How to pronounce Canadian
Say it like kuh-NAY-dee-un. Canadian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Canadian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- NAY
- dee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Canadian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Canadian
American and British speakers say Canadian in essentially the same way: /kəˈneɪdiən/ in the US and /kəˈneɪdiən/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-NAY-dee-un.
What does Canadian mean?
- of or relating to Canada or its people
- a native or inhabitant of Canada
- a river rising in northeastern New Mexico and flowing eastward across the Texas panhandle to become a tributary of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma
Where does Canadian come from?
A name of uncertain origin.
Words that rhyme with Canadian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Canadian.
Questions about saying Canadian
How do you pronounce Canadian?
Say kuh-NAY-dee-un. The American pronunciation is /kəˈneɪdiən/. In British English it is /kəˈneɪdiən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Canadian?
Canadian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY). Broken into parts: kuh · NAY · dee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say Canadian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈneɪdiən/ and the British form is /kəˈneɪdiən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.