How to pronounce Tempe

I suppose you aren’t staying up late nights worrying about how to pronounce Tempe. But just in case you were, let me help you out.

Before I moved to the southwest in 2001, I would have pronounced it TEM-peh. I would have been wrong.

After numerous years of getting used to the Spanish language influence in the southwest, I would have pronounced it TEM-pay. I would still have been wrong.

After being told that the ending makes a long ee sound, I would have pronounced it TEM-pee. But that’s still wrong! That may be how most people in the rest of country pronounce it, but if you subscribe to the belief that the locals determine how place names are pronounced, then the correct way to say Tempe is tem-PEE! The accent is on the PEE.

It’s awkward to say it that way, and it sort of makes you think they’re all searching for a bathroom. But that is how the locals say it. Tem-peeeeee!

For more fun Arizona pronunciation, here’s a good link: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arizona/az-mispronounce-words/

You’re welcome.

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