I've been pronouncing 'Sandia' wrong for decades and a cashier at the Frontier finally corrected me.

I said 'San-dee-uh' and she just smiled and said, 'Honey, it's 'Sahn-dee-ah,' like the Spanish word for watermelon,' and I felt my whole ABQ identity shift.

3 comments

3 Comments

oliviagrant1mo ago

Oh man, that happened to me with 'Candelaria'! Just leaned into the embarrassment and now I say it right.

abby6751mo ago

My whole family mispronounced "gyro" for years.

bethperez1mo ago

Yeah the "lean into the embarrassment" thing is so true. I used to get all quiet when I messed up a word, like I could hide it. But then I saw someone just laugh and say "wait how do you actually say that" and it changed my mind. Now I just own it right away. It feels way less awkward to just admit you've been saying it wrong. Makes it a funny thing instead of a secret shame.