Both are pronounced "Mackinaw". The "c" is silent because it's a French word and most final consonants in French are silent.
The area was originally French and the British got control of it after the French and Indian War. This mostly accounts for the different spellings between Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island, even though they are pronounced the same.
I love going to the Island, though Fort Michilimackinac on the southern side of the Straits is pretty cool too. The display about the archeological work has a mannequin wearing the same Beloit t-shirt that I got from the college the year I started -- which was funny because I was wearing it the first time I went to the fort! I guess it's one of the places that Beloit students can go for their summer field schools.
Oh OK, that's odd. I'm not from around here, but hubby is a Wisconsinite and he pronounces the two differently. I suppose I shouldn't speak really in England we pronounce Worcester Sauce "wooster sauce". We all have our little idiosyncracies - that's what helps make life interesting.
No, but really, we kind of figure the U.P. in with Wisconsin, for the most part, on the site. Same with the edges of the other surrounding states, but mostly it's the U.P. Really, N. WI and N. MI are pretty much one and the same thing It's all "Up Nort'" to me.
I only knew the answer though because I used to live about twenty minutes east along the lower penninsula from Mackinaw City.
... in England we pronounce Worcester Sauce "wooster sauce"...
I've been to Worcester, Mass., and it is also called "Wooster". Guess we got it from you.
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By the way, we're thinking about taking over the UP. It looks funny not being part of Wisconsin. Should we just annex it? Of course then we lose the mitten shape of our state.
I mentioned this at the office the other day and was told that Wisconsin was part of Michigan first. Strange.
I have been to places where ( I can't recall where) people ask me if I am from Wesconsin?
I say No I am from "WISCONSIN"
Hey SwiftOfficeServices I jusyt re-read your thread .I thought all the English people knew correct pronunciation of all words from birth.
Or are you in denial of the existance of the "French"
Why J10asen of course we know how to pronounce the Queen's English, and actually as my first name is Yvonne, and my maiden name was Gicquel, you might figure there is some French heritage there.
Admittedly, I know enough of the French language to be dangerous, but I must admit I have never heard anything in the French langauge even closely resembling the American pronunciation of Macinac (or Macinaw).
Not wishing to be controversial, but I'm not entirely convinced about the reasoning for pronouncing it so, but maybe people here pronounce Target - Tarjay.
What's even more weird is the county Worcester is in is called Worcestershire, and we pronounce it ............. wooster - mo need to bother with all those extraneous syllables!
OK here's another one, how do you think Leicester is pronounced?
Leechester.
The Brits are always screwing up the english language. :wink:
Sprecht Deutsche. I just say "Mackinac" for the island, bridge, and the city. All those different pronunciations are useless weight on the drag strip.
I believe the spelling was the french spelling of the Native American word they used for the area, Michilimackinac (pronounced MiSHILLeeMAKinaw). It originally referred to the entire area and after Marquette founded a mission there the village became known as "Michilimackinac".
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It's all "Up Nort'" to me.
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