If Jeanty, T-McMillan and Will Johnson are on the board at #9, who are you taking?
The most common way the New Orleanians say it is New Awlins. Now there's the bit more aristocratic pronunciation New Aw lee Uns that some of the older folks say . When someone says N'awlins we locals just laugh or smirk knowing that they are not from here and that they are trying to make someone think that they are. Plus that they don;t have any good friends from here that corrected them and saved them the embarrassment
Appreciate knowing that. I've heard 3-4 different pronunciations in my lifetime and honestly didn't know which was "correct", and the only locals I know are on this forum. I've been here for about 25+-/ years, and it never came up until this week, LOL! So now I know! :cool:
And just for the record, I think "New Orlins" and "New Orleens" and "New Awlins" all sound classy; while "Nawlins" sounds hillbilly to me. Where I live, I know what hillbilly sounds like.
FWIW, I'm not sure folks visiting are trying to make you think they're local. If I was visiting NO, I'd use the pronunciation that I was told was "correct"....trying to be respectful of local customs. If I'd been taught that Nawlins was correct, that's what I'd say. Not because I was trying to fool you, or impress you; but because I thought I was respecting the local custom. I'll be using "New Awlins" from here on out. Not trying to fool anyone, but out of respect for how the locals want it pronounced. I see it as being somewhat analagous to a situation where your name is Jacob, but I hear others call you Jake, and you tell me you hate that name and prefer "Jay". I'll do my best to call you "Jay" until it just flows naturally.
For a bit of contrast, I live close to Lancaster, PA. About half of the people in that area pronounce it "LAN-kister" and the other half "Lang-CASTer". And each side tries to correct the other. I'm happy to pronounce it however they like. I just think they should get it resolved internally and come to a consensus before they tell ME how to say it. Come to an agreement and tell me what the agreement was. I'll do THAT! LOL!