Two Egg, Howey-in-the-Hills, Yeehaw Junction… it’s an understatement to say that Florida is home to many towns with peculiar names. We’re also looking at you, Christmas, Florida. Still, most of these are pretty straightforward when it comes to pronunciation. However, there’s at least one town that most people find the trickiest to say.
According to a recent study by Mental Floss, Ocoee is the “hardest town to pronounce” in the Sunshine State. The ranking comes from a national analysis by language-learning site Preply, which looked at the quirkiest town names from California’s “Zzyzx” (ZY-ziks) to Maine’s “Seboeis” (Seh-BOW-iss).
Located about four hours from Miami, Ocoee is known for its tranquil neighborhoods, natural setting and sense of community, earning it the nickname “The Center of Good Living.” The charming small city resides in Orange County, sitting just west of Orlando and within an easy driving distance to nearby attractions like Walt Disney World and Downtown Orlando.
So… how do you pronounce it?
Ocoee is actually pronounced “Oh-KOH-ee,” unlike “Oh-SEW-ee,” as some people believe. The city got its name from the Tennessee Ocoee River, with “Ocoee” being the Cherokee word for “apricot vine,” or what we now know as passion flower.
What to do in Ocoee, Florida
While small, the city is jam packed with delightful things to do, from making reservations at RusTeak to shopping at over 60 stores at the West Oaks Mall. For those seeking the outdoors, Bill Breeze Park is a serene lakeside escape for picnicking, paddle boarding or leisurely strolls. Families can also have their fun in the sun at the Jim Beech Recreation Center.
Additionally, visitors can plan a day visiting historic sites like the Stick Victorian-style Withers-Maguire House from 1888, or the Ocoee Christian Church, one of the oldest continuously used Disciples of Christ churches in the state.
History of Ocoee
The area was first settled around Starke Lake in the mid-1800s by Dr. J.D. Starke and a group of families seeking refuge from malaria. Captain Bluford Sims later acquired the land and, in 1886, formally named it the town of Ocoee. It became an official municipality in 1923 and was incorporated as a city in 1925.
Like much of Florida, the city also has a complex history. This includes the horrific 1920 Ocoee Massacre, when Black residents were targeted and killed for trying to exercise their right to vote. The city now works to honor their memory with ongoing remembrance efforts to ensure this history is not forgotten.
For more on Ocoee, visit their official website here.