What Is Right? Coloradoan or Coloradan?

Since moving here just over a year ago, the questions I get asked most from folks back home are "Is weed legal where you live?" and "Are people from there called Coloradoan or Coloradan?"

I addressed the first question in a post yesterday. The second, I'll attempt this afternoon.

The fact is, I don't know the answer. To be honest I'm not sure I've had it come up in a conversation. Back home, it's the states name that's pronounced differently depending what part you're from. There are some that call it "Missour-ee" and others that call it "Missour-ah." However, a person from there is only called a "Missourian."

If you are from here, are you a "Coloradoan" or a "Coloradan"?

Since Colorado is a Spanish word for the color "red," the proper is Coloradans, not Coloradoans. However, you do hear both, right? Are both acceptable even though the proper is Coloradans?

The fact is, words can be pronounced, or mispronounced, depending on how you look at it, depending on where you're from. One of the best examples is a river that originates from here in Colorado. Everywhere, except in the state of Kansas, the Arkansas River is called just that, the "Ark-kan-saw River", but not in Kansas. There it's pronounced the "Ar-Kansas River." Go figure.

Whatever you choose to call yourselves, it really doesn't matter. If you're a native from the state of Colorado, you're blessed to be from one of the more beautiful states in this United States of America. That's pretty cool, Coloradoan or Coloradan.