Are you a true desert rat? Even locals might mispronounce these 8 Coachella Valley terms

Over time, the names around us can fade into routine. Names like Cahuilla, Tahquitz and Tachevah are woven into our daily lives in the Coachella Valley — printed on street signs, schools and trailheads.

But despite being commonly used, they’re also commonly mispronounced.

Some people echo what they heard growing up. Others take a guess and stick with it. Whether you’re a lifelong local, new resident or seasonal visitor, learning how to say these names correctly —many of which have deep roots in the Cahuilla language — is a way to honor the region’s culture and history.

So here are a few names you’ve likely seen around the desert — and how to say them. Don’t be afraid to pronounce them with gusto.

Cahuilla

The Cahuilla people — pronounced ka-wee-ya — are the original inhabitants of the Palm Springs area, stewarding the desert and mountain lands of Southern California since time immemorial. Today, nine federally recognized Cahuilla reservations span Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, including Agua Caliente, Augustine, Cabazon, Cahuilla, Los Coyotes, Morongo, Ramona, Santa Rosa and Torres-Martinez.

To keep that history alive, Palm Springs Unified School District partnered with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to expand lessons about the region’s Indigenous culture. The program began about seven years ago to help students better understand the area’s history and gain a deeper appreciation for tribal traditions.

Although the Cahuilla language is endangered, it hasn’t been lost. For years, tribal members have worked to preserve it — teaching one another and passing it down to future generations.

— Jennifer Cortez

Cholla

You may have spotted these seemingly friendly-looking cacti around the desert, but I promise they’re not ones to mess with, nor a name you want to mispronounce. The correct way to say cholla is “CHOY-uh,” without any “l” sounds. You can find a whole cholla cactus garden in Joshua Tree National Park, where 10 acres of landscape are dominated by the teddy-bear cholla. It might sound sweet and cuddly, but trust us, you don’t want to know what it feels like to be pricked by it.

— Ema Sasic

Coachella

The name “Coachella” comes up a lot around these parts: It’s the name of a city, the valley and a world-famous music festival. But somehow there still seem to be some mystery around its correct pronunciation. More often than not, you’ll hear people say “koh-CHEL-uh,” and Spanish speakers also say “koh-CHEL-ah.” Either is acceptable to us, but we’re firm against “KOH-uh-CHEL-uh.”

— Ema Sasic

More: ‘The roots of this valley are much more complex’: New book digs into history of Coachella

La Quinta

I’ve often overheard the City of La Quinta pronounced “La QUINN-tah” in conversations and from motorists who have stopped me to ask for directions, which makes me want to tell them they missed the exit and need to head back west on Interstate 10.

This one is simple, it’s “la KEEN-tah,” just like the the hotel chain of the same name. In Spanish, La Quinta means “the fifth” and can also refer to a hacienda.

— Brian Blueskye

Séc-he

If you’re heading to Agua Caliente’s Spa at Séc-he for a relaxing day, you better learn how to pronounce it first. Séc-he, pronounced “seh-hee,” means “the sound of boiling water” in the Cahuilla language. It is an ancient hot mineral spring that is considered one of the most important cultural resources cared for and protected by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

— Ema Sasic

More: Sneak peek at the new Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and Museum

Tachevah

This one is easy to mispronounce, and when you’ve finally mastered it, congratulations! You’re officially a resident. The most common mispronunciation is “TACH-e-vah” and other various ways where the incorrect first syllable “TACH” follows variations of the second and third incorrect syllables. When I moved to the area 20 years ago, “TACH-e-vah” was how I said it for almost a decade until I was corrected by a Palm Springs resident. But Tachevah is easier than you assume. It’s pronounced “ta-CHEE-vah.” The word “Tachevah” is Cahuilla for “a plain view” and named for Tachevah Canyon and Tachevah Creek.

— Brian Blueskye

Tahquitz

I’ll admit, though I’ve lived in the desert most of my life, I wasn’t familiar with the story behind Tahquitz — pronounced talk-witz. It comes from a shaman who, according to myth, rebelled against the Cahuilla people and was banished to the canyon now named after him. He lived in a hidden cave high up in the San Jacinto Mountains, under what is now called Tahquitz Peak.

— Jennifer Cortez

Temalpakh

Temalpakh — pronounced TEM-al-pock — comes from the Cahuilla language and means “from the earth.” The word breaks down into temal (earth) and pakh (to come from), reflecting the deep relationship between land and people in Cahuilla culture. It’s also the name of Temalpakh Farm in Coachella, run by the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians — one of the smallest federally recognized tribes in the country. The farm’s work isn’t just symbolic, it reflects a commitment to sustainable growing practices and community nourishment.

— Jennifer Cortez

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs pronunciations to know for local cities, canyons, cacti