
~*Night Owl*~ says
I thought it was Naw-lans?
http://nightowlventing02.blogspot.com/2014/07/hump-day-confessions.html
Liz says
I am a native New “Orlenian.” In my experience ALL natives say the “New” but some do say it fast. There are many local accents and pronunciations and New Or-lins, New Or-lee-ans, and New Awl-yuns are all said by locals but Naw-lans and Naw-lins are WRONG and offensive to some of us. And please don’t just hang out in bars in the French Quarter and claim to know the city.
Jetsettin Daisy says
Bahahaha this post is awesome!! Glad I was in the right 🙂
Morgan Rae says
Ha! I'm not from Louisiana, but it also drives me crazy when people pronounce New Orleans wrong!!
Jane Melancon says
JANE MELANCON SAYS
June 26, 2020 at 5:28 pm
Born and raised less than 50 miles from NOLA and all my 60 years everyone here sez New Or-lins. 👍🏼
“New Or-leens” throws a southern drawl on it more like Mississippi or Alabama.
New Orleans natives would surely never.. Js.😉
Brent E says
With all due respect, you are wrong. It is New Or’leenz. I am NOT talking southern drawl for one word. If you cannot talk clear English, get out! If I ever hear any other way again, I will forever call your city Narleenz.😀
Lex says
Get out? Of where? our city, that you are not local to lol. Also having an accent does not equal unclear english.
John Louis says
I lived in the French Quarter since 1970. Ate red beans at Buster Holmes, drank Jax beer, and sat front row on the floor at Preservation Hall. It’s “New Or-Linz.” I don’t care how Dennis Quaide mis-pronounced it in the movie. It’s my New Or-Linz.