How to pronounce African
Say it like AF-ruh-kun. African has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce African. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AF
- ruh
- kun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
African pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of African
American and British speakers say African in essentially the same way: /ˈæfrəkən/ in the US and /ˈæfrɪkən/ in the UK.
British respelling: AF-rih-kun.
What does African mean?
- of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples“African languages”
- a native or inhabitant of Africa
Questions about saying African
How do you pronounce African?
Say AF-ruh-kun. The American pronunciation is /ˈæfrəkən/. In British English it is /ˈæfrɪkən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in African?
African has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AF). Broken into parts: AF · ruh · kun.
Do Americans and Brits say African the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæfrəkən/ and the British form is /ˈæfrɪkən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.