How to pronounce alpaca
Say it like al-PAK-uh. Alpaca has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alpaca. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- al
- PAK
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alpaca pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- alKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- PAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of alpaca
American and British speakers say alpaca in essentially the same way: /ælˈpækə/ in the US and /ælˈpækə/ in the UK.
British respelling: al-PAK-uh.
What does alpaca mean?
- A sheep-like domesticated animal of the Andes, Vicugna pacos, in the camel family, closely related to the llama, guanaco, and vicuña.
- Wool from the alpaca, with strong very long fibers and coloring from black to brown to white.
- A garment made of such wool.
Where does alpaca come from?
Borrowed from Spanish alpaca, from Aymara allpaqa.
Questions about saying alpaca
How do you pronounce alpaca?
Say al-PAK-uh. The American pronunciation is /ælˈpækə/. In British English it is /ælˈpækə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alpaca?
Alpaca has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAK). Broken into parts: al · PAK · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say alpaca the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ælˈpækə/ and the British form is /ælˈpækə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.