How to pronounce Botswana
Say it like baht-SWAH-nuh. Botswana has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SWAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Botswana. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- baht
- SWAH
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Botswana pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bahtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- SWAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Botswana
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: bot-SWAH-nuh.
What does Botswana mean?
- Bechuanaland, fully the Bechuanaland Protectorate, a colony of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1966
- The Republic of Botswana, since 1966.
Where does Botswana come from?
of uncertain origin.
Words that rhyme with Botswana
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Botswana.
Questions about saying Botswana
How do you pronounce Botswana?
Say baht-SWAH-nuh. The American pronunciation is /bɑtˈswɑnə/. In British English it is /bɒtˈswɑːnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Botswana?
Botswana has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SWAH). Broken into parts: baht · SWAH · nuh.
Is Botswana pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /bɒtˈswɑːnə/ (bot-SWAH-nuh).