#358 US State Name Stories – West and SouthWest

Welcome back travelers! One last time, pack your bags, we're heading west. This is the final episode of our state name series. Hi, I'm Georgiana, and I'm back with a new episode of the Speak English Now Podcast.

The podcast that helps you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. On my website, you can find the five secrets to speaking English and my premium courses. Okay, let's start. Today, we'll visit the Southwest and the West.

In the Southwest, we have Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. And in the West we have Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. That's 15 states in total. Today we'll take a closer look at Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington.

You hear Spanish words, Native American roots, and even stories of gold and mountains. Let's enjoy our last adventure together. The West is calling. So far, we've traveled through the southeast, the northeast, and the Midwest.

Today we're heading west to the southwest and the west. This area is full of deserts, mountains, gold rush history, Hollywood, and a lot of sunshine. And of course, the state names are just as fascinating. Let's start with Texas.

The name comes from the cattle language. It means friends or allies. When Texan say, how do you partner, they really mean it. Now, Arizona.

This name probably comes from Spanish words that mean, Erid Zone, a dry place. If you've ever seen pictures of Arizona with deserts and the Grand Canyon, you know it fits perfectly.

Arid means very dry. That's why Arizona means dry land. But at the same time, it has some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. Next up, Colorado. In Spanish, Colorado can mean red or reddish, and sometimes flushed. The state was named after the Reddish-Color River in the region. So when you think of Colorado, imagine mountains, snow, and a touch of red earth.

Now let's talk about California. This one has a fun story. The name comes from a Spanish novel written in the 1500s. In the book, California was a mythical island, full of gold and ruled by Amazon women.

When explorers reached the west coast, they thought it looked like the place from the story, so they called it California. So yes, California was named after a fantasy story. And today, it's still full of dreams. Hollywood, beaches, and Silicon Valley. Okay, Oregon.

Well, no one is 100% sure where this name comes from. Some say French, others say Native American languages. But today, Oregon is famous for forests, rivers, and a lot of rain. If you like coffee shops and nature, Oregon is the place.

And finally, Washington. This state is named after George Washington, the first president of the United States. So if you've heard of Washington DC, don't get confused. That's the capital city on the East Coast.

Washington State is on the West Coast, full of mountains, forests, and the city of Seattle. Today we learned, Texas comes from Cattleword for Friends. Arizona from Spanish, Arizona, Colorado, Spanish for a red. It was named after Reddish-Colored River in the region. California was named after a mythical place in a Spanish novel. Oregon, Origin, and Clear, but full of forest and rain.

And Washington was named after the first U.S. president. The West and Southwest makes native American words, Spanish explorers, and American history. It's the perfect ending for our trip. Thank you for traveling with me.

And let me know. Which state name story was your favorite? Let's continue with a point of view story. I will tell you the same story, but in different points of view.

This will help you practice grammar in a natural way. You can find more about this method in my premium courses. visit SpeakEnglishPotGast.com slash courses to get my premium courses. They are designed for learning by listening.

Let's start! Last summer Emma decided to travel through the west and the southwest of the United States. Her first stop was Texas. She expected friendship because the name comes from the cattle word for friends. And yes, people greeted her wormly, but they also

served her the biggest stakes she'd ever seen. Emma whispered, thanks, Texas, but I'm only one person. I can't eat a whole cow. Have you ever eaten a steak so big you couldn't finish it? Then she went to Arizona. She wanted to see the grand canyon. The desert sun was so hot that Emma felt like she was melting.

She said, Arid Zone? That's a perfect name. Arid means very dry.

That's why Arid Zone is called the Arid Zone. Next, she visited Colorado. She imagined Red Mountains and Rivers. But when she arrived, she saw snow everywhere.

Everywhere. Himalapht. Colorado means red, but all I see is white. After that, Emma drove to California. She expected beaches, Hollywood and Sunshine. Instead she was stuck in traffic For three hours, a land of gold she sighed. More like a land of red breaklights.

She continued to Oregon. She wanted to see forest and rivers. And yes, she saw them along with endless rain. Emma muttered, maybe Oregon means bring an umbrella.

Finally, she reached Washington. She thought of George Washington and history, but the only thing she found was coffee. Coffee shops everywhere. Emma joked, this stage should be called Starbucks. When Emma returned home, her friends asked, So how was your trip to the West and Southwest?

She smiled and said,