Pronunciation Differences
Mahopac is an Algonquin word with definitions that historic linguists have attributed to "Lake of the Great Serpent" or just "Great Lake". "Ma" indicating water, the accent of Mahopac is on the second syllable. Long-time Mahopac residents claim that "Ma-HO-pac" was used by residents until the hamlet's evolution into a full-time community after World War II.
In spite of a 3-2 vote by the Carmel Town Board in favor of the traditional Indian pronunciation, no consensus has emerged, the modern-day first-syllable-inflected "MAY-o-pac" being used by a large number of residents today.
Carmel itself has a pronunciation issue as well, with local residents unanimously pronouncing it CAR-mel, while visitors usually assume it's pronounced car-MEL until instructed otherwise.
Read more about this topic: Mahopac, New York
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