Des Moines, Iowa

[Khandro]

How do the inhabitants pronounce it please, is it like the French demwan
for 'des Moines' ?

[Tilly2]

I don't know Khandro but somehow I can't imagine Americans pronouncing it the french way. I bet it's 'Dez Mwoines'.

[RATTER15]

Try this

http://cougar.eb.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?ggdesm01.wav=Des+Moines

[society]

Day Moing

[Khandro]

Thanks Ratter, the voice says demoyn

[Tilly2]

half and half then, Khandro.

[Khandro]

society, Is you 'g' ending a typo?

[society]

how did that 'g' get there!? Yes Khandro, 'g' jumped in from some where.

[jno]

this

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=Des+Moines

says dimoin or demoin

[heathfield]

US pronunciations tend to be rather fluid. There's a part of the city of St Louis, Missouri, called Gravois. The local pronunciation of this changed four times in as many years. There, in a café, I asked for a slice of pecan pie. I pronounce it to rhyme with 'bacon'. The waitress didn't understand at first, but then said "Oh! You mean 'pay-KANN' pie?". That was new to me!

[Tilly2]

I always thought it was Peek an pie.

[heathfield]

I tried that too, Tilly. Rewarded with a blank look!

[Tilly2]

Next time you're in America, just point!

[dr b]

Although Des Moines is "Deh Moin", there's a city not all that far away in Illinois called Des Plaines, which is pronounced "Dess Planes". Go figure.

[jno]

definitely pe-KAAN (or so I was told in Baton Rouge, aka batten roozh)

[Tilly2]

Were you with Bobby McGee, jno?

[jno]

that's where you go when you've got nothing left to lose, Tilly. But actually, I was being treated to a nice meal by a business contact. Not specifically in the pekaan business but I believe he'd eaten a pekaan once.

[ladybirder]

That's Bill Bryson's home town and I remember him being asked how to pronounce it but I can't remember how he did! Doh.

[Tilly2]

I'll look it up, ladybirder. I have all Bill's books upstairs. Off to the bowls club now. Byèeeee!