Yeah. Just try pronouncing that one without a pronunciation guide. I’ll give a huge prize to the person who can — Larry, you’re excluded. Your genious mind knows words only God has  pronounced correctly or used properly.

If you’ve never heard or seen this word before, take heart. I never had either (not that that’s really any consolation). It was the winning word from the 2004 national spelling bee.

Which means there are grade schoolers out there smarter and better spellers than us.

Now there’s a cheery thought with which to start your day.

au·toch·tho·nous (ô-tkth-ns) also au·toch·tho·nal (-th-nl) or au·toch·thon·ic (ôtk-thnk)
adj.

1. Originating where found; indigenous: autochthonous rocks; an autochthonous people; autochthonous folktales. See Synonyms at native.
2. Biology. Originating or formed in the place where found: an autochthonous blood clot.

This English lesson is courtesy Starbucks‘ post-consumer fiber sleeve on my vente chai, and made possible by Dictionary.com, my everything on The Internets.