Locals get a good chuckle when a visitor mispronounces an Outer Banks place name, but honestly, we all have to admit that some of the place names on the Outer Banks are a little strange and difficult to pronounce. How are you supposed to know that Corolla is not pronounced like the car made by Toyota? If you’re wondering how the locals pronounce the local words, here’s a guide. Photo: Bodie Island Lighthouse
Bodie Island: BAH-dee, as in body
Coquina Beach: Koh-KEY-nah
Chicamacomico: CHICK-a-ma-COM-i-co
Corolla: Cor-AH-lah
Croatan: CRO-a-tan
Currituck: CUR-i-tuck or CUR-ee-tuck
Hatteras: HAT-er-as or HATtress
Manteo: MAN-tee-oh or MAN-ee-oh
Ocracoke: OH-cra-coke
Pamlico: PAM-li-koh
Roanoke: ROH-noke or ROH-a-noke
Rodanthe: Roh-DANTH-ee
Wanchese: WAN-cheese
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
