How to pronounce Bahamas
Say it like buh-HAH-muz. Bahamas has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Bahamas. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- buh
- HAH
- muz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bahamas pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- HAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- muzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Bahamas
American and British speakers say Bahamas in essentially the same way: /bəˈhɑməz/ in the US and /bəˈhɑːməz/ in the UK.
British respelling: buh-HAH-muz.
What does Bahamas mean?
- An archipelago and country in the Caribbean. Official name: Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Where does Bahamas come from?
Disputed; probably from Spanish baja mar (“shallow sea”) or Taíno ba ha ma (“big upper middle land”), via Spanish.
Questions about saying Bahamas
How do you pronounce Bahamas?
Say buh-HAH-muz. The American pronunciation is /bəˈhɑməz/. In British English it is /bəˈhɑːməz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Bahamas?
Bahamas has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAH). Broken into parts: buh · HAH · muz.
Do Americans and Brits say Bahamas the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bəˈhɑməz/ and the British form is /bəˈhɑːməz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.