A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Des Moines
Pronounce 'Des Moines' like 'dih-MOINZ' to be understood when discussing Iowa's capital city.
des moines
dih-MOINZ
/dɪˈmɔɪnz/ · dih · MOINZ
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's also the name of the capital city, so it appears on maps and in geographical references.
Where the word comes from
The city is named after the Des Moines River, which in turn was named by French explorers. 'Des Moines' is French for 'of the monks'.
Common ways people get it wrong
- dez MOYNZ Some people pronounce the first syllable like 'dez' (as in 'December'), but it's actually closer to 'dih'.
- des MOY-nees The final syllable is a single 'z' sound, not two syllables like 'nees'.
Frequently asked
How do you say Des Moines?
The standard pronunciation is 'dih-MOINZ'. The first syllable is short, like 'dih', and the second rhymes with 'coins'.
Is it pronounced Des Moynes or Des Moines?
It's pronounced 'dih-MOINZ'. The spelling 'Moines' is the same as the French word for monks, which is where the name comes from.
What's the correct pronunciation of the capital of Iowa?
The capital of Iowa is pronounced 'dih-MOINZ'. It's a two-syllable word with the stress on the second syllable.
Do you pronounce the S in Des Moines?
Yes, the 's' in 'Des' is pronounced. The name is pronounced 'Dez Moyn'.
How do you pronounce the state capital of Iowa?
The state capital of Iowa, Des Moines, is pronounced 'Dez Moyn'. The 's' in 'Des' is pronounced, and the 's' in 'Moines' is silent.
How do you pronounce Des Moines in French?
In French, Des Moines would be pronounced roughly as 'Day Mwahn'. However, the American pronunciation is 'Dez Moyn'.
