Who named this place, anyway? 

Whoever it was, they were either cross-eyed,  or had a very “interesting”  sense of humor.  Why else would someone hang a name like this on a city?  I know it comes from a Native American word.  Still—why put a name like this on an ordinary town in the United States?

No one can pronounce it, unless they’ve lived here for awhile, and those who have lived here for any length of time are often merciless in their teasing. Natives and “longtimers” feel that the way the city’s name should be said is obvious.  A little tricky maybe, but obvious, all the same.

So what is  this city with the name no one can pronounce?  It is Puyallup, Washington.

If we look at how the word is spelled, there is no doubt about it:  The city’s name ought to be pronounced “Poo-yeah-lup”.  That’s easy enough.

Or is it “Puh-yay-loop”?  Could it be “Pooy-all-up”?  Maybe “Poo-yell-loop”!

These mispronunciations—and many more—are heard almost every day in Puyallup.  And who can blame people?  They’re just trying to say the word the way it’s spelled—the RIGHT way.   But what is the “right” way?

The right way to say Puyalllup is to pretend that the “y” comes right after the “p”.  “P-yoo-al-up”. 

See now?  Wasn’t that easy?  I agree:  it isn’t really very easy, either to read or to say.  Don’t tell anyone, but I often just call it “Poo-town”.  It’s a lot simpler.

It’s a beautiful city. As we move around the streets, we see incredible artwork, like the bronze statues on the sidewalks downtown.   The flying goddess, the little girl, the old man fishing…I love these—-oh, who am I kidding?   I love them all.   Also, the landscape is gorgeous, with tall trees growing in “green strips”and craggy, majestic mountains guarding the horizons.                                           

But I won’t kid you—this city will always be “Poo-town” to me.