10 North Carolina Foods That Are Often Mispronounced By Visitors

North Carolina’s cuisine is as rich and diverse as its landscape, from the mountains to the coast.

As a lifelong resident, I’ve witnessed countless visitors stumble over the names of our beloved local dishes.

These mispronunciations often lead to knowing smiles from locals and mild embarrassment for tourists.

Here’s my guide to pronouncing some of North Carolina’s most tongue-twisting foods correctly.

1. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: Not ‘Krispy Cream’

Y’all wouldn’t believe how many folks come to Winston-Salem asking for directions to ‘Krispy Cream’ doughnuts! The iconic doughnut chain founded right here in North Carolina back in 1937 is pronounced ‘Krispy Kreme’ (rhymes with ‘dream’), not ‘cream.’ Vernon Rudolph started selling these heavenly rings of fried dough through a hole in the wall to passersby who couldn’t resist the aroma.

Growing up, Saturday mornings meant one thing in our house – dad coming home with that distinctive green and red box, usually still warm from the store. The ‘Hot Now’ sign was practically a state emergency signal; you’d see cars making illegal U-turns just to get in line when that neon glow appeared in the window.

The confusion likely stems from the unusual spelling – that ‘K’ in Kreme throws people off. I once worked at the original location during college and kept a mental tally of mispronunciations. The worst offender? A tourist who confidently asked for a dozen ‘Crispy Creams’ while pointing at the sign.

2. Cheerwine: Not ‘Cheer Wine’

First time I heard a tourist ask for ‘Cheer Wine’ at Cook Out, I nearly spat out my drink. This beloved cherry-flavored soda born in Salisbury in 1917 is properly pronounced ‘CHEER-wine’ – but here’s the catch: despite its name, there’s absolutely no wine in it. The ‘wine’ part refers to its deep burgundy color, not its contents.

Locals pronounce it as one quick word, almost slurring it together: ‘CHEER-wine.’ The emphasis falls on the first syllable, not equally across both words. My granddaddy used to say you could tell an out-of-towner by how carefully they separated the two words, like they were ordering some fancy beverage instead of our humble soda.

The confusion likely comes from people assuming it’s some kind of cherry wine. I’ve watched tourists hesitate before ordering it for their kids. But this sweet, cherry-flavored carbonated drink is just soda – albeit one with more personality than most. It’s bubblier than typical sodas, with a distinctive wild cherry flavor that’s impossible to describe to someone who hasn’t tried it.

3. Livermush: Not ‘Liver Mush’

Bless your heart if you’ve been saying ‘Liver…Mush’ with a dramatic pause between words! This western North Carolina staple is pronounced as one continuous word: ‘LIV-er-mush.’ You don’t stop between ‘liver’ and ‘mush’ – it rolls off the tongue as smoothly as this delicacy fries up in a hot skillet.

The pronunciation confusion stems from visitors trying to separate what they think are two distinct words. At a diner in Marion last year, I overheard a tourist carefully enunciate ‘liver…mush’ to a waitress who responded with, ‘You mean livermush?’ without missing a beat. The tourist looked genuinely confused.

This humble food has a special place in local culture – Shelby even hosts an annual Livermush Festival! When I moved away for college, this was the food I missed most. My roommates thought I was crazy until I brought some back after Christmas break and made them proper livermush sandwiches with mustard on white bread. Two of them became converts that day. The third still can’t get past the name – or the pronunciation.

4. Boiled Peanuts: Not ‘Boiled Pee-Nuts’

Nothing identifies an out-of-stater faster than hearing them ask for ‘boiled pee-nuts’ at a roadside stand! In North Carolina, we pronounce it ‘BAWLD pea-nuts’ – with ‘boiled’ sounding like ‘bold’ and ‘peanuts’ condensed to something closer to ‘p’nuts.’ This Southern delicacy involves simmering green (raw) peanuts in salty water until they reach a soft, bean-like consistency.

Last summer, I watched a family from Michigan approach a stand near Wilmington. They carefully pronounced each syllable: ‘Boy-led Pee-nuts.’ The vendor, an old-timer with leathery skin from years in the sun, just smiled and scooped a steaming batch into a paper bag. He didn’t correct them, but winked at me standing nearby.

The pronunciation varies slightly across North Carolina regions. Down east, you might hear ‘bawl’d p’nuts’ run together as almost one word. In the mountains, there’s a bit more separation between the words. Either way, nobody says ‘boy-led’ unless they’re from somewhere else.

5. Pimento Cheese: Not ‘Pi-MEN-To Cheese’

The ‘caviar of the South’ has tripped up many a visitor to our state! Properly pronounced ‘pi-MEN-uh cheese’ (not ‘pi-MEN-TOE’), this spread made from cheese, mayonnaise, and those distinctive red peppers is practically its own food group in North Carolina. The final ‘to’ gets softened almost to the point of disappearing when locals say it.

My first job was at a country club in Charlotte where we served pimento cheese sandwiches at every function. I still remember a visiting businessman from Chicago loudly ordering a ‘pi-MEN-toe cheese sandwich on white,’ emphasizing each syllable like he was speaking to someone hard of hearing. The entire kitchen staff had a good laugh after he left.

What makes this pronunciation particularly tricky is that technically, the pepper itself is a ‘pimento’ with the ‘o’ pronounced. But somewhere along the way, Southern speech patterns softened that final syllable in the cheese spread’s name. I’ve found that offering visitors a taste of good homemade pimento cheese is the best way to distract them from any embarrassment over mispronunciation.

6. Moravian Cookies: Not ‘Mo-RAY-Vian’

The world’s thinnest cookies come with one of North Carolina’s most commonly bungled pronunciations! These paper-thin spiced delicacies from Winston-Salem’s Moravian settlement are properly pronounced ‘mo-RAY-vee-un’ – not ‘mo-RAH-vee-an’ as I’ve heard countless tourists say. The second syllable should rhyme with ‘day,’ not ‘father.’

My first Christmas working at Old Salem Museums & Gardens, I corrected at least a dozen visitors per shift. These historic cookies trace back to the Moravian religious settlement that founded Winston-Salem in the 1700s. The original recipes called for ingredients like black pepper, ginger, and molasses – flavors that were exotic and expensive at the time.

The pronunciation confusion likely stems from regional accent differences and the unfamiliarity with Moravian heritage. During the holiday season, these cookies ship worldwide from North Carolina bakeries, creating countless pronunciation attempts across the globe. I once overheard a tourist ask for ‘those famous Mormon cookies’ – which was a whole different level of confusion! Whether you say it correctly or not, these cookies remain a North Carolina treasure.

7. Calabash Shrimp: Not ‘CAL-A-Bash’

Strangers to our coast often ask for ‘CAL-a-bash’ shrimp, making locals chuckle. The correct pronunciation of this coastal delicacy is ‘KAL-uh-bash’ – with equal emphasis on all syllables and a softer ‘a’ in the middle. Named after the tiny fishing village of Calabash near the South Carolina border, this style of lightly battered and quickly fried seafood has become famous nationwide.

My family’s annual beach trips always included at least one night in Calabash. We’d sit at long tables covered with newspaper while mountains of golden-fried shrimp, fish, and hushpuppies arrived family-style. The town itself has fewer than 2,000 residents but dozens of seafood restaurants – all claiming to serve the ‘original’ Calabash-style seafood.

The pronunciation confusion likely stems from regional accent differences and the word’s unusual origin. Some food historians believe the name comes from the calabash gourd, while others say it simply originated in the town. Either way, the correct pronunciation has the accent on the first syllable, not the second.

8. Brunswick Stew: Not ‘BRUNS-Wick’

Hunting season in eastern North Carolina always meant one thing in our family – big pots of Brunswick stew simmering all day. Visitors often put too much emphasis on the first syllable, saying ‘BRUNS-wick,’ when locals pronounce it more evenly as ‘BRUNZ-wick’ stew, with just a slight emphasis on the first syllable. This hearty mixture of meat and vegetables has sparked a long-standing feud between North Carolina and Virginia over its origins.

My grandfather’s recipe called for squirrel meat, though we’ve since switched to chicken and pork. He’d start before dawn, cooking in a massive cast-iron pot over an outdoor fire. By afternoon, neighbors would drift over, drawn by the aroma that seemed to announce fall had officially arrived. The stew’s thickness was a point of pride – grandpa insisted a proper Brunswick stew should be thick enough that a wooden spoon could stand upright in the middle.

The pronunciation differences aren’t dramatic, but they’re noticeable to locals. Virginia claims Brunswick County, Virginia as the birthplace, while North Carolinians insist it originated in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The debate gets heated at cross-state family reunions.

9. Hush Puppies: Not ‘HUSH-Puppies’

Golden-fried nuggets of cornmeal joy cause pronunciation confusion across North Carolina! These crispy fried cornmeal balls served alongside seafood are pronounced ‘hush-PUPPIES’ by locals, with the emphasis on the second word – not ‘HUSH-puppies’ as many visitors say. The difference is subtle but immediately identifies outsiders.

Family legend says my great-grandmother could make hush puppies so light they’d practically float off the plate. Her secret was adding grated onion and a spoonful of sugar to the batter. At fish fries along the coast, I’ve witnessed heated debates about proper ingredients – some swear by buttermilk, others by adding corn kernels or jalapeños.

Regional variations exist across the state – eastern-style tend to be smaller and more oniony, while western versions might be larger and sweeter. But regardless of recipe, the emphasis stays on ‘PUPPIES’ when spoken by locals. I once worked at a seafood restaurant in Nags Head where we could instantly tell where customers were from based solely on their hush puppy pronunciation.

10. Sweet Potato Pie: Not ‘Yam Pie’

Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house always featured a dessert table groaning with pies, but sweet potato pie held the place of honor. Visitors from northern states often make two mistakes with this Southern classic – calling it ‘yam pie’ (completely different!) or pronouncing it with equal emphasis on each word. Proper North Carolina pronunciation puts slight emphasis on ‘SWEET’ and ‘PIE’ – as in ‘SWEET-p’tay-tuh-PIE.’

North Carolina leads the nation in sweet potato production, so this pie isn’t just any dessert – it’s practically patriotic duty to enjoy it here. The confusion between sweet potatoes and yams drives locals crazy. True yams are rarely found in American grocery stores, while what many northerners call ‘yams’ are actually orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.

The pronunciation difference is subtle but important to Southern ears. We tend to slightly rush through the middle words while emphasizing the first and last. I once attended a potluck where a newcomer from Michigan proudly announced she’d brought ‘SWEET po-TA-to PIE’ with careful enunciation of each syllable. Several older ladies exchanged knowing glances.