The phrase "the windy cities" is often used to refer to Chicago and its surrounding areas. In terms of spelling, the pronunciation of "windy" is /ˈwɪndi/, with the stress on the first syllable. The plural form of "city" is "cities," pronounced as /ˈsɪtiz/, also with stress on the second syllable. Therefore, the correct spelling of the phrase is "the windy cities," with emphasis on the first syllable of "windy" and the second syllable of "cities."
The Windy City is a nickname commonly used to refer to two major cities in the United States: Chicago, Illinois, and Wellington, New Zealand.
In the context of Chicago, the term Windy City does not refer to the city's weather conditions, but rather to its long history of political rhetoric and boasting. The term first gained popularity in the late 19th century when Chicago was rapidly growing in size and influence. It was during this time that the city hosted the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, showcasing its architectural achievements and technological advancements. Chicagoans, proud of their bustling city, would often boast about its cultural, economic, and political prominence. The nickname Windy City became synonymous with this excessive bragging, implying that the city's residents were full of hot air.
On the other hand, Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, earned the nickname Windy City due to its notoriously strong winds. The city is situated on Cook Strait, a narrow body of water between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The channel acts as a funnel, causing the winds to accelerate as they pass through Wellington. These powerful gusts are a distinctive feature of the city, often reaching speeds that can be challenging to navigate and sometimes causing disruptions. Consequently, Wellington earned the moniker Windy City as a reflection of its unique meteorological conditions.