Which Is the Correct Pronunciation For Missouri, Missour-ah or Missour-ee?

Unravel the debate over the correct pronunciation of Missouri, exploring the historical and regional factors influencing this linguistic peculiarity and shedding light on the intricacies of regional pronunciation.

People in Missouri have been debating this question since the late 1800s, and people can’t seem to agree.

Either way is correct, according to most dictionaries.

Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation with about 5,987,580 people in 2009, and is the fifth most populous in the Midwest.

Missouri borders eight different states, and was historically considered by many to be a Southern state.