The word Guadalajara is from the Arabic  Wad-al-hidjara, meaning "River Running Between 
Rocks"


Here is a good tongue twister about the town in Michoacan with the long name:

El otorrinolaringologo de Parangaricutirimicuaro se quiere 
desotorrinolaringologoparangaricutirimicuarizar porque si no se 
desotorrinolaringologoparangaricutirimicuarizara lo van a 
desotorrinolaringologoparangaricutirimicuarizar.

"The eye-ear-nose-throat doctor in Parangaricutirimicuaro wishes to stop practicing in 
Parangaricutirimicuaro because if he doesn't stop practicing in Parangaricutirimicuaro they 
will make him stop practicing in Parangaricutirimicuaro

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "Steve G. Apodaca" <sgapodaca@y...> wrote:
>
> Indeed, the only correct way to pronounce Guadalajara is as it is 
> read (in Spanish).
> 
> However, in Jalisco, many, especially young people, refer to 
> Guadalajara as Guanatos. This word sounds horrible, and is totally 
> incorrect. Still, I lived in Jalisco for 15 years and I 
> heard "Guanatos" a lot.
> 
> I use it every now and then. I don't know the origin of it, but I 
> suppose people say it just to abbreviate because "Guadalajara" is a 
> long word.
> 
> Saludos.
> 
> Steve
> 
> PS. By the way, talking about long words, last september, on my 
> honeymoon in Michoacan, my wife and I visited a place called San 
> Juan Parangaricutirimicuaro. (No kidding).
> 
> 
> --- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Joseph Puentes <makas@n...> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > has anyone heard of alternate pronunciations of Guadalajara.
> > 
> > I heard someone say something like: Guaclacacara
> > 
> > joseph
> >
>

Indeed, the only correct way to pronounce Guadalajara is as it is 
read (in Spanish).

However, in Jalisco, many, especially young people, refer to 
Guadalajara as Guanatos. This word sounds horrible, and is totally 
incorrect. Still, I lived in Jalisco for 15 years and I 
heard "Guanatos" a lot.

I use it every now and then. I don't know the origin of it, but I 
suppose people say it just to abbreviate because "Guadalajara" is a 
long word.

Saludos.

Steve

PS. By the way, talking about long words, last september, on my 
honeymoon in Michoacan, my wife and I visited a place called San 
Juan Parangaricutirimicuaro. (No kidding).


--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Joseph Puentes <makas@n...> wrote:
>
> 
> has anyone heard of alternate pronunciations of Guadalajara.
> 
> I heard someone say something like: Guaclacacara
> 
> joseph
>

Hello Joseph,

If you mean Spanish pronunciation, there is just one correct way to
pronounce the word Guadalajara.

(gwädä-lä-härä)
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=guadalajara

Victor


--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Joseph Puentes <makas@n...> wrote:
>
> 
> has anyone heard of alternate pronunciations of Guadalajara.
> 
> I heard someone say something like: Guaclacacara
> 
> joseph
>