Missou-rah or Missou-ree? Trillin Weighs In.

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  10.18.10 | 3:53 PM ET

NPR’s Weekend Edition tapped writer (and Missourian) Calvin Trillin to tackle the longstanding pronunciation debate. According to Trillin, the confusion results from a geographical divide:

I think Missou-rah(ph) is particularly prevalent—I’ve read this, I didn’t know this of my own accord—in the northwest part of the state and a majority in Kansas City. And Missou-ree(ph) I’ve always thought of as a St. Louis and therefore eastern pronunciation.

There you go, travelers. Problem solved. (Via The Book Bench)