Is there a reason why people pronounce Illinois like ill-I-nigh?

Answer 1

because, there team is called the illinois ill-i-nigh. it's their team name.

Answer 2

Isn't the University of Illinois football team called the Fighting Illini? I don't know of anyone that calls Illinois Illini, unless they are referring to the football team.

Answer 3

It's French Pronunciation.The last consonant after the last vowel is silent and never pronounced.
Paris, in French , is "Pari"....that's all.
USA has diverse types of people from different regions of the world and that's the reason why names many places are not pronounced like an English Man would.
Names of Hotels, Cities,Shopping Malls etc. are examples galore.Just verify........for your own satisfaction.

God Bless

Answer 4

Perhaps they are simply associating the state with it's college football team...University of Illinois and the Fighting Illini

Answer 5

Illini is the name of the University of Illinois mascot. I'm not sure if you're confusing the mascot with the pronunciation of the state.

If you're referring to the failure to pronounce the 's' at the end? It's because it's silent. ;)

Answer 6

Illinois was explored by Father Marquette and French Missionaries.....Hence the French pronunciation.

Answer 7

the University of Illinois are the "Fighting Illini"

it's their team name.

Answer 8

A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or paralinguism. Colloquialisms can include words (such as "y'all", "gonna" or "grouty"), phrases (such as "ain't nothin'", "dressed for bear" and "dead as a doornail"), or sometimes even an entire aphorism ("There's more than one way to skin a cat"). Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. Colloquialisms are often used primarily within a limited geographical area. Another name for colloquialism is colloquial; for example, "He was using colloquial language."

Words that have a formal meaning may also have a colloquial meaning that, while technically incorrect, is recognizable due to common usage. For example, though biweekly is truly defined as "every other week", many dictionaries list both "twice a week" and "every other week".

Auxiliary languages are sometimes assumed to be lacking in colloquialisms, but this varies from one language to another. In Interlingua, the same standards of eligibility apply to colloquialisms as to other terms. Thus, any widely international colloquialism may be used in Interlingua. Expressions such as in le manos de... 'in the hands of...', Que passa? 'What's going on?', and Que diabolo? 'What the devil?' 'What the hell?' are common.

Answer 9

they are the illinois fighting illini...its like referring to florida as the gators...and for the love of all that is holy, do not pronounce it illiNOISE (which ron zook did in his first press conference...)

EDIT: tom p...fork you

Answer 10

inbreeding