This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Poll: How do you pronounce LA neighborhood 'Los Feliz'?
A recent story I reported for KPCC got several of us in the office talking about the way we say Los Feliz.
I pronounced the neighborhood as lohz-fay-LEES in this radio piece. Full disclosure: I am not a native Angeleno. Was I wrong?
Resident Angelenos anglicized the word a long time ago — and sometimes native Spanish speakers get corrected for saying it that way.
And it's not just Los Feliz. What about Hermosa Beach, El Monte, Cesar E. Chavez Avenue or Chavez Ravine? How do you pronounce those?
Here's some history on the word Angeleno from KQED:
Even after the Americanization of Los Angeles (and until the early 1860s), nearly all residents of the city — Anglo and Latino both — spoke Spanish. Presumably (if it ever came up in conversation), they called themselves Angeleños, because that's the usual form of the noun.
"Right now we say 'Angeleno,' 100 years ago you would have said 'Angeleño.' And in the roaring fifties, you had this sort of chamber of commerce white guy pronunciation that [then Los Angeles Mayor] Sam Yorty used: 'Los Angle-luss' 'Angle-leenos,' that nasal 'eh,' she said.
"A younger generation — perhaps more sensitive to the region's history — favors truer Spanish pronunciations.
....
Today, no one can seem to agree if using the Spanish pronunciation is respectful — or pretentious."
Commenter, Tristan, said:
I've grown up with Mexican grandparents in East L.A. and had always pronounced place names as they were originally in Spanish, but to my own distaste I've noticed myself pronouncing most (not all) in a more Americanized way.
It is not "La Cienega" but "La Cienaga." And yes it is Cañon, only that is missing "Cañón" the tilde on "o." As a more than average academically educated hispanic, it bothers me, that they expect English to be well-spoken and written in the U.S., but apparently "who cares about spanish"?
I would rather those street names to be changed into fully native English names, like: Larry Mantle Road. for instance. Am I the only crazy hispanic being sensitive about this?
Weigh in: Let's continue the conversation. How do you say it? Is there a right or wrong answer?