Nestled in the heart of Iowa, Des Moines is a vibrant city that enchants visitors with its Midwestern charm and rich cultural tapestry. Pronouncing its name correctly is essential for immersing yourself in the local lingo and engaging with the friendly locals. So, let’s delve into the intricacies of how to pronounce Des Moines, a name that rolls off the tongue and evokes images of rolling hills and picturesque landscapes.
The pronunciation of Des Moines varies slightly depending on the region. In the local dialect, the emphasis is placed on the second syllable, resulting in “Dee-MOYN”. The “s” in Des is pronounced with a soft “z” sound, akin to the “s” in “measure”. The “oi” in Moines is similar to the vowel sound in “coin”, creating a diphthong that adds a touch of melodic flair to the name. Remember, the “s” at the end of Moines is silent, making the pronunciation even more streamlined.
Once you master the pronunciation, you’ll be able to confidently navigate the city’s bustling streets and engage with its warm and welcoming residents. Whether you’re exploring the Des Moines Art Center’s renowned collection, savoring the flavors of local cuisine at the Downtown Farmers’ Market, or cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium, pronouncing the city’s name correctly will enhance your experience and connect you with the vibrant spirit of Des Moines.
The American Midwest Twist
Des Moines, the capital and most populous city of Iowa, boasts a unique pronunciation that embodies the distinctive speech patterns of the American Midwest. This peculiar way of speaking, influenced by the region’s history and the convergence of various cultures, has endearingly earned the label “Iowa Nice.”
At the heart of the Midwestern twist is the neutral vowel sound, often described as a cross between the “a” in “cat” and the “i” in “sit.” This sound, represented by the letter “a,” permeates the pronunciation of many words, including “bag,” “map,” and “can.”
Another notable feature is the lengthening of vowels, giving them a more pronounced and drawn-out quality. Examples include “fahm” for “farm” and “hohm” for “home.” The final consonant sounds, particularly “t” and “d,” are softened and almost elided, resulting in “cit-y” for “city” and “onduh” for “under.”
The American Midwest Twist extends beyond vowels and consonants to include the intonation and rhythm of speech. The cadence is often relaxed and unhurried, with a gentle lilt that reflects the easygoing nature of the region.
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Bag | [bæg] |
| Map | [mæp] |
| Can | [kæn] |
| Farm | [fɑːm] |
| Home | [hoʊm] |
Breaking Down the Syllables
Syllable 1: Des
- Pronounced as "Dez"
- The "s" sound is voiceless, meaning it’s pronounced without vocal cord vibration.
- The "e" sound is a schwa, which is a neutral vowel sound found in many unstressed syllables in English.
Syllable 2: Moi
- Pronounced as "Moy"
- The "o" sound is a long vowel, similar to the sound in "boat."
- The "i" sound is a short vowel, similar to the sound in "sit."
| Syllable | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Des | Dez |
| Moi | Moy |
Syllable 3: Nes
- Pronounced as "Nez"
- The "e" sound is a schwa.
- The "s" sound is voiceless, as in "Des."
Putting it Together:
To pronounce "Des Moines," combine the three syllables: "Dez-Moy-Nez." The emphasis should be on the second syllable, "Moy."
Practice:
- Listen to recordings of the pronunciation.
- Repeat the pronunciation several times.
- Try using the word in sentences, such as: "Des Moines is the capital of Iowa."
Stress on the Second
The stress on the second syllable in “Des Moines” gives the word a distinctive pronunciation. This emphasis creates a rise and fall in the intonation, with the second syllable being pronounced louder and longer than the first.
Pronunciation with Stress on the Second Syllable
To accurately pronounce “Des Moines” with the stress on the second syllable, follow these steps:
- Start by saying the first syllable, “De”. Pronounce it with a short “e” sound like “eh”.
- Next, emphasize the second syllable, “MOY”. Pronounce it with a long “o” sound like in “boat”. This syllable should be stressed and pronounced louder than the first.
- Finish by saying the final syllable, “NEZ”. Pronounce it with a short “e” sound like “eh” and a “z” sound at the end.
By following these steps and placing the stress on the second syllable, you can confidently pronounce “Des Moines” correctly.
Common Pronunciation Mistakes
Here are some common pronunciation mistakes to avoid:
- Stressing the first syllable: Do not place the emphasis on “De”. Instead, stress the second syllable, “MOY”.
- Pronouncing the “e” in “MOY” as a short “e”: The “e” in “MOY” should be pronounced with a long “o” sound like in “boat”.
- Pronouncing the final syllable as “NES”: The final syllable should be pronounced with a short “e” sound and a “z” sound at the end, not as a long “s” sound.
By avoiding these mistakes and following the correct pronunciation guidelines, you can ensure that you pronounce “Des Moines” accurately and confidently.
Iowa’s Distinctive Pronunciation
The “O” Sound
One of the most noticeable features of the Des Moines accent is the pronunciation of the letter “o.” In standard English, the “o” sound is typically pronounced with a rounded lip shape, as in the word “home.” However, in Des Moines, the “o” sound is often pronounced with a more relaxed lip shape, resulting in a sound that is closer to “ah.” For example, the word “dog” in Des Moines might sound more like “dawg.” This phenomenon is known as “o-vocalization” and is common in many Midwestern accents.
The “A” Sound
Another distinctive feature of the Des Moines accent is the pronunciation of the letter “a.” In standard English, the “a” sound is typically pronounced with a wide, open mouth shape, as in the word “cat.” However, in Des Moines, the “a” sound is often pronounced with a more relaxed mouth shape, resulting in a sound that is closer to “eh.” For example, the word “cat” in Des Moines might sound more like “cet.” This phenomenon is known as “a-flattening” and is common in many Midwestern accents.
The “R” Sound
The pronunciation of the letter “r” is another defining characteristic of the Des Moines accent. In standard English, the “r” sound is typically pronounced with a rolled or tapped tongue, as in the word “red.” However, in Des Moines, the “r” sound is often pronounced with a more relaxed tongue, resulting in a sound that is closer to “uh.” For example, the word “red” in Des Moines might sound more like “ruh.” This phenomenon is known as “r-dropping” and is common in many Midwestern accents.
Unique Pronunciations
In addition to the general pronunciation patterns described above, there are a number of specific words that have unique pronunciations in Des Moines. Some of the most common examples include:
| Word | Des Moines Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Iowa | “Eye-uh-wuh” |
| Des Moines | “Duh-moynss” |
Ending the Name with Sin
The most common pronunciation of Des Moines is “dih-MOYN”. However, there is a small but significant group of people who pronounce the name with a “sin” at the end, as in “dih-MOYN-sin”. This pronunciation is considered to be nonstandard, but it is still widely used in certain areas of Iowa, particularly in rural communities.
5. Historical Reasons for the “Sin” Pronunciation
The “sin” pronunciation is thought to date back to the early 19th century, when French fur traders and explorers first arrived in Iowa. The traders would often refer to the Des Moines River as “La Rivière des Moines”, which translates to “The River of the Monks”. Over time, the French pronunciation of “moines” (pronounced “mwah”) was adopted by English-speaking settlers, and eventually evolved into the “sin” pronunciation that is still used today.
The table below shows the different pronunciations of Des Moines, along with the areas where each pronunciation is most commonly used:
| Pronunciation | Areas where it is commonly used |
|---|---|
| dih-MOYN | Urban areas of Iowa, including Des Moines |
| dih-MOYN-sin | Rural areas of Iowa, particularly in the western and northern parts of the state |
Common Mispronunciations
Even locals sometimes mispronounce Des Moines. The most common errors include:
1. “Deez Moines”
The correct pronunciation is “Duh Moines.” The “e” in “Deez” is pronounced like the “e” in “bed,” while the “e” in “Duh” is pronounced like the “e” in “ruffle.”
2. “Des Moans”
The correct pronunciation is “Duh Moynes.” The “o” in “Moans” is pronounced like the “o” in “home,” while the “e” in “Moynes” is pronounced like the “e” in “toy.”
3. “Duh MO-ines”
The correct pronunciation is “Duh Moynes,” not “Duh MO-ines.” The stress is on the second syllable, “Moynes.”
4. “Duh Moy-NESS”
The correct pronunciation is “Duh Moynes,” not “Duh Moy-NESS.” The “s” at the end of “Moynes” is pronounced softly, like the “s” in “house.”
5. “DAY Moines”
The correct pronunciation is “Duh Moines,” not “DAY Moines.” The “a” in “DAY” is pronounced like the “a” in “cat,” while the “a” in “Duh” is pronounced like the “a” in “ruffle.”
6. “Des Moines” (with a silent “s”)
The correct pronunciation is “Duh Moynes,” not “Des Moines” with a silent “s.” The “s” in “Des Moines” is pronounced softly, but it is still pronounced. To help you pronounce the “s” correctly, try saying “Duh Moi-ness” first. Then, gradually reduce the emphasis on the “s” until it becomes a soft “s” sound.
| Mispronunciation | Correct Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Deez Moines | Duh Moines |
| Des Moans | Duh Moynes |
| Duh MO-ines | Duh Moynes |
| Duh Moy-NESS | Duh Moynes |
| DAY Moines | Duh Moines |
| Des Moines (silent “s”) | Duh Moynes |
Phonetic Representation
The phonetic representation of Des Moines is /dəˈmɔɪn/.
IPA
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) representation of Des Moines is /dɛˈmɔɪn/.
Number Eight
The pronunciation of the number eight in Des Moines has a unique twist.
Instead of the standard pronunciation /eɪt/, Des Moines residents often pronounce it as /ɑːt/ or /ɔːt/. This is because the original French settlers of the area pronounced the number as /ɔːt/, and the pronunciation has been passed down through generations.
The reason for this pronunciation change is likely due to the influence of the surrounding Midwest dialects, which also tend to pronounce the number eight as /ɑːt/ or /ɔːt/.
Example
To illustrate the pronunciation of the number eight in Des Moines, consider the following example:
| Standard English | Des Moines English |
|---|---|
| eight | ɑːt /ɔːt |
Variations
The standard pronunciation of Des Moines is “deh-MOYN”. However, there are several variations that are also used, including:
- “deh-MOYNZ”
- “deh-MOYNE”
- “deh-MOY-uhs”
- “dih-MOYN”
Colloquialisms
In addition to the standard pronunciation, there are also a number of colloquialisms that are used to refer to Des Moines. These include:
- “The City of Seven Hills”
- “The Heart of Iowa”
- “DSM”
- “D.M.”
- “Moines”
These colloquialisms are often used by locals and people who are familiar with the city. They can be a fun and informal way to refer to Des Moines. In fact, the DSM is the most common colloquialism that Iowans use on a daily basis to refer to the city of Des Moines. Iowans are proud to call the city of Des Moines’ the city of Seven Hills and the Heart of Iowa in a positive connotation.
|
Commonly Used Names |
How it is Pronounced |
|---|---|
|
Des Moines (French) |
DAY-MOYN |
|
Des Moines (English) |
dəˈmoɪn |
|
DSM |
DIZ-uhm |
|
D.M |
DEE-em |
|
Moines |
muh-WAHN |
Pronunciation in Context
When speaking in a natural context, the pronunciation of “Des Moines” can vary slightly depending on the surrounding sounds and the speaker’s regional accent. Here are some common variations:
In connected speech: When “Des Moines” is spoken as part of a longer sentence, the syllables may become slightly reduced or assimilated to the surrounding sounds. For example, “from Des Moines” may be pronounced as “fromdismoines.”
In casual speech: In informal or conversational settings, the pronunciation of “Des Moines” may be simplified or relaxed. For example, the “s” sound in “Des” may be weakened or dropped altogether, resulting in a pronunciation like “deemoin.”
In formal speech: In more formal or public speaking situations, the pronunciation of “Des Moines” is typically more precise and deliberate. The “s” sound in “Des” is usually pronounced clearly, and the second syllable is given full emphasis.
Here is a table summarizing the common pronunciation variations of “Des Moines” in different speech contexts:
| Context | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Connected speech | “dismoines” |
| Casual speech | “deemoin” |
| Formal speech | “des moines” |
Des Moines: The Proper Pronunciation
The capital city of Iowa, Des Moines, is a vibrant and growing metropolis. However, its pronunciation can be a bit of a tongue-twister for newcomers. Here’s how to say it correctly:
- Break the word into two syllables: “duh” and “moyn.”
- Say “duh” like the word “duh,” with a short “u” sound.
- Pronounce “moyn” like the word “moan,” with a long “o” sound.
So, the correct pronunciation of Des Moines is “duh-moyn.” Avoid saying “dez-moines” or “des-moines,” as these are incorrect.
People Also Ask
How do you say Des Moines in Spanish?
Des Moines is “Des Moines” in Spanish.
What is the nickname of Des Moines?
Des Moines is known as “The City of Seven Hills” and “The River City.”
