Des Moines, the capital city of Iowa, is pronounced as “duh MOIN.” The name is of French origin and means “the monks.” The city was founded in 1843 by French fur traders and missionaries, who named it after the Des Moines River, which flows through the city.
The pronunciation of Des Moines can be tricky for non-native English speakers, as the “oi” sound is not common in English. The “oi” sound is pronounced like the “oy” sound in “boy” or “toy.” It is important to pronounce the “s” at the end of the word, as it is not silent.
