How to Pronounce Oregon

Last Updated: September 28, 2022

If you haven't heard a native Oregonian say "Oregon" out loud, you might not know how to pronounce it. Just remember that it's OR-eg-in, not "OR-e-gawn." Place the stress on the first syllable, and keep the "g" hard, as in "gun". You can say "OR-ih-g-in" or "OR-eh-g-in". Try putting the word "aura" and "g-in" together. Say "OR-eh" and then "g-in."

Steps

1
Listen to someone from the West Coast say "Oregon". Visit the state, if possible, or speak with someone who has spent time there. Listen to an audio pronunciation sample:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtAPSR6KNT4
2
Emphasize the first syllable. The correct pronunciation uses three syllables: "OR", "ih" and "gun". The first syllable is long but the last two syllables are very short. Remember: it's "OReGin", not "orEgon" or "oreGON" and not "orEgun" and not "oreGUN".
- The pronunciation of "or" is straightforward: say it as in the word "for".
- Pronounce the middle syllable (the "e") the way you would pronounce the "i" in "it". You can also pronounce it like the "e" in "egg".
- Pronounce the last syllable ("gon") with a hard g and the word "in" ("g-in") (or even "gehn"). Make sure to pronounce the hard "g" not a "j" sound. Whatever you do, avoid pronouncing the "gon" like the last syllable in the words "decagon" or "polygon". Native Oregonians will be quick to tell you that it isn't "Or-e-gawn". The ON sound in the French word "Oregon" is the same as the last syllable of "dragon" (pronounced "drag-in") and also the name of Oregon's northern neighbor, Washington.
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3
Say "Oregon" quickly. Don't pronounce each syllable as distinctly separate; they should blend together smoothly, but keep the hard sounds coherent. Some Oregonians slur the middle syllable and pronounce "Oregon" as "Organ," but this is not the traditional pronunciation. ^{[1]
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- By the way, "Oregonian" is pronounced "Ohr-eh-GOH-nee-in," and "Washingtonian" is pronounced "Waw-shih-TOH-nee-in."
4
Practice pronouncing "Oregon". Practice in front of a mirror until you get it right. Make sure that you get the pronunciation mostly right before you talk about the state in front of people, but don't worry too much: as long as people know which state you're talking about, you'll be okay. Just don't say "Or-e-gawn" and don't say "Or-E-gun".

Community Q&A

Question

Why is this a thing?

Wikihower01

Community Answer

Because some people may have read the word without knowing how it is pronounced, and it can be embarrassing to pronounce a word incorrectly in front of others.
Question

My friend pronounces it AR-egon. Should I be worried?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Some people do indeed pronounce syllables spelled with an O-R as if they were spelled with an A-R. It's not all that uncommon.
Question

What and where is Oregon?

Spaceship

Community Answer

Oregon is the 33rd state of the United States of America. It is located on the west coast of America, bordering California and Nevada to the south, Washington State to the north and Idaho to the east.

Warnings

If you mispronounce "Oregon" in front of native Oregonians or people who live near the state, you will be viewed with amusement or even annoyance.

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