Kandoli, Not Candolim: Locals Reveal Correct Pronunciation Of Goan Towns Tourists Often Get Wrong

In a country as diverse as India, where languages and dialects change every few miles, mispronouncing place names is quite common. But surprisingly, even some of Goa’s most popular towns are often said incorrectly! Well, that’s changing now. We recently came across a creator who is helping people learn the correct way to pronounce famous Goan town names like Candolim, and here’s everything you need to know.

Are We Getting Goan Town Names Like Candolim Wrong?

While travelling through Goa, creator Manisha Panda was corrected after she mispronounced the name of a town. Curious to learn more, she decided to educate people on the correct pronunciations of some of Goa’s most popular places, including Candolim and Calangute.

She travelled across these towns, speaking to local Goans and asking them how the names are actually pronounced. Many locals explained that due to Portuguese and later English influence, several place names gradually changed over time and drifted away from their original Konkani pronunciations.

For instance, Mapusa, one of Goa’s best-known cities, is commonly pronounced as “Maapsa” by locals. However, many English speakers say “Maa-pusa”, while the Portuguese pronunciation sounds closer to “Mapuka”. In essence, it’s not entirely wrong to pronounce these names differently; it simply reflects how the pronunciations have evolved over time, with locals now familiar with multiple versions.

Also Read: “We Ended Up Paying Taxi Mafia”: 4 Tourists Cut Goa Vacay Short After Clash With Cab Drivers

Here’s The Correct Pronunciation Of Popular Towns In Goa

So, what’s the correct way to pronounce Goan town names like Candolim? According to locals, it’s not “Kandoleem” but “Kandoli”, with the ‘M’ remaining silent. Some locals also pronounce it as “Kanole”, and both versions are widely accepted. Another commonly mispronounced destination is Calangute, which locals say as “Kalangut” rather than “Kalaan-goot”.

Then there’s the famous Chapora Fort, which is pronounced “Sha-po-ra” instead of “Cha-po-ra”. Meanwhile, North Goa’s Assagao is commonly said as either “Aa-sa-gao” or “As-gao” by locals.

One pronunciation that often surprises tourists is Panjim. Locals pronounce it as “Pon-jay” or “Pan-ji”, which is the correct way of pronouncing it in Konkani and Hindi. In her video, creator Manisha Panda explained that in many Goan place names ending with ‘M’, the final letter is often silent.

Also Read: Goa Introduces New Cruise-Like Ferries On Busy Panaji-Betim Route; Cuts Travel Time To 2 Min

Let us know in the comments if this was helpful to you all!

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons & Instagram/panda.bares