Tucker Carlson's Pronunciation Of 'Ottawa' Has People In Stitches

Fox News’ primetime personality Tucker Carlson had many Twitter users scratching their heads on Friday night with his pronunciation of Ottawa.

Carlson pronounced it “Ah-Tah-Wa” in a segment criticizing Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. The anchor suggested the California senator didn’t know American history because she spent some of her teenage years north of the border.

Check out the clip here:

I have never heard anyone mispronounce "Ottawa" the way @TuckerCarlson does here. Very odd. pic.twitter.com/8nHEqEJsJk
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) October 10, 2020

Ottawa City Councillor Tim Tierney tweeted a “how to pronounce Ottawa?” video in response to Carlson’s version:

As a city councillor in A-Ta-Wa... Proud to be in the best city in North America, even if it is actually pronounced Ottawa.
Take note here : https://t.co/TrgZutPonw
— Tim Tierney (@TimTierney) October 10, 2020

And while the majority of social media users mocked Carlson over his apparent gaffe, some suggested it could have been on purpose, given his repeated mispronunciation of Harris’ name in the past.

Given how Tucker Carlson pronounces ‘Ottawa’ I’m going to bet he pronounces ‘Calgary’ like it’s two guys named Cal and Gary. pic.twitter.com/HgUmi93GT9
— Rosa Hwang (@journorosa) October 10, 2020

If you're ever experiencing impostor syndrome, remember how confident Tucker Carlson was when he pronounced the word Ottawa.
— Paul Fairie (@paulisci) October 10, 2020

Tucker Carlson being ignorant of how to pronounce Ottawa and, rather than taking two-seconds to learn, simply making it up and pretending that's the way it is, is no different from how he approaches and delivers every other bit of info on his show.
— Alheli Picazo (@a_picazo) October 10, 2020

I’m losing it at Tucker Carlson’s pronunciation of Ottawa pic.twitter.com/rPxYZSPbYr
— B. W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) October 10, 2020

Mispronunciation of Canada's capital city aside, I love how Tucker Carlson refers to it as "a place called" Ottawa as if it's some remote kingdom that exists in some faraway realm that you can only get to on the back of a luck dragon or something.
— Dead Sea Squirrel (@the_ns) October 10, 2020

Have I been pronouncing Ottawa wrong or is Tucker Carlson a bigger moron than I thought pic.twitter.com/j1rhWOrO5r
— Icculus The Brave (@FirenzeMike) October 10, 2020

I just heard Tucker Carlson pronounce "Ottawa".

My eyes literally bugged out of my head. I despise the guy, but he's not *stupid*.

How has he gone this long without hearing anyone say "Ottawa"?
— Bash! 🌹 25 Days (@the_bashjackson) October 10, 2020

I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa. I could not be more offended by the way Tucker Carlson butchers the name of our awesome capital city.. https://t.co/nXNimyuMMi
— Trent Capelli 🇨🇦 (@TrentCapelli) October 10, 2020

alas... I am going to pronounce Ottawa like Tucker Carlson from now on
— navneet alang (@navalang) October 10, 2020

How the heck did little Tucker Carlson get to this point in his life as a News person - and I stress the word News - without ever learning or hearing the pronunciation of Ottawa-!? Maybe he’s not as Newsish as has been alleged. https://t.co/V8hDUfsflG
— TrumpMismanagementCo (NYSE: SYSTEMICAL) (@co_trump) October 10, 2020

Tucker Carlson knows how to pronounce "Ottawa." He's been purposely mispronouncing Kamala Harris' name repeatedly for the last 2 months. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I took this as an attempt to try to play off that with his audience. https://t.co/8KuMkxJMR2 https://t.co/1QVoCWSiPM
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) October 10, 2020

Tucker Carlson isn’t THAT dumb.
He knows how to pronounce “Ottawa.”
He’s doing this for effect.
What effect he’s trying to achieve... that’s another matter. https://t.co/ilk7ZPFmRS
— Miranda Yaver (@mirandayaver) October 10, 2020

How could Tucker Carlson never have heard the word “Ottawa” pronounced? I guess on top of everything else he’s not a hockey fan. https://t.co/wyHs7n3gpF
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) October 10, 2020

Ummmmmm......

Waaa SHING ton 🤷♂️ #TuckerCarlson #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/qG1K2xOZ7r
— Kevin Smith (@Global_Smith) October 10, 2020

Ooops @tuckercarlson foxed up again.
Ottawa (Aw-Ta-Wah) called and want you to know when you pronounce DUMBASS the B is silent . https://t.co/vGQy6YK5Hv
— Tarzan Dan Freeman (@TarzanDan) October 10, 2020

Another user noted that while he didn’t think Carlson actually knew any better, he might have inadvertently gotten something right.

"Ottawa" is an Algonquin word, and the emphasis is supposed to be on the second syllable, so he's actually pronouncing it properly. I'd never defend this dude otherwise, but if you're making fun of him, the joke's on you for ignoring and erasing Indigenous language and history. https://t.co/6eskCFjHFp
— Waubgeshig Rice (@waub) October 10, 2020

I should add that I'm not from Algonquin territory and this isn't my language, but I know this from previously living there and being familiar with the community. Also, I would never assume this dude knew the proper pronunciation. That was clearly a fluke.
— Waubgeshig Rice (@waub) October 10, 2020

Before You Go

ottawa fox news Kamala Harris tucker carlson

What's Hot

Tucker Carlson's Pronunciation Of 'Ottawa' Has People In Stitches

Before You Go

Related

From Our Partner