Hoosier French

The French founded St. Louis in the mid-18th Century as a fur-trading post, leaving behind a fading influence on the city that came to be. The traces of French influence can be found throughout the area, including street and place names, but they are pronounced in a distinctly unique St. Louis patois. Chouteau Avenue, for example, which is named after one of the co-founders of the city, is pronounced SHOW-tow. Moreover, the suburban municipality of Creve Couer is pronounced CREEF-core.

It's enough to break a Frenchman's heart.