How do you pronounce “Chicago”? I’ve heard it pronounced a few ways, but for my money, I think you pronounce it like Royko does at the 1:38 mark here (rhyming perfectly with softball). I offer this golden oldie to cap off this week’s one-, two-, three-part conversation about the town that (still) makes me feel patriotic. The young woman, listening in with a curious grin? That was me, for about the first 20 years I loved here. And sometimes, it’s me still.
Writing Boots is off the next two weeks for a little R&R with some business travel mixed in. Back here Monday, July 17.
As a native Chicagoan I absolutely concur with David and Royko’s correct pronunciation of the name of my city. It is mildly irritating when outsiders mispronounce it, but unforgivable when it comes from residents. I can still recall being taught the correct pronunciation by my father some 60 years ago.
The worst one is Chic-ah-go. It grates on my ears like “San Fran” does, on my San Francisco friends’. And anyone but a weather person or a traffic reporter who refers to “Chicagoland” should be banished. Of course.