OK, so I've always Anglicized the pronunciation of the word "portage" by saying "port'-edge", stressing the first syllable.

Recently I have seen specials (notably Ice Road Truckers and a piece this morning on Up North Outdoors) where it's pronounced "por-tahge'", stressing the second syllable, ryming it with "Mirage".

Can anyone confirm or deny what is correct?

Thanks!

Webster's dictionary has it listed as "por-tij".

It may not be correct, but we always refer to it as a "port-edge" too. If I'm wrong I don't really want to know. I don't think I could call it a por-tahge if I had to.

I may be wrong, but I think it's a Canadian versus American thing. Canadian's use the pronunciation closer to the original French, Americans use the Anglicized version. At least, that's what I notice when I hear people talk.

I second Ho Ho's comment - when I was in Canada they all used the Frenchified pronounciation 'por - TAZH'. Not to mention 'Zed' not 'Z'.

The funny thing is no matter how you pronounce it they can be a real pain or a glorious retreat.

My funny pronunciation story was on my first trip my buddy and I were having a beer in Ely the night before we went out. As usual we struck up some fun conversations with the locals. Everyone was friendly and it made for some good chuckles on the trip. The last person we were talking to had been drinking for a better part of the day and was nearing the end of his journey. He kept telling us how pissed he got when people pronounced Ely with an "I" sound instead of an "E" at the end. He wasn't sure how anyone could make that mistake. I kept asking him whY he thought anyone would pronounce it that way. I don't think he ever got my dry subtle humor, but my friend and I had a good chuckle.

My question is....What is the correct way to pronounce Quetico?
I have heard Cwet-ic-co.....but also Cwuit-ic-co are either of these correct?

Cwet-eh-co

Americans - por-tij
Canadians - por-tahge

Yeah, I'm pretty sure H's right. POOR-tej for us yanks and pour-TAHJ for the French.
I think "over the damn mountain" s correct in either.

Coloquials? Many where I came from would say,"porteeej" as in "catch a feesh" and pick burrys from a boosh! :)

Never trust what you hear on the nature shows. They always talk about an animal's schedule and pronounce it "shed-jool," makes me chuckle every time.

ROK-Hopn-MUD-Slide

Is it crick or creek. Us northerners say creek (grew up in WV, now live in KY), but I have heard about a lot of cricks around Cincinnati.

Someone from florida once told me. "Y'all say roooof funny"

Bannock,

Is that the same as:
Americans: Gar-bij
French: Gar-bahge
???

Took me a while to figure out how to pronounce "Ely". I know in the past I have said, "E-li", and "L-E". The right way is "E-Lee", correct?

"Piragis" was another one I said wrong until I visited E-Lee.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

How do you say "Piragis"?

TGO, yep, but how do you pronounce garage? :)

And "Kawishiwi" written out looks like it has twice as many syllables as it does when pronounced (quish-we).

This site helps.

Minnesota Pronunciation Guide

fishguts, "Piragis"? I don't know but would like to.

It helps but it doesn't have "Ge-be-on-equat."

Bannock

Just like the French pronunciation of garbage (gar-bahge) listed earlier, minus the B, of course! :)

i just call it the "carry"--like we did out East--

Is that "car-ee" or "ca-ree'"? :)

"care-E"---and..i have been told that thats not the name for the path...which is just called "the path" and the "carry" is the horse
drawn sledge that farmers would pull over all the gear the "sports"
would bring along..i avoid the whole thing by saying--"i'm going
up north"--and not say "E-lee" and the "path is over there"..and
not say "pore-tage"..