A Big Bend pronunciation guide
As a border area with a unique mixture of two cultures and regional character, many of the place names, and plant and animal species common to the Big Bend are new to many of our visitors. The words listed below are some that you might encounter on a visit to the Big Bend.
| WORD | PRONUNCIATION | CONTEXT |
| Boquillas | bow-key-us | River canyon; also name of Mexican commmunity |
| Castolon | cast-oh-lon | Historic district on the west side of the park |
| Chihuahuan | chee-wah-wan | The desert that the Big Bend is a part of |
| Chisos | chee-sos | Mountain range in the center of the park; location of the Basin |
| Cholla | choy-yah | Common cactus |
| Guayacan | way-ah-kahn | Common desert plant |
| Javelina | ha-vay-lee-nah | Common name for the collared peccary |
| Lajitas | la-hee-tas | Resort community to the west of the park |
| Lechuguilla | lech-uh-gee-ah | Common desert plant |
| Luna’s Jacal | loon-ahs hah-call | Historic mexican residence along the Old Maverick Road |
| Mariscal | mar-ees-kal | Mountain in south-central part of the park |
| Marufo Vega | mah-roof-oh vey-ga | Backcountry hiking trail in the remote Deadhorse Mountains |
| Mesa de Anguila | may-sah day an-gee-la | Remote area at the western edge of the park |
| Mesquite | mess-keet | Common desert plant |
| Ocotillo | oh ko tee yo | Common desert plant |
| Rosillos | row-see-yos | Mountains in the north-central part of the park |
| Santa Elena | san-tah a lain ah | River canyon on the west side of the park |
| Study Butte | stew-ty beaut | Community to the west of the park |
| Tasajillo | ta-suh-hee-oh | Common desert plant |
| Terlingua | ter-ling-wah | community to the west of the park |
| Terlingua Abajo | ter-ling-wah ah-bah-ho | Former mexican community north of Santa Elena Canyon |
| Tinaja | tin-ah-hah | Erosion-carved waterhole |
| Tornillo | tor-nee-yo | Major drainage on the east side of the park |
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