Is it pronounced LOO-EY-VILLE or LOU-A-VUL?

Let’s face it … we’re not all from the South, but no one has to know. The battle between Louisville pronunciations has been around as long as, well, the name itself.

Teetering between two seemingly correct pronunciations of the Derby City, LOO-EY-VILLE and LOO-A-VUL are safe bets.

The city’s name is derived from King Louis XVI of France in honor of his military’s assistance during the American Revolutionary War. King Louis is also responsible for the use of the fleur-de-lis, the emblem used on the Seal of Louisville, which you’re bound to see sprinkled around the city and in various promotional materials.

But really, it all boils down to preference and where you’re from.

No matter how you say it, Louisville will welcome you with open arms, though you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone without an opinion on the pronunciation.

Logo provided by Louisville Tourism

Rosanne Mastin, Marketing Communications Manager for Louisville Tourism and her team pronounce it LOU-A-VUL. They’ve even created a logo for the city honoring every pronunciation they’ve encountered. A bold way of saying, “say it however you’d like … it’s still a great city to visit.”

So, when someone asks YOU, “Where is USITT19 this year?” will you say LOO-EY-VILLE, LOO-A-VUL or something in between?

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