How to pronounce Australia
Say it like aw-STRAY-lyuh. Australia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Australia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- aw
- STRAY
- lyuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Australia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- awKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- STRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- lyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Australia
American and British speakers say Australia in essentially the same way: /ɔˈstreɪljə/ in the US and /ɒˈstreɪlɪə/ in the UK.
British respelling: o-STRAY-leer.
What does Australia mean?
- An island of Oceania.
- A country consisting of a main island, the island of Tasmania and other smaller islands, located in Oceania; historically, a collection of former colonies of the British Empire. Official name: Commonwealth of Australia. Capital: Canberra.
- A continent consisting of the land on the Australian tectonic plate, i.e. Australia, New Guinea and intervening islands.“He is going to Australia for his honeymoon for 10 days.”
Words that rhyme with Australia
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Australia.
Questions about saying Australia
How do you pronounce Australia?
Say aw-STRAY-lyuh. The American pronunciation is /ɔˈstreɪljə/. In British English it is /ɒˈstreɪlɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Australia?
Australia has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRAY). Broken into parts: aw · STRAY · lyuh.
Do Americans and Brits say Australia the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɔˈstreɪljə/ and the British form is /ɒˈstreɪlɪə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.