Alberta is packed with towns, cities, and landmarks with rich histories, and some of them have names that leave outsiders either guessing or saying them completely wrong.

From Cree place names to French fur-trading terms, here are eight Alberta locations that people often mispronounce:

Namao

It isn’t Na-mow, but Na-mayo. This hamlet, 20 km north of Edmonton, takes its name from the Cree word for sturgeon. The post office opened in 1982 near the Sturgeon River, but outsiders often have trouble knowing how to say it.

Calgary

Locals say Cal-gree, not Cal-gary. The city gets its name from a Scottish castle (Gaelic for “beach of the meadow”), chosen by Colonel James McLeod after a memorable trip to Scotland.

Maligne Lake

Pronounced Ma-leen and rhymes with clean, not Ma-line on Ma-ling. F

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