After living in Mississippi for an extended period of time, you develop certain skills. And we’re not talking about being able to make killer sweet tea or conjuring up a “bless your heart” in the most trying of times. Sure, Mississippians are great at those things (and so many others), but residing in the Magnolia State also comes with another learned skill – the knowledge that in the South, you can never judge a town by the way it’s spelled. And if you need proof (along with a good laugh), check out the video below and watch as out-of-staters attempt to pronounce some of Mississippi’s trickiest town names.

As you can see, Mississippi town names can be pretty perplexing! The good thing is that the more difficult the name, the more comical the results. Of course, there’s another plus side to the Magnolia State’s oddly-named towns. The unique monikers often have historical ties and interesting meanings, ultimately serving as a reminder of Mississippi’s long, colorful history.

For example, did you know that Oxford is named after England’s prestigious college town of the same moniker?

Crooked Letter Photography, Contributed Photo The name was chosen in the hopes that it would increase the city’s chances of becoming the site for the state’s future university, and it worked. In 1848, the University of Mississippi was opened in Oxford.

Or, that Duck Hill’s name has nothing to do with waterfowl?

Natalie Maynor/Flickr Located in Montgomery County, Duck Hill is named in honor of Duck, a Choctaw chief and medicine man, who once treated area residents. Chief Duck was known to hold meetings on a large hill. Eventually, his name and preferred meeting location were combined, resulting in the town’s present name.

So, what’d you think? Were you stumped by any of these town names? Did you know how to pronounce all of them? Tell us in the comments section.

Crooked Letter Photography, Contributed Photo

The name was chosen in the hopes that it would increase the city’s chances of becoming the site for the state’s future university, and it worked. In 1848, the University of Mississippi was opened in Oxford.

Natalie Maynor/Flickr

Located in Montgomery County, Duck Hill is named in honor of Duck, a Choctaw chief and medicine man, who once treated area residents. Chief Duck was known to hold meetings on a large hill. Eventually, his name and preferred meeting location were combined, resulting in the town’s present name.

Being able to pronounce unusual town names isn’t the only identifiable feature of a Mississippian’s vocabulary. Click here for phrases that’ll make you swear residents have their own language.

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Address: Mississippi, USA