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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Correct Pronunciation
 
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cowboymac12
04/21/2008 11:23AM
 
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!
 
Ho Ho
04/21/2008 11:50AM
 
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.
 
Axeman07
04/21/2008 11:31AM
 
Webster's dictionary has it listed as "por-tij".
 
lashmit
04/21/2008 11:39AM
 
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.
 
irishstone
04/21/2008 12:23PM
 
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.
 
Bannock
04/21/2008 04:08PM
 
Cwet-eh-co

Americans - por-tij
Canadians - por-tahge
 
oldgentleman
04/21/2008 06:15PM
 
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.
 
Tombo
04/21/2008 11:55AM
 
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'.
 
fishguts
04/21/2008 03:04PM
 
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?
 
suko
04/21/2008 07:21PM
 
ROK-Hopn-MUD-Slide
 
basser8239
04/21/2008 08:26PM
 
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.
 
Kurps
04/21/2008 08:40PM
 
Someone from florida once told me. "Y'all say roooof funny"
 
The Great Outdoors
04/21/2008 11:15PM
 
Bannock,

Is that the same as:
Americans: Gar-bij
French: Gar-bahge
???
 
612er
04/21/2008 07:15PM
 
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.
 
fishguts
04/22/2008 09:37AM
 
How do you say "Piragis"?
 
Bannock
04/22/2008 09:47AM
 
TGO, yep, but how do you pronounce garage? :)
 
DeterminedOrange
04/22/2008 10:39AM
 
This site helps.

Minnesota Pronunciation Guide

fishguts, "Piragis"? I don't know but would like to.
 
overthehill
04/21/2008 07:02PM
 
Coloquials? Many where I came from would say,"porteeej" as in "catch a feesh" and pick burrys from a boosh! :)
 
bpneiman
04/22/2008 07:45AM
 
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.
 
prettypaddle
04/22/2008 10:38AM
 
And "Kawishiwi" written out looks like it has twice as many syllables as it does when pronounced (quish-we).
 
Jeriatric
04/22/2008 12:58PM
 
It helps but it doesn't have "Ge-be-on-equat."
 
The Great Outdoors
04/22/2008 11:15PM
 
Bannock

Just like the French pronunciation of garbage (gar-bahge) listed earlier, minus the B, of course! :)
 
Bannock
04/23/2008 12:03PM
 
Is that "car-ee" or "ca-ree'"? :)
 
wetcanoedog
04/23/2008 09:03AM
 
i just call it the "carry"--like we did out East--
 
wetcanoedog
04/23/2008 12:27PM
 
"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"..